The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-06-09
THE SHELTERED LIFE.

81 suppose" said the elderly mer-
chant, that certain amount OF
hardship and buffeting is good Tor
character-building, and hope we are
not Gripping our boys development
by making things too easy for him.
One can hardly keep from shielding
those near to himself from every pos
sible care; and anyway, | could hard
Iy propose his roughing 1t. | have
always led a sheltered life myself.
'T never went hungry or thirsty,
never had to battle with the elements
nor, in fact. ever suffered any physi-
cal deprivation or danger" he went
on, as If in answer to his friends
unexpressed surprise at his previous
remark; for the friend could not help
wondering how many situated as he
had been would have considered they
led sheltered existence.
Left an orphan, he had started out
at the tender age Of eleven years to
"do for himself" and add to the re-
sources of a large family by being
errand boy in dry-goods store. So
faithful did he prove himself in this
capacity that by the time the usual
boy of his age was looking about
for his first job, he was managing a
branch store in another place. This
experience in responsibility encour-
aged him to go into business for him
self. He removed to a growing town
| in neighboring state, and set up
modest establishment.
1t was not long before he was able
to take the brother next himself in
age into partnership. The business
thrived, and ere long they divided
the interest, and this brother began
for himself in an adjacent town,
while the brother next younger sue
ceeded to the partnership.
| He in turn started an independent
enterprise, leaving the partnership
to the one still younger, until all the
borthers and the husbands of the SIS
tiers were established for themselves.
This done, he began taking his
senior clerks into partnership, and
assisting them into business for them
selves, one after another.
His interest in these successive
J partners by no means ended with the
closing of the partnership. In many
instances he furnished or went surety
| for additional capital for the new
venture. He helped select locations,
studied the needs of the locality, ad-
vised the line of goods to be carried,
and for years did practically all the
buying for several enterprises start
business considerations, he was en-
Enthusiastically active in all affairs af-
fecting the upbuilding of his commu-
nifty, intensely loyal to the party of
his utilization, and an earnest and de-
voted worker in his church.
In view of his many responsible
ties, no one was surprised that, in
consideration of health, he was
forced to retire from active business
life when he had scarcely reached
middle age. Although he retired
with a competency, he had not
achieved the wealth that his enter
prise and business sagacity might
have foreshadowed. His former part
ners in several instances held twice
perhaps three times, his own hold
ings. He had been too busy helping
others to acquire great property, toe
occupied in furthering the interests
of his fellow man to advance himself
by unfair means. Business tempta-
lions had left him unscathed or pass.
ed him wholly by. He had been toe
actively engaged in following the
| teachings of the lowly Nazarene tt
question the faith of his childhood
and it had radiated his whole life
Thinking these thoughts, his
friends first surprise at the old mer
. chants remark was turned into con
viction of it's truth, and into wonder
at the neverfailing wisdom and per
petual care Of the Infinite One. Fol
in the ordering of a life so full O.
, activities and responsibilities as tt
admit of nothing that would tend t,
mar or destroy the beauty of it's char
acter, has not our Father bestowed IL
l the greatest measure the boon of &c;
y sheltered e?"-Youth's COMPANION