Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-06

uney sought the ONCE of the great railroad
| company. A few brief words and the ugly
| business was settled. TIE young man would
| take his place the next morning at & o'clock.
| with small but sufficient salary.
| 81 have the best works on shorthand" the
| gentleman told Charles as they were about to
part; ''and if you will step around to the
house with me should be happy to lend you
the books. My daughter studied stenography
| for fun. 1t took her one year to learn the
SYSTEM by studying little every day. You
ought to be able to beat girl at the bust
| ness"
Charles smiled. Application That was
what his uncle said he needed more than any
| other quality Should he take this mans
books, and promise him to spend his spare
time in the study of stenographya How
strangely his affairs were being taken out of
| his hands, The young man had always be-
| lieved that the great business of the universe
| was taken care of, but this was the first time
| he had ever felt that his small affairs were in
| any way managed or directed. Now it seemed
| to him as if his ways were in some incompre-
henslble manner being ordered.
| Of course there was neither generosity nor
| justice in the matter, and everything was all
| wrong, still some power outside of himself
| was responsible, and he wondered, as he looked
| over the strange characters that evening in
| the book his new friend had lent him, which
Struggling mark his life was like. They all
meant something, that was one comfort
| some letters; some phrases; but the zigzag
character which stood for him would doubt
less be the one of smallest account 1t would
be an interrogation point, he thought; surely
no one asked more questions or received less
| answers.
| He had had one meal that day. His re-
naming twenty-five cents must be saved for
| breakfast the next morning. How he was to
| manage for full week without any money
| was a physical and mathematical problem
| which he was not equal to-
| Sufficient unto the day." and "Think not
| of the morrow" were the last words on his
| lips before going to sleep; and they were re-
| peated with so much reverence, and such evil
dent desire to get hold of the faith which was
dimly dawning upon him, that his good angel
must have felt comforted.
Promptly at 6 the next morning the young
man took his place on his car. The first
thing to do was to sweep it out. Charles
Barney had never used broom i'll his life, but
he gave his mind to the work. and succeeded
in appearing much less awkward than he felt.
There was good deal to learn, indeed much
more than he supposed, but he listened to the
numerous instructions with attention. and his
new work commenced.
1t was not quite as dreadful as he had sup
| posed. Still it was distasteful enough, and
the poor fellow wondered if he should ever
get used to it. At noon, on his return to the
car station, he found letter from his new
friend, with an inclosure of S..
81 had an impression" it said, "that you
were entirely out of money. l tried once
when was about your age to live without
eating 1t didn't work. | am sure it won't
In your case. Come in and see me some time
when you have leisure. Keep up your cour-
age, and stick to your stenography."
The first thought that went through the
young mans mind as he read and re- read this
kind letter was that this rich merchant didn't
feel himself above associating with car con-
ductor. To do him justice he recognized that
this was a very mean consideration. Then he
wondered how long it would be before he
could return the money, and concluded he
could do it in two weeks. Then, and not till
then, would he call on the gentleman.
Only an hour could be given to study in the
first twenty-four hours of his new life, but
| this time was refreshment instead of a
drag, and when he put away his book for the
sleep he must have it was with real reluctr
ance.
He had been employed about two months
when one morning Uncle Adoniram stepped
ON his car. His first impulse was to pull his
hat down over his eyes and avoid recognition
if possible, but Charles Barney was learning
manliness as well as application, and he i'm
mediately thought better of it. The old man
/ Ill, L,
his change, but Charles said softly, "Good
morning, uncle" and then he sprang to his
feet.
"Charlesl" he exclaimed, grasping the con-
ductor's hand. "Charles, my boy, how do
you do?"
There was abundant love and heartiness in
there was something more that was new to
Charles. He knew now that for the first time
his uncle really respected him, and out of this
stronger courage was born.
81 have been very lonely without you," the
old man said, as he stood on the back plat
form with his nephew; ''and l have been
worried about you, too. Why have you not
been home, Charlesa'
because wanted to see if I was really
going to keep my position" the young man
answered; land because, uncle, l wanted to
rid myself of all feeling of humiliation before
l saw you again"
Where do you stand in the matter now?"
Uncle Adoniram inquired, as he brushed
tear from his cheek.
"Almost on my feet" Charles replied.
"Are you looking for anything else, my
ooyr
Il am studying stenography with all my
might, uncle, and am getting along finely.
By and by l shall have mastered it, and then
| can always find employment.
"Your discipline has made man of you,
Charlesl" said his uncle. II knew it would
Don't stay away from the old man, my boy
God bless and keep you"
The young man went home the next day,
for he felt that his uncle needed him; but he
still kept his position as car conductor, and
studied every spare moment. His uncle read
to him and laughed at the strange characters
be SO deity put on paper, and in this man
ner year went by. Then Charles Barney
found more congenial employment helped to
it by the merchaIt who had been his stead
fast friend. He had served an invaluable
apprenticeship to the memorable taskmastep,
necessity, and had been an apt scholar, not
only learning dispatch and application, but
finding out that true man can enloble the
lowless labor.-Eleanor Kirk in Youtha
Companion.
A Drowned Mans Shirt.