The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-10-20

thrown away his opportunities - to my
mind the chief reason therefor. In the
curt vernacuar OF Americans, we o.ten
have the solution Of a problem In one
world. We hear of men in our own
and other professions who have extra
ordinary abilities, kindly natures and
many traits of character calculated to
endear them to their acquaiatances. We
are told, however, that they are at
present down in tho world" utterly
used up" &C., and when we inquire
the cause, the answer comes with pun
full regularity in that direful monosyl-
liable Rum" Old man Firms failure
in lifo is also susceptible OF explana-
ton by the mention of that short sad
word. do not mean to preach tenn
perarce sermon. In writing sketch,
however, of man whom l havc known
and admired, and through whose kindly
aid l was laua ched on career which l
hope may be pardoned for considering
modestly useful ons. it will be neces-
sary to cite few facts. These facts
stand for themselves. If they preach
anything came. help it.
How old memories como crowding
upon me as Irecall lovely Sunday in
June so far away that l instinctively
look in the mirror to see "if the young
boy is getting to be an OIL boy" and if
''the hair is growing thin on the old
boys headw was early at tn, office
that morning and was copying. with the
idea of becoming an operator, the
Morse alphabet from "ShaffnePs Man.
ual." So engrossed was l with my
work, and the difficulty l experienced
in fixing my chubby fingers around
pen so as to come within speaking dis
lance of making the characters conform
to those in Shaffaer, that l di not no.
ticc that some one had entered. As l
was desperately struggling with the
letter ~" and iuwardly bewailing my
lack OF expertncss with the pen, voice
which startled me at first. but which l
recognized at once as Fina's, said:
"IIop down of that stool, sonny. and
I'll make you the alphabet" 1quickly
surrendered the task to the more expe-
ricnced fingers of the new conner,
who had been looking over my shoulder,
and took my place on the messen-
gers bench. Presently Finn handed
me blank on which the alphabet, nu-
morals and the punctuation points were
given, and below them h, had written
in his own beautifully flowing chirogra-
ply: "Jlmcs Brady gave me his pretty
black walnut box o. quite small size"
l bashiully expressed my thanks, but
my heart was full eaough Of gratitude
to have warranted something better
than l said, had been able to give
utterance to my feelings. After an
swering call and taking several mes
sages, Finn started me out, saying as
l went to deliver them, "Iou can
practice OIL that sentence when you
have learned to make the letters. 1t
contains all tn, characters in the al
phabet" l nave given that little story
about Brady and the small black wal
nut box 10 many aspiring youngsters
since then. l wonder if any of them
ever pyiz,d it as highly as l did when it
fir became a part of my knowledge
and wonder, too, if among that small
band of youths, some of whom
Lecamo operators. while others
failed in that to sue
coed afterward in other things, there is
one who ever looked upon me as a half
human, half divine parsonage, such as
regarded Finn. Probably not. But if
there be one an a much honored man,
for nothing l caa feel for human be-
ing will ever excel my enthusiasm for
my old telegraphic hero. Even though
l have seen him often of late years IN
der circumstances, which, for the mo-
ment. .bereft him of all his old-time
glory, still 60 on remembering him
bright, dashing and handsome, and am
thankful that 1 can. Old man Fin, is
the stern reality to nearly all who know
him now, but to me he is an abstraction
merely-a reality which goes out OF mr.
mind. giving place to my hero of yorc