Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-28

women came under that category; but,
il any, then it must mean those who
came around selling apples and oranges.
The reader will see that when once
away from the shelter Of home, in
threading the worlds devious ways, I
would be crossing the roaring torrent
"on the pcrilous footing Of spear,
all but certain to fall into the flood be-
meath.
During my last year at school and for
long time after leaving it my father
and mother We're never tired of talking
about my good education. Possibly they
were not very good judges, but I am
confident that they, after all, did not
realize the Importance of boy being
well equipped il that regard. Their
thoughts and minds were SO bent on the
other world and things unseen bulked
50 hugely on their mental vision that
there was small space left for things Of
this earth. They. good, simple souls,
were made for and ought to have lived
i'll the golden age, when all men were
brave and all women true, where neigh
borly eyes reflected tho love and faith
within, but in cur utilitarian days they
were sadly out Of place, and little Won
der if they had lost their way in this
world/
In their intense longing for the life
beyond the grave, their passionate de-
sire to walk the streets of gold, they,
by their actions, seemed to forget we
were on this earth, and that we were
here with many sharp reminders of the
fact.
Tho same Guilclcssrcss was manifest
cd i'll their choice of our home readings.
The books l was allowed ACCESS to in
the house were "The Life Of King Da-
vid," 1.-The History of Jerusalem"
"Baxtcr's Saints Rest, - "The Immor-
tai Drcamcrs Pilgrim" and Fox's
Book Of Martyrs" His first martyr is
Stephen, and such was my gross igno-
rance Of his story that always supposed
Stephen had been martyrcd by the
Church of Rome. Hero was mental food
for boy who had his own way to make
in the world.
Craving ether mental food than 1.-THE
Life cf David" 1 used to club pennies
with chum and buy that delectable
sheet, Med Buntlinc's own" then in
fear and trembling would creep to an
upper room and read "Thc Haunted
House" or 1.-The Ghost of Castle Ivy"
until my hair stood ON end in a sort Of
ccstatic horror, or the stirring adven-
lures of Jack tie Rover" or pirate
Chief" until my brain took fire and a
mighty impulse stirred every fiber, i'm
polling me to follow i'll their footsteps.
had remained idly at home for some
six months after my happy release from
school, when one night my father re-
turned from New York and said, MY
son, have found a situation for you. {"
That was delightful news, and when I
went to bed that night l was too excited
to sleep.
So now at 16 I was about to sail out
Of harbor, and how equipped!
Absolutely without education, void of
worthy wisdom ard in my boyish brain
dividing tho world into two sections.
In ono was King David Staying the
Philistincs or dancing before the ark.
In the other were Jack the Rover and
the Pirate Chief. How easy to guess the
sequel! Yet was not bad boy-ear
from it. 1 only needed wise guidance
and good companionship, and as the ig-
norance and crudity Of my character
dropped off the innate virtue-mine by
lawful heritage-would have been de-
velopcd. But pitchforked into the wild
whirl of Wall street and its fast set oe
gildcd youth, the gates Of the Primrose
to my eager feet.
The situation NY father had obtained
for me was with a sugar broker Of the
name Of Waterbury. He was partner
in a large refinery, his Office being in
South Water street He was Il nice, con
sentative old man and let things run on
easily. His chief clerk. Mr.. Anbler,
was every inch gentleman, who,
quickly pcrcciving what cn ignoran,us
1 was. out Of the goodness of his heart
resolved TO teach me something.
There were two sharp young men il,
our Office. They liked me well enough,
but usel to guy me numerically for my
simplicity and clursiness. One of them,
Harry by name, was something of a
scapcgracc, and soon acquired quite a
power over me. l stood i'll much fear of
his ridicule and frequently did things
for which my conscience rcproacheG me
rather thai: stand the fire Of his rail.
lery. The greatest harm he did me was
in firing my imagination with stories
of Wall street, of the fortunes that were
and could he made in the goldrooifi OF
Oh change. He made tolerably clear the
modus orcrardi Of Spectators. and
secretly resolved that some day /, too,
would Try my fortune.
NY friend Mr.. Amblcr's health was
bad. and frequent attacks of illness
caused him to be away from the office
for weeks ct time, and that mean,
much loss to me. When had been there
about year, he resigned his position
and went Us manager for factory in
New Haven. But before leaving he in
tercsted himself so far in my welfare Us
To secure me position with firm o1
brokers in New street at a salary Of
/ $40 Il week. Ny employers were good
fellows, lovers Of pleasure and men Of
1 tl,o 90 u T--fN>f