Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-14

realize the importance Of boy being
well equipped in that regard. Their
thoughts and minds were SO bent on the
other world and things unseen bulked
so hugely on their mental vision that
there was small space left for things Of
this Garth They, good, simple souls,
were made for and ought to have lived
In tho golden age, when all men were
brave and all women true, where neigh
borly eyes reflected the love and faith
within, but in our utilitarian days they
were sadly out Of place, and little Won
der IL they had lost their way in this
world.
In their intense longing for the life
beyond the grave, thcir passionate de-
sire to walk the streets Of gold, they,
by their actions, seemed to forget wo
wero on this earth, and that we were
here with many sharp reminders Of the
fact.
The same guileessness was manifest
ed in their choice of our home readings,
Tho books was allowed access to in
the house were "The Life of King Da-
vid, " THE History Of Jerusalem"
"BaXter's Saints Rest, "Tho Immor-
tai Dreamer's 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 other mental food than "Tho
Life OF David, " / used to club pennies
with chum and buy that dblectable
sheet med Buntlinos Own, then in
fear and trembling would creep to an
upper room and read Tho 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 tho Rover" or pirate
Chief" until my brain took fire and n
mighty impulse stirred every fiber, inn
polling me TO follow in their footsteps.
had remained idly at home for some
six months after my happy release from
school, when ono night my father re-
turned from New York and said, My
son, ] have found n situation for you.
That was delightful nows, and when l
went to bed that night l was too excited
to sleep.
SO now at 10 was about to sail out
Of harbor, and how equipped
Absolutely without education, void of
worldly wisdom and in my boyish brain
dividing the world into two sections
In ono was King David staying the
Philistines or dancing before the ark
la tho ptl,or yynro Iaclr thn pnyar mud
tho Pirate Chief, How easy TO guess the
sequel Yot l wns not bad boy-far
from IT, I only needed wise guidance
and good companionship, and ms the ig-
nornnco and orudity Of my character
dropped off the innate virtue-mino by
lawful heritRae-would have been do
yeloped. But pitchforked into the wild
| whirl Of Wall street and its fast SGT Of
| gildod youth, the gates Of the Primrose
Way to destruction were held wide open
| TO my eager feet.
The situation my father had obtained
for me was with sugar broker of tho
name Of Waterbury. He was partner
in n large refinery, his office being in
South Water street. Ho was nice, con-
servntivo old man and lot things run on
easily, His chief clerk, Mr. Amber,
was every inch gentleman, who,
quickly porceiving what an ignorpmus
was, out Of the goodness Of his heart
resolved to teach me something
There were two sharp young mon in
our office They liked me we'll enough,
but used to guy me numerically for my
simplicity and clumsiness. One Of them,
Harry by name, was something OF o
scapegrace, and soon acquired quite q
power over me. stood in much fear Of
his ridicule and frequently did things
for which my conscience reproached me
rather than 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 DO made in the goldroom or
ON change He made tolerably clear tho
modus operandi of speculators, and l
secretly resolved that some day /, too,
. would try my fortune.
My friend Mr.. Ambler's health was
bad, aud frequent attacks of illness
caused him to be away from the office
for weeks Mt u time, and that meant
much loss TO me. When had been there
about year, he resigned his position
and wont "a manager for factory in
New Haven, But before leaving he in
torested himself so far in my welfare rs
TO secure mt position with firm OF
brokers in New street ut salary OF
$40 week. My employers We're good
fellows, lovers Of pleasure and mon Of
the world, not scrupling TO talk freely
with mo OF their various adventures ont
Of business honrs. had lost much OF
my awlSwardnoss and gauche manners,
and under the $40 week arrangement
began TO dress fairly we'll My employ.
ers did q brokerage business and specu-
lated as well ON their own account
My duties were decidedly light and
pleasant aud brought me into contact
with some Of tho sharpest as we'll as
the most famous men in the street.
Among them was brilliant young man
Of my own age, who took a great fancy
TO me and frequently proposed that We
should start for ouraolves, Being doubt
full Of my powers, | shrank from risiing
my scanty funds in amy speculative WI.
ture Much to my mothers coueen3
hnd began attending the theatcf, Al
onc.night on my friend Weeds inyfb.
tion Went with him to Niblo's. Abb