Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-06
GOLDEN ISLAND.

father and mother lived, ana ne was
now Of an age when a healthy and
strong boy, with true spirit Of devel-
oping manhood and Independence,
wants to learn a trade. Tie village In
which the boys parents lived was but
small one, and outside of the tailor and
the shoemaker there were no trades
men living there. All the rest of the
men, Roberts father among them. were
farmers. Now Robert did not like the
life of farmer. 1t was too quiet and
too much like slavery to him. Not
that he despised q farmer, however. He
was a good son and he loved his father
dearly. But Robert was OF an enter
prising, active disposition, and the un-
eventful existence Of q farmer did not
suit his restless character.
When his school time was over,
therefore, he resolved to learn a trade.
He did not know which he would like
best. He meant TO find that out after
awhile. So one beautiful morning he
packed his valise with the most neces-
sary things O man wants when he goes
on long Journey; then he went to his
father and mother and bid them good
'"Where are you going, Roberto" both
exclaimed, with astOnishment, as
they saw the young man standing be-
fore them, equipped for journey.
~ am going away to learn a trade"
he replied. "This place is too small for
me, and there Is nothing to do here for
such boy as / am. / am going into
the city for couple of years, where l
can learn q trade and make name and
fortune for myself. .. ..
The old people saw that their son was
determined, and they thought 1t
better to let him have his way. SO
they wished him god-speed and good
luck, and told him not to forget his
parents and come back after some time.
Robert promised that and then depart
ed. 49,. r...f..n ......... ........-...
He had travelled for many a day and
many a month, but still he had not
found the business he liked. He had
been working with several masters, but
somehow or other Robert grew tired of
his job and left. One day he was sitting
on the bank Of q beautiful lake and no.
ticed boat gliding over the smooth
surface of the waters. There was O man
sitting In the boat who was feathering
the oars in liesurely manner, while
the boat continued to float nOiselessly
along. Robert looked at the man and
his boat for long time, when he muir
INJURED to himself: .t. s... ... p.,..
"Well, now, rowing must be the most
pleasant thing in the world. That man
seems to enjoy the fan amazingly. !
wonder whether he would allow me to
have q row with him. / will call him
and hear what he has to say" . ..f
Ha ol,outod nnf ond hnnknnnH tho
man in the boat toward him. When
the owner of the boat heard Robert he
came ashore and invited him to accom-
pany him. While the oars were dip
ping the water and the boat was quiet
~ moving along over the beautiful lake
Robert told the man all about himself.
$50 you did not like to be farmer;
what would you like to do then? Have
you not been able to find trade suita-
bic at all?" ...
"No, SIR" replied the young man, II
have not been able to find job that l
would like. What / have to complain
of most is that everything seems to be
hard work, and don't like that. |
would be glad to learn anything where
had the opportunity to make lot of
money without any trouble and exer-
ton. But hard work do not like; it
makes me tired go quick"
"Oh! oh!n said the boatman, "that is
the way you feel about the matter. You
are lazy, should say. Look here, my
boy, any trade is good one, II you on
ly work at ithard enough, and with an
ernest intention to make success. All
work is equally ennabling to the man
who labors honestly and diligently:
Now, I think 1t will be'a very good
thing for you if / give you lesson that
will be of service to you all your life."
The boatmau had no more than uttered
these words whensRo Robert suddenly no.
ticed that the boat began to roll and
pitch. The young man anxionsly
grasped at the side Of his seat to pre-.
vent himself from falling into the wat
er. But the motion of the boat in
creased more aid more. The waves
ran over each other and rolled up noun
tain high. It was too much for Rob
ert; he could not hold himself any long
er, for an immense wave came with
terrific force against the side of the
boat IT turned over, and the young
man fell into the lake. Soon the water
swallowed him up, and they closed in
over him like q lid on o box.
Unconsciousness Overcame him i'm
mediately after he fell into the water,
and he awoke again, and, to his utter
establishment, found himself on dry
land. 1t was peculiar place, the young
man thought. The ground was hard
and rocky, but still there were lots of
trees growing everywhere. A beauti-
full light shone over all the land, but
where 1t came from Robert could not
imagine. The sky above was as blue as
the azure heavens that expanded over
the beautiful field around his native viii
lage. But he could not see a sun or
moon, or even star above him. The
Young man was bewildered,. He stood
and looked at his surrounding as If he
were enchanted or dreaming.
Suddenly he was awakened from his
reverie by the approach of three men,
all dressed In red clothes with black
turbaus on their heads. Neither Of
them spoke u word. They walked
straight up to Robert, and while one of
them took hold of him by the neck the
others caught him by the legs. Then
they carried him away, and oil the re-
sistance and expOstulation on the
young mau's part was In vain. The
three men held him as tightly as II his
limbs were screwed in o wise, and did
not stop until they came to q large
building. This structure was OF wood,
but In front stood Q very comfortable
chair, In which, Robert noticed the