Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-21
"MY GOOD BOY"


they exhibit in Iowa.
~
MY GOOD BOY"
[Keokuk Gate City.l
In one OF the flourishing railroad
towns of this state for several years
past widow lady has resided with
her only son, who is now a young man
a little past. his majority. They had
no home and the lady felt constrained
to acquire one. Some six or eight
years since she purchased, mostly on
time, neat little house upon which
she had to give a mortgage of few
hundred dollars. Luckily, she was
brave and industrious, and had no other
ambition than to get out of debt and
give her son a good trade. She had
worked in printing office and could
do almost anything required in getting
out a paper-as setting type. reading
and correcting proofs, making up
forms or even writing editorials, or
local reporting. Being always prompt
and reliable, clear-headed and self
respecting, she had no trouble in OBJ
tanning employment. Her boy had an
ambition to become an worker
After little diplomacy-some effort
to obtain the situation-as the labor
union had to be placated-he was taken
into the railroad repair shops as an
apprentice, to learn the trade. This re-
CURED five years of steady work, but
the brave boy, inspired by his brave
little mother, was equal to the situa-
ton. His wages for the first two years
were very small and food and clothing
We're to be earned, taxes paid and the
recurring payments upon the mortgage
to be promptly met. But the courageous
mother and her dutiful son held right
to their undertakings. working and
saving, and at the end of five years his
trade was learned, and the last pay
ment made on the mortgage. They
were out of debt and reasonably indie
pendent. He had smoked no cigarettes.
his health was good and he could NOW
command the wages of a full-fledged.
competent mechanic. All this had been
accomplished through thorough deter
mination and self-denial. Nov, moth
err said he, II am going to take care
| of YOU" and he started west to see the
world and in search of work. Afte,
stopping for short periods at a few
lplaces on the way. he finally brought
competent workers as he had become
We're in demand. He readily secured a
Job" In repairing a rundown loco
motive thorough workman is put on
each side of it to take it to pieces, re-
adjust the fittings and put it together
again. Our boy was fully competent to
fill the place of skilled workman. Sc
competent did he prove that he was
| also given all the over-work that he
lcared to do. He wrote his proud anc
Joyful mother at the end of October
| that his wages for that month Were
only little less than $40, and thai
| she must now come and live with him
| And Just as this article Is appearing
she is looking up the best route. In q
flew days she will alight from the trair
/ In the California town, TO lind herseli
| clasped in the arms of a stalwar'
young man, but who remains to hel
simply-"My good boy"
This little story is every word true
The lesson it indicates is this-tha
there is work and opportunity for those
/ who are brave and determined, indie
Ipendent and self-reliant industriou:
and prudent. And yet, what lies thu
tramps and hobos still keep telling o
|poor wages and no work! Had this
woman been too proud to work an,
given herself up to complaining of he
/ sad lot, perhaps. accepting the COLI
lcharities of relatives. finding fault Will
society. content that her son shoult
loaf on the streets, graduate from tn
saloons, how different would their con
dition now be and how destitute o
promise all the future years! That wa
truly IA good boy 1t required ex
cellent qualities, even with mother
counsel, to go with the little dinner
pail to the dingy old shop before day
light on winter mornings. or to be see
on the streets in uniform of toll, wit
blackened faces and hands. But tn
faithful apprentice is now the skille
and competent workman whose serv
: ices are in demand at good wages Q
certainty. prosperity awaits him, a
lit has done all whose course In life