Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-07
BENEATH HIM.
Il would starve drstT
..Tsl ...... ~

Il WOulI stdIFc tdsbi
Then staryeT'
Uncle Adoniram Barney, as be was called
by all who knew him, had been having u sc
rio,ls conversation with his nephew Chafias
Charles had lost his temper entirely, aid
Uncle Adoniram had at last rea si1si the ut
most limit Of forbearance. The Question III
der discussion WIS the advisability of the
Young mans seeking some occupation In
which he would be sure " earn his living.
Charles was u, and his uncle up 10 this
time had assisted him In every possible man
ner. but, strangely enough, though possessad
Of a fine intellect, carefully cultivated, he
had done nothing to earn his own living. he
had been nwliing 10 study for profession,
and at this tinne had small prospect OF OBJ
tanning situation. and smaller prospect Of
keeping position if he found one.
III could only find where | belong,
Charles began again. He mad cooled down a
little. and was disposed TO argue the point
trifie further Il can never make good
clerk or bookkeeper, and you know as well as
do that am utterly lacking in mechanical
ability"
And the worst Of all is, Charles, you are
utterly lacking in the quality Of application.
Uncle A,ioniram replied You talk about
your lacks rs If they were something to he
proud of II you have got fair common
sense and a fair e,i,I,sttiou you can make
good clerk or a good bookkeeper, 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. 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. Il always supposed you cared some
thing about me, but when fellows only
relative and that relative a rich man, adj
vises him to look out for a situation as car
conductor there can certainly he but one
opinion about 1t"
"You are right, Charles" said Uncle
Adoniram there can be hut one opinion.
decline for your own good, 10 90 on support
ing you, and, taking into consideration your
constant failures to support yourself, adj
wise you to try for a 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 TO
know more than anything else"
Then you don't care for the humiliation
the social ostracisn, that will be the in
evitable results Of such an occupationr the
the knob Of the dor he had just opened
Not red cent" Uncle Adoniram replied
If 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 ostra
csrn 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
nirain 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
was the proud answer III | ever take
relative to bring up, Uncle Adoniram, |
will 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 | was mean enough to take, and
the young man eiHptle1 the financial contents
Of his pockets on his uncles desk Since you
have turned me out of doors, sir, prefer to
60 penniless Good morning"
Uncle Adoniram was on the point of call
ing his nephew back, but thought better of
1t and sat perfectly quiet the angry man
slammed the door and walked down the
street.
There was good deal Of temper about
TINT last nerforuanre "said Uncle Adoniram
but there was some honest pride rs we'll
don't just see how the boy is going to get
olong without ,non.o. hut sr,,sos., he wo,,,
starve as long as his watch llsts"
The old man was right. Charles pawned
the watch which Ind been lef, him hv his
father. and then s..nrched diliyentlv for n
iob He left uotj,in,. ,,n,on. IN s,c,re what
he considered n suitable situation Int his
efforts were useless Thcre WINS n call for
mechanics anI confinement euou,h for pro
f,ss,onal men hut for him Their. was Also
lutelv nothing
There were ,r,dreJ ,.,,rls and boob.
kc.ners IN ono situation n gentleman IN
vbo,, he a,nlsa tolI hin, and viii , touch
Of nitv for tha svilert 1i.rnIrarepnnt of his
applicant asked him a few sensible ouestions
Now if Won understood stenosrnphv. he
said nfter n careful e,techisn. ~ could
show YOU some court work which would be-
very renunerative~
Charles shook ms head His exneriences
were beginning to make him feel very small
~ should he glad to HELM your the gentle
man ,yen, an kindly .tnit reallv don't 600
any way to do it, know of a position YOU
could have at once as car conductor. butt
The Young mans face was ablaze. and his
ewes looked as II they would strike fire. But
wha. p he asked. as his companion did not
finish the sentence.
"If you were relative of mine" the gen
tleman replied. and had tried for other posi-
tons and failed as yen. tell me YOU have,
should say. put your pride in your pocket and
buckle to it should tell you also to make