Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-03-10
WlLL-POWER.
Its LamentabIe Failure to Work In the
Case of One Mans Resolution.

Its Lamentab1e Failure to Work In the
Case of One Mans Resolution.
No man likes to have any one tell
him that he has no will-power. A man S
weakest spot of conceit is the SUPPOSE
ton OF personal possession Of will
power. My friend Bjinks got very
wrathy when friend told him that he
(Bjinks) hadn't will-power enough to
stop chewing tobacco. 'What! I've
got no will-power ? Why, man alive,
you don't know me. I've quit buck
wheat cakes. [ used to be perfect
slave to the deadly griddle placques.
II
Eyes, you've quit them because your
wife's mother will not allow her rooms
to be smoked and scented up any more. "
W-well! Isn't my allowing my
wife's mother to set her foot down
upon one of my pleasures one of the
grandest manifestations of will-power,
I'd like to knOwP" clustered Biinks.
sit might be; but, all the same, re-
iterate; you haven't got will-power
enough to quit chewing tobacco"
Haven't, heyP See here, I'm going
rabbit-hunting tomorrow. When | re-
turn | shall be able to tell you that I've
formed a solemn resolution to quit
chewing. You can believe me. If
there is any one thing more than an
other that I'm proud of, its my i'm
mense-"
every well. Try it on, and good
luck to you, Bjinks. / suppose you Il
come back from rabbit-hunting hump
backed with will-power instead of
game. Good morningr' and Bjinks s
friend took his departure. IT.
give got no will-power! Humph!
I'm proud Of my will-power, When [
put my foot down to do q thing, | do
it. A stone wall couldn't turn me out
of my way, when [ say go. Can't quit
chewing! Nonsense! Any man can
do a thing when once he sets out to do
it. I'll go rabbit-hunting tomorrow,
and to show my friend that I've got
will-power enough to pass round
among my neighbors, I'll form the
resolution to quit chewing while I'm
on the chase. Will-power! Bah! Only
children and weak, puny women haven't
any will-power."
Thus Biinks unused as he wendell his
way toward his Office All day long
he chewed vigorously. Tomorrow he
will manifest the stupendous abun-
dance of will-power which can be en-
comprised in one human frame, 5 feet
81 inches, weighing 113 pounds.
When the roseate blush of early
morn peeped through the windows of
the house, Bjinks arose, got his gun,
called his dog, and started forth to Stay
the gentle rabbit The air was crisp
and fresh. Bjinks felt as buoyant as q
boy with a little red bob-sled. He
felt new strength within him. He
feels more manly, more like one of
natures noblemen, and less a serf to
slavish habit. His thoughts rove to
his childhood's days, when he wore q
chip hat and went fishing with pin
hook when he drove the COWS home to
milk, and stole cream off the pans in
the cellar (when he got a thrashing
for that act and various other little
mistaken ideas of life too numerous to
mentionl; when he wove the wreath
of romance from the pages of dime
novel, and went forth bent for the
trackless plains to Stay redskins with q
hammerless pistol and a brass pair of
false knuckles All these and various
| other items connected with his DAYS of
! freedom Illuminated the research of his
memory. He is once more free
He slaps his hand upon his hip
pocket He halts and stares about
him. A cotton-tailed rabbit sits upon
its launches and blinks its curious eyes
and points its rose-tinted ears at him.
Great heavens! I've come away with
out my tob- Pshaw! How foolish am
/
! The rabbit flashed out of sight and the
man of stupendous will plodded on in
search of tracks.
His thoughts went back to his spark
ing days. The little parlor with fire
in winter and dampness in summer;
this gate that swung without creak
when he entered at eight, but groaned
enough to wake the seven sleepers
! when he went out at three the next
morning; the attenuated bundle of con
versation he was wont to throw at his
darling seven nights in the week; the
pop-the Eyes ''-the holy altar of
''By heavens [ must have been a
blockhead! Here | am five miles from
home without my tob- Pshaw! nom
sense; will-power, Bjinks; will-power!
1t was struggle. It was a relentless,
endless, ceaseless struggle. He saw
half a dozen rabbits. He shot at them.
He didn't bag single rabbit His
hand was very unsteady. But he was
growing big in his own eyes; for-his
immense will-power. He hurried over
the ground as quick as possible and
make tracks for the town. The first
man he met was his friend who had
twitted him about not having will
power. ''Ah my festive Nimrod.
Been shooting, ehp Got bag L"
''For the sake of Heaven and a suffer-
ing man, give me a chew!" groaned
Bjinks, abjectedly.
"Will-pow-"
''Be hanged to it! Your plug -oh!
thanks. Good morning. and Bjinks
went home feeling like man again,
but very sensitive on the question Of
will-power. II. S. Keller, @a Boston