Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-20
One OF The Boys.

somewhere on the north shore of
Lake Superior, a place where busi-
ness and life are dormant all
through the winter months, but
which in summer is made bustling
and bright by the arrival of boats
and the presence of tourists. 1t is
July. A man stands on the veran-
da of the largest hotel in the place
and gazes steadily across the bay,
To a casual observer, he appears
very much interested in a ship in
the offing, but one looking closer
would perceive that his eyes have
the unseeing look of man lost in
thought. He is young, not more
than thirty, of medium height, an d
slender, with fair, fine-featured
face, grey-blue eyes and close-cut
mouse-colored hair. His clothes
are carelessly well-fitting, but utscarce-
ly smart" enough to be those of a
commercial traveller.
A little bright-eyed child runs up
to his side and looks curiously into
his face. This diverts his attention
and he pats the little hand which
has slipped into his, and asks,
"Well, my boy, what is your nameP"
Freddie Cohen" was the ready
answer, "and my fathers name is
Frederick G. Cohen, and my mother
is Mrs. Cohen, and we live in Bos-
ton. My father keeps jewelers.
store. Now you tell me who you
are"
There is no answer, and Fred
Cohen, Jr., again repeats, "Who
are you, what are youp"
"Who am 1? Well, with queer
SMILEY guess I'm 'one of the
boys
Freddie, Freddie" calls a female
voice from the other end of the YER
anda, "come in to dinner" And
Freddie vanished.
Zone of the boys" says the man,
half aloud. "Yet, that's all l am,
'One of the boys Never did any
thing worth speaking of-never
benefited soul. Came of good
family, well educated, splendid op-
portunities, clever enough, they
said, but not steady. Started to
study for profession, but gave up
first year, no sticking ability; went
into fathers business and ruined
him by my extravaganza and care
lessness; too much wine, too much
to many girls; was laughed
and talked out Of marrying the
only girl / cared for, another girl |
liked was talked out of having me,
other girls whom l didn't care a
cent for spent my dollars; quarreled
with the governor, was steady for
a time, got back into his good
graces, broke out again; was sent
away, got situation as hardware
clerk; didn't like it, tried reporting;
wasn't bad, but it didn't like me;
drinking hard.
Now, I'm across the water, free
from debts and relations (though
not the boys they're all over)
with ten dollars in my pocket.
Ten dollars! /, who have had many
thousands, am now the proud pos
SCISSOR of ten dollars. Ihave also
railroad ticket to Winnipeg and
when l get to that place, there's
ready for me to hop into
at munifcent salary of eight dol
lars per week.
"Now, shall l commence anew a
sober, steady, plodding, Industrious
lifep can 1? No, by c., I can
not. How many times have ! tried
to reformp How many times have
l tried to be different to what ! am?
Old habits are stronger than any
thing else. Then, what is to be
done? Let me think.
II wouldn't mind giving up the
ghost if l could only think of
something l had done in this life
that had benefited someone else.
But cannot. The boys with
whom I've squandered my money
have not, l should say, benefited by
it. In that way it could only have
been an incentive for them to 60
and do likewise with their own.
"Now, that poor wretch, sitting
down there by the boathouse would
think this ten dollars a fortune, and
his wife and children would go
wild with delight if he returned
home with it in his pocket tonight.