Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-14
WINNING HIS WAY.
An Apprenticeship with Necos.
 sity as g. Task-Master.
II would starvc firstrn "Thcn Starve!"

II would starvc firstr'
 ''Then starve!"
 Uncle Adoniram Barney, as he was called by all who knew him, had been having serious conversation with his nephew Charles. Charles had lost his temper en. tirely, and Uncle Adoniram had Ut last reached the utmost limit of forbearancc. The question under discussion was the ad- visibility of the young mans seeking some occupation in which he would be sure to earn his living.
 Charles was twenty-one, and his uncle up to this time had assisted him in every pos sible manner, but, strangely enough, though possessed of tine intellect, carefully culti- vated, he had done nothing to earn his own living. He had been unwilling to study for profession, and at this time had small prospect of obtaining situation, and small CT prospect of keeping Q position if he found ono.
 'If I could only find where I belong," Charles began again. He had cooled down q little, and was disposed to argue the point a tride further. ''I can never make good clerk or book-keeper, and you know as well as do that am utterly lacking in mechan- ical ability.''
 "And the worst of all is, Charles, you are utterly lacking in the quality of applica- tion," Uncle Adoniram replied. ''You talk about your lacks as if they were something to be proud of. If you have got fair con- mon sense and a fair education you can mako good clerk or good book keeper, and you could learn a trade if you wanted to. It is all bosh, every bit of it, and now that you have come to mans estate you ought to bo ashamed of such childish bal derdash. have given you tho best advice 1 could under the circumstances, and whcth- CT you follow 1t or not Is your own affair." r''
 'Decidedly," said Charles, rising In white heat. 'I always supposed you cared something about me; but when a fellows only relative, and that relative rich man, advises him to look out for a situation as car-conductor, there can certainly be but one opinion about it."
 "You arc right, Charles," said Uncle Adoniram, "there can be but one opinion. l decline, for your own good, to go on SUD- porting you; and, taking into consideration your constant failure to support yourself, 1 advise you to try for a car-conductor's position. You will learn to be accurate and attentive. You will know what it is to work for your bread; and this, in my opinion, you need to know moro than any thing else."
 "Then you don't care for tho humiliation, the social ostracism, lthat will be tho in- evitable results of such an Occupations' the young man inquired, as he nervously turned tho knob of the door he had just opened
 Mot red cent" Uncle Adoniram re- piled. 'If a man is going to be cut by his | friends for earning, in tho only way that is | open to him, an independent living, then social ostracism is the healthiest thing can think of. The only thing that should humiliate an able-bodied man is depend | ence upon others. You have become so ac- customed. Charles, to being looked out for that the alternative seems very undesir- able to you"
 This was "putting it hard" as Uncle Adoniram told himself afterwards; but the case was desperate and heroic treatment the only kind that would answer.
 "Your charity shall not be further tres passed upon," was the proud answer. 'Is 1 ever take relative to bring up, Uncle Adoniram, I will be still moro generous, and refrain from twitting him with how much he has cost me. Here is the money
 you gave me yesterday, and which I was mean enough to take,' and the young man
 emptied the financial contents of his
 pockets on his uncle's desk. "Since you
 have turned me out of doors, sir, l prefer
 to go penniless. Good morning."
 Uncle Adoniram was on tho point of call
 ing his nephew back, but thought better o1
 it and sat perfectly quiet as the angry mar
 
 street.
 "There was good deal of temper abou
 that last performance" said Uncle Adon
 iram, ''but there was some honest pride a!
 we'll don't just see how the boy is going
 to get along without money; but suppos'
 he won't starve as long as his watch lasts.
 The old man was right. Charles pawnet | the watch which had been left him by hi father, and then searched diligently for ] job. He left nothing undone to secure Wha he considered suitable situation, but hi efforts were useless. There was a call fo mechanics and employment enough for pro fessional men, but for him there was absc lutely nothing.
 There were hundred clerks and book {, keepers to one situation, a gentleman t whom he applied told him, and with touc of pity for the evident Encouragement c his applicant asked him few sensible ques tions.
 s'Now, if you understood stenoSraphy," h z said, after a careful catechism, II coul show you some court WOrk winch would D
 very remunerative."
 Charles shook his head. His experience were beginning to mako him feel yer small.
 "I should be glad to help you," the gentl !. man went on kindly, 'but really don't SC " any way to do it. I know of position yo 7: could have at once as car-conductor, but !. Tho young mans face was ablazc and h eyes looked as if they would strike fir
 ssRut what?' he asked as his companion d ]. not finish the sentence.
 ,; "If YOU were relative of mine, " tho ge l. tleman replied, "and had tried for oth' ;, Positions and failed as you tell me you hay
 Rhould say, put your pride in your pock