The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-09-21
The Story of a Man Who
Made Good.
BY HARRY LEE SNYDER.
from the National Magazine

first day of April the high cost of living
landed a solar plexus blow. | had just
paid my good German landlady for my
preceding weeks board and lodging, and
she had remarked alphabetically: "Pota-
toes costs so much an meat is so high
once that it is | must ask you for ten
dollars every week already"
And l had been paying only seven! l
went to my Office and sat down at my
desk to think things over-a not alto
gether pleasant or wholly profitable task.
was a lawyer. My honest old black
smith father-having in mind nothing but
the thought of securing my future-had
made numberless sacrifices that might
be educated, and his dearest wish had
been to see me cozily established in my
chosen profession. Within a week after
my admission to the bar he died, and
found myself alone in the world, for my
mother had passed away some years be-
fore. AS sat at my desk that morning
l fell to thinking of my fathers last
words to me:
BE man, Robert, We're his last
words. Don't be afraid of failure, but
beware of uselessness.
| was thinking about uselessness. To
what purpose, | asked myself, was |
standing idly in the already overcrowded
ranks of myriad of lawyers? | was, l
realized, a failure, and the roadway
ahead of me seemed rough and wreck
strewn. | didn't have the knack of get
ting business why should deny it?
was fairly we'll grounded in the elements
OF legal learning, but knowledge alone,
lret1ected, did not seem to attract clients,
and lawyer without clients was as use
less as fifth wheel of wagon.
| reluctantly took account of my as
sets. Of cash had exactly twenty five
cents, and of accounts due me-mostly
of doubtful value-perhaps as many dol
lars. | owned an inexpensive desk, three
second hand chairs, and thirty or forty
dollars worth of law books. had good
health and an abundance of energy and
ambition, but they were not assets sus-
ceptible of speedy conversion into cash.
/ owed nothing, but knew that could
not say as much by nightfall, for both
my obligations to my landlady and to the
owner of the building wherein my office
was located were keeping pace with the
sun in its journey through the blue-vault-
ed sky.
1t was not, perhaps, an entirely hope
less outlook, but l kept thinking of the
uselessness my father had warned me
against. | began to suspect that the
world would never be any better or wiser
because l had chosen to trail modestly
along behind Sir William Blackstone and
his illustrious disciples, and Twas certain
that my inroads upon the professional
interests of my brother lawyers would
be imperceptible.
When the time came for me to lunch |
took my quarter out of my pocket and
stared modify almost resentfully- at
it. 1t gives man a queer feeling down
around the pit of his stomach to contem-
plate spending his last cent, and there
themselves 10 take the step. But | was
not one of them. l determined to lunch
as sumptuously as my modest means
would allow, and to that end l sought a
restaurant where the price of a meal
just held my single coin in quivering
euuipoise | selected seat near the
door and confidently ordered repast of
which boiled beef and cabbage CONSTITUTE
ed the basic ingredients.
Opposite me sat a prosperous appear
ing man who was eating lelSurely and
with the patent enjoyment of hale
ruggedness. His ruddy cheeks and clear
blue eyes testified to good health and a
cheerful spirit. His neatly trimmed gray
beard and well-ftting dark suit led ne to
think he was prosperous business man,
although there was an indistinct some
thing about him which reminded me of a
glorious apple orchard, Just touched with
the hoar-frost of an October morning.
Presently came the frowzy-haired wait
ress.
Apple pie or cottage pudding with
hard saucer was her demand.
Apple pie, - was my choice.
AS | finished my dessert | observed
that my companion had concluded his
meal and was looking at me with humor-
Gus wrinkles lowering about his eyes,
Again came the waitress, truculently. l
tossed my quarter upon the table before
her with contemptuous unconcern.
Thirty CENTS" she observed tartly
''Pie is extra.
"Meals have always been twenty-five
cents before"
New prices" she said, waving a
grimy hand toward a glazing placard
upon the dingy wall, went into effect
this mornin'.'
l felt myself growing red to the very
roots of my hair and prickly, shivery
sensation began travelling slowly up my
spinal column. fumbled in my pockets
although she must have read in my
face my fore-knowledge of the result
and confessed:
Il have no more money with me; III
pay you the next time l come in
No you WON'T" declared the wait
ress. ''Have to call the boss
l was contemplating an embarrassed
explanation to the proprietor-who l
did not know-when the gray whiskered
man interposed.
Don't trouble the boss" he said,
throwing nickel upon the table. at
isn't worth while.''
The waitress tossed her yellow hair
and walked away, while l turned to my
companion, vainly endeavoring to hide
my embarrassment behind a laugh.
You are very kind to the needy"
said l, "but don't know how soon you IL
get yonr nickel -
up against the high cost of living,
are your he smiled.
80 much So" l replied earnestly,
that l have just given that waitress
my last quarter and don't see another
in sight.
= Lets take walk" suggested my
new friend, rising from the table. 'I'd
like to have talk with you.
Arm in arm we went slowly down the
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