Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-06-26

ANINl
.My boy" said he, you are just
OF age aud my business anairs are
10 such . condition that lt viii be
necessary for you 90 contribute to
your own support. and 10 make your
way through college 1t you decide
to take up profession. Equipped
as YOU are, this should uot pc hard.
ship"
was delighted at the prospect,
and looked upon the venture much
as a boy docs upon a camping eXpe.
ditiOn.
had never gone further from my
home town than Richmond some
thirty miles of, and knew little of
the world what service had done
tor others was that of mutual obliga-
ton. rendered to members Of our own
household.
In two months | was keeping
books for large firm in Montreal.
The duties were new, and | was
quite unused to the discipline of the
work, not being particularly quick
at fggers."
Mr.. POpham, the senior member
OF the firm, was fine old man, a
gentleman of the old school, and
my desk was next to his in the Of
fee. His son, however, who was a
bookkeeper in the same house, made
my lot hard one by putting tasks
upon me which he should have at
tended to himself, and by naughty
insolence which did not in the least
accord with his small capacities.
After week of this | rebelled,
'resigning" my position.
Now" said | to my father, when
had returned to my cheerful place
In the household, 81 am going to
visit you for a few days, then start
out on my own hook again. | want
TO so long way of, too, because
you have often said that the East
is not the best place for young
man TO start in"
My father did not like this very
well, but said little, and finally with
my mothers consent, he consented
to let me go where | wished.
II don't want much money" |
said. only little more than enough
to take me to San Francisco
This was given to me, and as |
got on the train my father said to
Remember IL you need money
III be glad to send 1t, for you have
been saving boy. but write rather
than telegraph, unless you are sick
or in sudden need"
oh" answered | quickly. there
is lots of work for everybody over
there; ! can surely make clothes and
board for one"
So | said goodbye, not without a
heart-wrench. and tears later on,
when familiar home scenes faded
from my view.
For seven or eight days the time
went by almost as quickly as the
landscape from the car window, and
very soon indeed we came to San
Francisco.
Here was charmed with every
thing, even the climate, for had
never been out of the rigorous
climate Of my eastern home.
Then the gayety of the place fas-
cinated me, 1t was so unlike what I
had been used to In my Puritan
town.
The city at this time was unusual
ly full of idle men; they gathered
about the employment Offices, and, at
night, crowded among the Sand
lots" to listen to agitators who
sought to increase the already strong
prejudices OF the white against the
Chinese.
took a room at the Palace Hotel,
and ate my meals at the Palace. But
gradually my bank account grew
smaller, and I found II necessary to
change my commodious quarters for
q small room on Mission street. Here
] secured neat room Just large
enough for the bed and table, pay
Ing therefor one dollar week. The
bed was clean and soft, so ! did not
mind the change so much. Instead
Of going to the Cafe, | sought res
taurant on Market street, where
fairly good meals were served for
fifteen cents. Sometimes ! went to
the Women's Christian Temperance
Union Corfee house, which gave meals
for five cents less. These meals were
good and wholesome, and, according
to our present notions on diet, were
all that anybody could want.
During this time | inserted adyer-
tisement in the papers, and answer
ed some myself, but each time |
found that another had preceded me.
One day, after counting over my
money, discovered that all had
I'm the world was five dollars; this
gave me new sensation, at least,
and I realized that when the five
dollars were spent, I would have
neither money NOR food NOR any