The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-28

hear of them. London was ever the city
Tor noble feasting And so he talked
until the lad s brain reeled for thinking of
all these splendors. and he grew sad in
thinking how far off Drusilla would be as,
one by one. all these grandeurs became
achieved
Another thing he observed: that while
the husband talked in his confident and
braggart way, the wife. who was thin
woman sat silent and sometimes sighed
Why did she sigh? Did she want to live
on in obscurity? Had she no ambition2
Then the merchant had filed and lit a
pipe of tobacco, and proceeded to tell
Ralph how he would have to begin upon
this ambitious career in search of fortune
First, he would have to be an apprentice
Il was myself" said Mr. Hetherington.
IAN apprentice. though who would think
it now?" As an apprentice he would
sweep and clean out the shop. open it in
the morning. and shut it at night; wait
upon the customers all day, run errands,
obey dutifully his master. learn the bust
ness. watch his masters interests, behave
with respect to his betters. show zeal in
the dispatch of work. get no holidays or
playtime. never see the green fields ex
cept on Good Fridays take for meals what
might be given him. which would certainly
not be slices off the sirloin, and sleep
under the counter at night In short. the
shop would be his workroom his parlor,
his eating room, and his bedroom
The boy listened to his instructions
with dismay Was this the road to fort
une? Was he to become a slave for some
years? But-after? His apprenticeship
finished, it appeared that lie might, if ne
could find money, open shop and become
a master But most young men. he
learned. found it necessary to remain in
the employment of their masters for some
years. and in some cases for the whole
term of their natural lives
He did not consider that he had already
such fortune as would. if laid out with
Judgment. enable him to open a shop or
to buy a partnership He forgot at the
time that he was the owner of Norwich
Mill 1t seemed to him. being so young
and inexperienced that he had run away
from his Inheritance. and abandoned it to
Mathew de, too. might therefore have
to remain in a masters employment
This was fine fortune. truly to be a ser
want all your days And the boy began
already even to regret his cousin
Mathews blows and Barbaras cruel
tongue.
His pipe finished. the merchant remem
bered that at his club would meet. and
therefore left the lad with his wife
Boy" she leaned over the table and
whispered eagerly as soon as her husband
was gone. have you come up to London
without money to become merchant
Indeed, madame he replied. II know
not what | may become
Then fly" she said. go home again
Follow the pillow become tinker ii tailor.
a cobbler-anything that is honest Trade
is uncertain For one who succeeds a
dozen are broke you know not. any mo
ment. but that you also may break Your
fortune hangs upon hundred chances
Alas if one Of these fail there is the
or Whitecross Street. or the Kings
Bench or the Clink-there are plenty of
places for the bestowal of poor debtors
for yourself. and for your wife and limo
cent children ruin and starvation.
Yet, said Ralph, Mr. Hetherington
is not anxious
He leaves anxiety" she replied bit
terly to his wife
Then she became silent. and spoke no
more to the boy. but sat with her lips
working as one who couversed with her
self And from time to time she sighed
as if her heart was breaking
In the morning the merchant was up
betimes and began again upon the glories
of the city
Art still of the same mndY" he asked
Wilt thou be like Wilmington and
Gresham and me also one of those who
climb the tree z
Then Ralp h confessed with a blush
which mattered nothing SO deep was the
ruddy brown upon his cheek that he
found city honors dearly bought at the
price of SO mnch labor and. confinement
80 hon said bis advise. .: 1c. .-.---
ly tones what will You dor
Ralph asked if there was nothing that
young man may do besides work at a
trade or sit in shop
Why truly yes j." Mr. Hetherington
replied with severity he may become a
high wayman. and rob upon the road tax
ing their money from honest tradesmen
and poor farmers-a gallant life indeed
and so he will presently hang in chains
or be anatomical and set UP in Surgeon
Hall There is the end of your fresh air
for you
But with respect. sir" Ralph per
sisted. II mean in an honest way
IF he is rich enough he may be a scho
lar of Cambridge. and so take orders. or
be may become physician or a lawyer
or schoolmaster. or u surgeon and go to
sea III his majestys ships and lead dog S
life or a soldier and go a fghting"-
Let me be ii soldier. cried the boy
Why. whyf But You must first ge,
his majestys commission and to get this
you must first beg for letters to my Lord
This and my Lord That. and bangle abou,
great houses. praying for their influence
and bride the lackeys and then perhaps
you'll never get your commission after
all
This was discouraging.
Rolling stones. lad." said the great
merchant, gather no moss Better stand
quiet behind the counter. sweep out the
shop. serve customers and keep accounts,
and perhaps some day be partner and
grow rich
But Ralph hung his head
Then how can help thee. foolish boyf
Yet. because knew thy father. and for
Drusys sake Stay. would you go to
lnda?"