The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-11-12
"A ISIS Searles-And so you have quite
NJ finished your education?

years or so twiddling your thumbs and
watching your doorknob to see client
turn it,"
"There's medicine"
Eyes, of course oyercrowded too. Be-
sides, it took me three years of manual
training to find out couldn't use saw"
"How about the ministry?'
'Frightfully overcrowded Then Pm 40
deficient in reverence ; not enough, per-
haps, to make me modern pulpit pet, but
too much so far my own peace Of mind.
The ministry would never do"
"IIave you thought Of engineering?
Thought of it in all its branches civil,
electric, landscape, locomotive, all grossly
ovefcrowded. Every thing is ovpIcro~ ded.
Never saw such state of things"
"And do you really intend 70 waste ali
that splendid education, Nj. Clay TOM"
1T looks that way, Miss Searles You
gee, I've thought of everything, ballooning
and exploring and mining and treasure
anu oStllSu ming Iltutl Id
all overcrowded or I'm not suited to it, Do
you know, had about given it up "
"But you must do something"
''I've thought of that too"
"But you don't seem wired - scalc~ly
interested
What's the cool? Something may
turn up. If not why Norry?"
"Why don't you travel?'
'I've thought of that. Pve thought of
it several times-lately Fact is, I've just
been doing little travelling that has given
me new train of thought"
'You were in she South, beleve?"
'Ies, at my dear old Uncle ,Jim's bed
side. Poor old Uncle Jim He was an
other father to me. It's strange how whim
sioal personal likings are. Uncle Jim liked
me. Why, last Winter he came all the way
from home-rheumatism and all just to
see me play half-back in the Thanksgiving
day game. And after made my long run
and the winning touchdown. the dear old
fellow pushed through the crowd, and
caught me in his arms like crazy man.
and crying and making the fun
NEST efforts to give the college yell. Dear
old Uncle jim What good times we had
together ~
odd be die?'
Eyes"
"Too had :"
THANK you. We had many long talks
together before-the end, and Uncle jim
put some new ideas into my head. We
talked on this very subject that has inter
ested US tonight. Yes, and we talked OF
you, Miss Searles. 3"
"Mr. Clayton ~
eyes, Miss Searles. 1t would be lib
erty to talk of you to any one else, but it
wasn't with Uncle Jim. And l showed
him your picture-the one stole two years
ago, you remember-and he liked it,-and
sent you his compliments and his best love.
Uncle jim was always grand old gentle
man."
But don't see"-
Pardon me, am about to explain. 1t
was Uncle Jim who suggested new pro-
fession for me at least, he called it pro-
fession. He suggested that it wasn't as
overcrowded as some Of the others and that
there was generally room in it for the right
sort of man. Uncle Jim knew what he was
talking about. He had the keenest head
for business OF any man l know, and l
never met anybody whose advice valued
as highly. You seem to take an interest
in my welfare, Miss Searles-do the details
weary you ?"
"No, Mr.. Clayton. 1t was your-your
fippancy over serious subject that an
noyed me-a little. And this profession
does it give you hope of permanent employ.
ment ?"
81 am sure it does. l wouldn't 20 into
it if l didn't think So"
"And it is congenial ?"
Very"
"I'm glad to hear it, Mr.. Clayton. 1t is
strange, though, that we didn't happen to
mention it when we went over the various
professions"
"Isn't it? This is something quite diff
ferent, though. Perhaps that is the reason
we didn't, as you say, mention it. Would
you like to hear what it is ?'
"Why, yes, You arouse my curiosity"
"It is called-don't laugh the profess
sion Of son-in-law."
"Mr. Clayton ~
Cpd thought Of it, you know, some time
before Uncle Jim suggested it. oh, yes.
But Uncle Jim, you see, smoothed the way.
oh, he was quite taken with your photo