Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-06
THE MAN WHO
FOUND HIMSELF.

and IL was the boast of his old age.
Twenty years had elapsed since he had
entered the limits of the little hamlet
future successes. and which as time
passed some railroad official had desig-
mated as Black Rock.
In making himself Josiah Jamison
had fathered the upbringing of the town
and with the instinct of farseeing
speculator had possessed himself of the
hons share of it. He had also founded
the business which had set him above
the ordinary cares of living and COM
fort.
His stores were very cosmopolitan in
their lines of merchandise, comprising
mill supplies, mining outfits. groceries,
and articles of wear for the inhabitants.
He also dabbled somewhat in lumber
and the solitary saw mill OH the neigh
boring river bank was embodied in his
deeds of ownership.
AS his age crept upon him he realized
that his interests needed the hand of
one more skilled in the matter of books
and figures. So it was that one bright
morning found a stranger poring over
the dusty ledgers. and Josiah standing
idly by, putting his pipe with the self
con sciousness of "a man who has known
prosperity.
Besides this goodly share of worldly
possessions, Josiah had an only child, IA
daughter, and his intentions regarding
her were in accordance with what he
considered his heir should require. To
this end her home training was all that
"a doting parent could devise. When
she had turned II he sent her east.
where, under the strict eye of maiden
aunt, she was to be schooled in the ac.
complishments necessary to lady of
culture.
The new bookkeeper had spent a half
year of work within the precincts of the
little back office, and certainly he had
brought remarkable order aud system
out of the chaos into which the affairs
of the firm had drifted. This gave 10.
siah much satisfaction, and he had re.
marked to friend in burst of conf.
dence. that THE fellow is u rare one at
figures and very obliging to boot for an
ordinary colleger."
A letter arrived at this time from his
daughter. bringing the announcement
that she had completed her term of ed.
ucation. and also trip acrosss to the
seats of fashion i'll the old world, and
that she was returning home for we'll
earned holiday and rest. AS usual, the
proud father made his morning call at
hls office, and with forced calmncss
proceeded to inspect the work of his |
secretary. adding "a few words of con-
demnation or praise as the case de- |
manded. Then he shifted to the main
object of his visit.
II want you to take the cart and go !
To the station to meet my daughter
Jean. whom um expecting on the ten
O'Clock train. think the drive would
do you good. and l will keep the desk
until you return"
So it came abont that Tom Burrows
met Jean Jameson.
Months later Tom Burrows reviewed
his past with no small amount of dis.
pleasure as he sat in his room smoking
his pipe of reflection. In some mex
III. 81, l.
life had gone wrong. He had already
passed the age of %. when according to |
his opinion, every man shoul Il have the |
channel. into which his tale nts might |
be directed, well grooved to the accom-.
plishmcnt. His early days had been /
speut in thoughtlessness aud ease; these |
include three years at college where he |
had intended to graduate full fledged |
NJ. ID. However, circumstances often |
ruin plans for the future When he |
suddenly discovered that it was cramp.
ing his fathers waning income and al. |
so seriously hindering the chances of
his younger brothers and sisters. of |
whom he had a goodly number, he de
termined to utilize his abilities in "a
more practical and less expensive sphere
His decision had come as a severe blow
to his mother. who held him, her old
est boy. as cherished ideal. who
should be Il trifie better than the or
dinary, no matter what the sacrifice.
But SO it was that he accepted the DO.
sition under the worthy magnate of
Black Rock.
Then to think that this sprig of girl
had well-nigh upset his whole career.
Full well his memory pictured that
morning four months before when he
had driven the homely family cart To
the depot to meet this daughter of his
employer. and how she had treated him
with striking hauteur She had even
mistaken him for her fathers
coachman, and yet her very prudish-
ness seemed but to lend glamour of
romance to her. which had caught him
i'll "a veritable web How often she had
entered her fathers store, accompanied
by some of the youthful professionals
of the place, and seemed to delight in
airing her superiority to this common
office man True. her pettishness and
affectations sat well upon her dainty