Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-27
BENEATH HIM.
by ELEANOR KIRK.

eI would starve firstl"
s"Then starvel"
Uncle Adoniram Barney, rs nc was
called by all who knew him, had been
having serious conversation with his
nephew Charles. Charles had lost his
temper entirely, and Uncle Adoniram had
Mt last reached the utmost limit of for
bcarance. The question under discussion
was the advisability 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
possible manner, but, strangely enough,
though possessed of fino intellect, care
fully cultivated, he had done nothing TO
earn his own living. Hc had been I'M
willing to study for profession, and at
this time had small prospect of obtaining
situation, and smaller prospect of keep
ing position if he had found one.
'If 1 could only find where belong"
Charles began again. He had cooled
down little, and was disposed to argue
the point n trifle further. ''I can never
make good clerk or boollkceper, and
you know as well as l do that 1 am
utterly lacking in mechanical ability"
"And the worst of all is, Charles, YOU
arc utterly lacking in the quality of ap-
plication," Uncle Adonram 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 good clerk or
good bookkecpcr, and you could learn
trade if you 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. L
have given you the best advice 1 could
under the circumstances, and whether YOU
follow 1t or not is your own affair"
Decidedly" said Charles, rising in n
white heat. 'I always supposed you
cared something about me; but when n
fellows's only relative, and that relative
rich man, advises him to look out for
situation as car conductor, there can GER
tainly be but one opinion about it."
"You are right, Charles" said Uncle
Adoniram, "there can be but one opinion.
L decline for your own good, to 90 on
supporting you and taking into consider
alton your constant failures to support
yourself, advise you to try for car con-
ductor'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
more than anything else."
"Then you don't care for the humilia-
ton, the social ostracism, that will be
the inevitable results of such an occupa-
tion2" the young man inquired as he
neryously turned the knob of tho door he
had just opened.
"Not red centp Uncle Adoniram re-
Piled. If man is going to be cut by
his friends for earning in the only way
that is open to him an independent liv-
ing, then social ostracism is the healthiest
thing that 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 the alternative seems
very undesirable 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. aYour
charity shall not be further trcspassed
upon," was the proud answer. ssIf I
ever take relative to bring up, Uncle
Adoniram, Twill be still more generous,
and refrain from twitting him with how
much he has cost mo. 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, I prefer
to go penniless. Good morning"