Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-13
Would YOU Be Young AgQIl?
BY GEORGE H. HEPWORTH.
copyright, 1898, by the Author.l
CHAPTER I

they were called "the learned counsel
on the other side" u species of flattery
in which lawyers delight to indulge. To
the outside world they figured as Thomas
Creighton and John Crandall, with u
portcntous Esd" affixed.
Occupying adjoining offices in old
Trinity building, they were arduously
engaged in attracting clients, and when
the stcrner work of tho day was over
Jack generally sauntercd into Tom $
room for a half hour of badinage and u
final smoke. They then Joined in u
somewhat plaintive duet, the burden
of which was that while the clouds arc
raining litigation "lot some droppings
fall on me. ="
II toll you, Jack" said Tom, with u
sigh, as he rested his heels on his desk
and tipped back at an anglo of DO de-
groes, "lifo in New York is about as
encouraging to fellows peace of mind
as buzzsaw would be"
"Why, what's the matter, my boy?
Been having an unusually hard time
lately! I thought you won that case of
Robinson versus Cobb. You have moth
Il u.
"Won it? Yes, of course 1 did. But
haven't bad good nights sleep since
/ went into the fight. I'm all tagged
out. 1t strikes me that city fellows
ought to be made of wrought steel. My
nerves are getting rampant, my head
feels as big as city hall and my legs
wabble as though had taken a dose of
hasheesh. "
Brace up Tom; brace up. You are
in the race for fame and fortune, and
you made mighty sharp squirt in that
last affair. Everybody down town is
talking about it. You can soon put up
your prices and take things more easily.
Business is just like r1lnning-at first
you get all out of breath and 90 putting
and blowing like an asthmatic locomo-
tive, but after awhile you reach your sec
ond wind, and then-well, then you re
all right, and devil take the hindmost "
"That's very encouraging way of
putting the matter, Jack, and l guess
you're about half right, but no more.
It's temperament, old fellow. Now,
your wheels are all Oiled and you slip
along without friction; but /, bless you,
at 35-I'm like the deacon's zone horse
shay just before it dropped into kim
ding wood. II go on in this way, |
shall be baldheaded at 40 and refuge
for rheumatism and govt and paralysis
and whole mob of aristocratic mala-
dies. l find myself longing for the old
college days when you and We're ruddy
checked and lazy, or the days later on
when we went into bachelor quarters
and had such merry times that just
ache to live them all over again. -
Nonsense, Tom. Take a Turkish
bath or blue pill. It's not your fate
that you should complain of, butt
"Well, what is it, them"
"Why, your liver, of course. You
are trying to do too much in too short
time.
Possibly"
"No, not possibly, but certainly.
Climb on to the back Of horse and take
hard trot in the park every day for
three months. That will make you lib
eral in religion, radical in politics and
u better friend and father
HIN! Yes, good advice to man in
my circumstances. 1t would have to be
an imaginary ride on an imaginary
horse rather think Tho last time 1
felt Of my purse l was SO sorry for my
self that went off and borrowed $40"
"Well, try your legs, then, or go into
gymnasium and got up an appetite.
Nine out Of ten of the miseries Of life
come from poor digestion. Just feel
that muscle in my arm. That's all I've
got to mako my way in the world with. "
by Jove. it's stunner You ought
to go round lifting mortgages with an
arm like that"
i've just put up tenement house
instead"
Put up tenement house! You must
be bowling athlete. Put it up as You
would a dumbbell, suppose. Why not
engage i'll dime museum? But. aside
from all nonsense, my boy, l think I'm
in bad way. I'm SO weak 1 couldn't
draw az
sect an artist to do it, then. It's
his business You know"
my hand trembles when 1 try to
sign check even."
So would mine, Tom, for 1 should
know it wouldn't be paid. I'm glad to
see you have some remnant of conscience
left. Come, walk homo and dine with
me. It's only six miles and will do You
good"
Have you any ambulanccs up your
way?'
"What for?'
"To bring my body home to sor-
rowing family"
"Pshawl What you need is to have
your legs stretched. "
Perhaps, but my impression is they
are quite long enough already Well
drop all that for the moment Jack.
Those were gay old times, though,
when we were young chaps, weren't
they"
Eyes, Tom, for boys times they
were well enough, but for mans times
I think they would seem insipid. Now,
tell me if some giftie were to gle you
the power to roll backward the spool
on which your years are wound, would
you do it? You say You would like to
be boy again, but aren't you joking
old fellow"
Would l be willing to take leap
backward, say, to 25, and the oyster
suppers, the euchre parties, the bets on
our favorite horses, tho jolly evenings
at the theater when we used to steal
round to the stage door and get smile
from our adored after she had dotted her
tinsel-and-and can't think of the
Tc that ,I.t