Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-10
BENEATH HIM.
"I would starve irstl"
"Then starvel"

81 would starve frsti"
''Then starved"
Uncle Adoniram Barney, as he WIS called
by all who knew him, had been having Sc
rious conversation with his nephew Charles
Charles had lost his temper entirely, and
Uncle Adoniram had at last reached the ut
most limit Of forbearance. The question I'M
der discussion was the ACCESSIBILITY of the
young mans seeking some occupation Ii
which he would be sure TO earn his living
Charles was 81, and his uncle up 10 this
time had assisted him in every possible man
ner, but, strangely enough, though possessed
of fine intellect, carefully cultivated, he
had done nothing to earn his own living. be
had been unwilling to study for a profession,
and at this time had small prospect Of OBJ
tanning situation, and smaller prospect Of
keeping position if be found one.
'If / could only find where I belong"
Charles began again. He had cooled down a
little, and was disposed to argue the point a
trife further Il can never make a good
clerk or bookkeeper, and you know as well as
] DO that L am utterly lacking in mechanical
ability"
''And the worst of all u.s. Charles, you are
utterly lacking in the qualify OF application, p"
Uncle Adoniram replied "You talk about
your lacks as if they were. something to be
proud of. If you have got fair common
sense and fair education you can make a
good clerk or a good bookkeeper and you
could learn trade If yen wanted TO. 1t is
all bosh, every bit of It,, and now that you
have come TO mans estate you ought to be
ashamed of such childish balderdash. | have
given you tho best advice l could under the
circumstances, and whether you follow it or
not is your own affair"
Decidedly" said Charles, rising in white
heat Il always supposed you cared some
thing about me; but when a fellows only
relative, and that relative a rich man, ad-
vises him TO look out for a situation as car
conductor there can certainly be but one
opinion about it,
'You are right, Charles" said Uncle
Adoniram; Hthere can be but one opinion.
decline, for your own good, TO go on support
ing you, and, taking into consideration your
constant failures to support yourself, | ad-
wise you 10 try for a car conductors position.
You VIII learn TO be accurate and attentive.
You VIII know what it is TO work for your
bread; and this, in my opinion, you need to
know more than anything else"
''Then you don't care for the humiliation,
the social ostracisIn, that will be the in
evitabie results Of such an occupationF' the
young man inquired as he nervously turned
the knob of the door he had just opened.
mot red cent, Uncle Adoniram replied
eff a man is going to be cut by his friends
for-earning, in the only way that is open to
him, an independent living, then social ostr2-
cism is the heaIthiest thing | can think Of.
The only thing that should humiliate an able
bodied man is dependence upon others You
have become so accustomed, Charles, TO being
looked out for that tho alternative seems very
undesirable to you"
This was putting it hard, " as Uncle Ado
hiram told himself afterwards; but the case
was desperate and heroic treatment was
the only kind that would answer. Your
charity shall not be further trespassed upon,n
was the proud answer. ''If l ever take
n relative 10 bring up, Uncle Adoniram,
viii be still more generous, and refrain from
twitting him with how much he has cost me
Here is the money you gave me yesterday,
and which l was mean enough to take" and
the young man ernptied the financial contents
of his pockets on his uncle's desk "Since you
have turned me out of DOORS sir, prefer to
20 pennilesS. Good morning"
Uncle Adcn1ram was on the point of call
ing his nephew back but Thought better of
1t and sat perfectly quiet as the angry man
slammed the door and walked down the
street
There was q good deal of temper about
that last performance, - said Uncle Adoniram,
"but there was some honest pride as we'll
/ don't just see how the boy is going to set
along without money; butt suppose he won't
starve as long as his watch lasts
The old man was right Charles pawned
. the watch which had been left him by his
father, and then searched diligently for a
job, He left nothing undone 10 secure what
he considered a suitable situation, but his
efforts were useless. There was call for
SInechanicS and employment enough for pro-
fesSional men, but for him there was abso-
lutely nothing
There were hundred clerks and book
keepers to one situation, a gentleman TO
whom he applied told him, and with a touch
of pity for the evident encouragement of his
applicant asked him a few sensible questions
Now, II you understood stenography," he
said, after a careful catechiSm, Il could
show You some court work which would be
very remunerative.
Charles shook bis head His experiences
were beginning TO make him feel very small.
man went on kindly, but l really don't see
any way to do it. L know of a position you
could have at once as car conductor, butt
The young mans face was ablaze, and his
eyes looked as if they would strike fire. But
whatf= he asked, as his companion did not
finish the sentence
1T you were a relative Of NINE" the gen
tlenan replied, land had tried for other posi-
lions ana failed as yoa tell me you have,
should say, put your pride in your pocket and
buckle 10 IL. l should teal you also TO make
use ot every spare moment, and study stenog
raphy as If your life depended upon it."
but when man once takes such a posi-
uon'-Cherles began IN feeble remonstrance,
his face still scarlst.
HE is always ohhgedto keep it, you were
song TO shy the gentleman interrupted
That Is stuff snd nonsense. Ii YOU have the
right pluck and ambition and application YOU
can make your JOB temporary affair. 8
bridge across n stream; and # Won are above