Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-06
BENEATH HIM.
ST would starve firstl"

Uy Ill WIZ lAueW ulIli, ueAu Oc6u llN u 50
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 in
which he would be sure to earn his living.
Charles was 81, and his uncle up TO 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. He
had been unwilling to study for a profession,
and at this time had small prospect of OBJ
tanning a situation, and smaller prospect of
keeping position if he found one.
''If l could only find where l belong"
Charles began again. He had COO ed down a
little. and was disposed to argue the point a
trife further 81 can never make good
clerk or bookkeeper, and you know as well as
| do that an utterly lacking in mechanical
ability"
'tAnd the worst of all is, Charles, you are
utterly lacking in the quality of application, :"
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 a fair education you can make a
good clerk or good bookkeeper, and you
could learn a 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. | have
given you the best advice could under the
circumstances, and whether you follow it or
not is your own affair.""
decidedly" said Charles, rising in white
heat. II always supposed you cared some
thing about me; but when a fellows only
relative, and that relative a rich man. adj
vises him to look out for situation as car
conductor there can certainly be but one
opinion about it"
ssYou are right, Charles" said Uncle
Adoniran; "there 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 to try for car conductors 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 tc
know more than anything else"
''Then you don't care for the humiliation
the social ostracism, that will be the in
evitable results of such an occupation?" the
young man inquired as he nervously turned
the knob of the door he had just opened.
mot a red cent" Uncle Adoniram replied
"If man is going to be cut by his friends
for earning, in the only way that is open tc
him, an independent living, then social ostra-
cism is the healthiest 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 the 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 wa:
the only kind that would answer. "Youl
charity shall not be further trespassed upon,
was the proud answer. "If l ever take
a relative to bring up, Uncle Adoniram,
will be still more generous, and refrain from
INVITING him with how much he has cost me-
Here is the money you gave me yesterday
and which was mean enough to take" and
| the young man emptied the financial content:
of his pockets on his uncle's desk. "Since you
have turned me out of doors, sir, prefer te
go penniless Good morning."
| Uncle Adoniram was on the point of call
| ing his nephew back, but thought better Of
| it and sat perfectly quiet as the angry man
| slammed the door and walked down the
street.
There was a good deal Of temper about
that last performance, said Uncle Adoniram
"but there was some honest pride as well
don't just see how the boy is going to get
along without money; but 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 to secure what
he considered suitable situation, but his
efforts were useless. There was call for
mechanics 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 tG
whom he applied told him, and with touch
Of pity for the evident encouragement of his
applicant asked him a few sensible questions
''Now, if you understood stenography," be
said, after a careful catechism, II could
show you some court work which would be
very remunerative."
| Charles shook his head His experience:
were beginning to make him feel very small
II should be glad to help you," the gentle
man went on kindly, ''but really don't see
any way to do it, know Of position you
could have at once as car conductor, but"-
The young mans face was ablaze, and hi:
eyes looked as if they would strike fire. "But
what!" he asked, as his companion did not
finish the sentence.
"If you were relative of nine," tho gen
tleman replied, land had tried for other posi-
tions and failed as you tell me you have,
should say, put your pride in your pocket and
buckle to it. | should tell you also to maks
use Of every spare moment, and study stenog-
raphy as if your life depended upon it."
But when man once takes such posi-
| tion"-Charles began in feeble remonstrance
his face still scarlet.
HE is always obliged to keep it, you were
going to say" the gentleman interrupted.
| ''That is stuff and nonsense. Ii you have tle
| right pluck and ambition and application you
can make your job temporary affair,
| bridge across a stream: and il you are abov6
accepting such POSITION, or LOO INCIDENT anu
unambitious to work into something better
if you do accept it, then you are not Worth
saving" and with this the gentleman turned
| away.
| Charles had twenty-five cents of the watch
money left III his pocket. This was the sum
total of his earthly possessions. The way in
which this gentleman looked qpqH tho pride
| which made him hesitate about accepting fhe
! position of car conductor seemed the expires
sion of all business men from his uncle to the
| present one
swell, what do you sayf' the gentleman
inquired, returning in a moment to speak r.
| him.
| "If you will show mo how to secure the
situation you spoke Of" Charles replied, with
a lip which would culver little in spite oi
all he could do, II will go Immediately anQ
| see about it."
| GOOD for you'll" said his companion. q
will go with you," and the rich merchant
| passed his arm through that of his struggling