The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-04-15
LOST OPPORTUNITIES
Inc Aggressive Man Lectures His
Threadbare Friend.

The rather threadbare man smiled
sadly. 81 haven't any particular COM
paint to make" he said. I think
have done pretty we'll, considering
my opportunities. I've a large fam
iE' you know, and that makes a diff.
ference"
The aggressive looking man with
the massive gold watch chain, said,
Pooh" explcsively. "Opportunity'
he growled. what are YOU talking
about? You've had as much opror
tunity as I have and NOR. too. I've
get family, haven't I? Certainly T
rave No. my friend, that isn't tho
trouble. The trouble IS that you
haven't taken advantage of your op-
p"rtunittcs. When opportunity came
knocking at your door YOU didn't hear
Fer. You thought she would como
with a club an! pound. or jimmy her
way through the window and hunt
you up and sit on your knee. Well,
che doesn't do that. She's too much
tof lady. II youn want to embrace
her that's all right, but she isn't 60
irg to 90 theh embracing herself.
whenever she's been around to see
Gc I've been watching at the key.
hole and I've had her yanked inside
before she got chance to see wheth-
or she'd got the right number.
1T seems to me that's rather ar
dent behavior, isn't it?"
''Not bit Of IT," said the agrees
I'VE looking man. Its the way she
likes to be treated. Make the must of
her and be sure to tell her to call
again. Talk about opportunity!
Wasn't Bondson living within half a
mile of YOU when YOU were a young
man. and iidp't he have girl who
was good enough for anybody? re-
momter y'ur teluag mt about her
She got a million and a half under the
cM mans will when no died .ast year.
There was your opportunity. b.: ,,ou
did not see It. did ycu,"
"Wsll nc" admitted tn. thr-a.,!.are
man. II can't say that I did. iid,.t
know her you know. I suppose I
might have sent in my card AN pro.
l'cscd."
you could have worked it all right
Just the samc," said the aggressive
looking man. You knew her brother
u'.d YOU were pretty md looking
boy-and you dressed we'll in tfos.
! days All you needed was nerve. II
I'd have been the ladies' man you
were IL have tried t, ! kr.nw that.
There's that suburb you're living, in
When vm bought v1u" 1T why didn't
you buy three or four acres. You'd
have been Independent today II you
had"
II hadn't the money to begin WITH"
said tho threadbare man.
That's no excuse. Eou could have
got some optic MS any way"
II suppose could"
"And wher I wanted you to take
that appointment on the board Of
works you wouldn't do it. It wasn't
great deal, but you could have 30:
stand-in with some OF 'he big guns
and got good thirg sooner or later
Politics is all right when YOU know
the gams and get on the inside. You
had \ good chance there. The man
who took that Job wanted you t.,
take is drawing his 5000 a year
right along now, to say nothing o.:
what he makes on the side"
\ ''rve had others. Il I could think ot
tn am." said the threadbare man.
IF I had bought wheat at the right
time and sold ut tho right time
might have been rich q dozen times
ever. I've had opportunities OF that
kind every day I might have worked
my way out to Alaska ard got in be-
fore the big rush If my foresight had
cen as good as you hindsight Is. 7
had an opportunity to help yom out Of
hole once, II you recollect, and I've
teen wanting an opportunity to Set.
you for week. Now II y0i
could"
Excuse me-" said the aggressive
looking man, there's fellow in the
car ahead I want to talk to a minute.
See you later. News.