The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-22

Gerald had been friends from childhood Edward" she said, will you do me a favor?"
 Delighted to-. he laughingly replied If it's a simple thing like giving hun dred to the church, but most emphati- cally no if you want me to take back Jim Towers or Pat Gleason or some other periodical Who's been working you now?"
 Now, that is mean of you Edward, to talk that way" Mrs. Gerald declared. "I haven't asked a favor of you in ages
 "Ages," exclaimed the superintendent. Why, it's less than two weeks since you promised if 1 took back Tom Nesbit, who beat his wife and let his children go hungry that you wouldn't ask another thing of me in six months.
 But thIs is a boy" pleaded Mrs. Ger aid. She started to tell about the lad and the superintendent and the men look ed at her humorously, occasiony mak- ing testing or jocose remarks. When she finished the superintendent voiced the sentiment of the men when he said the Boy Tramp" probably was an artful lit tie liar who knew how to fool soft hearted woman Mrs Gerald flushed at the suggestion of untruth on the boys part and she did not press her request on the superintendent until he was about to de- part Then she said, You will give him something to do, won't you Edward" and he, manlike, responded, "Wel, I'll think about it
 The next day William Shaffer carried note from Mrs. Gerald to the superin- tendent He was told that it was diff cult to get by the gate to the big estab- lishment and he was to insist on deliver ing the note in person. He followed in- structions and the superintendent, after reading the note and scowling, asked him few curt questions and sent him to the pattern shop. That night William Shafer reported to Mrs. Gerald that he had a job and was to get s6 a week.
 It was month or two later that the superintendent, who dined regularly once a week at the Gerald's remarked casually to Mrs. Gerald: T saw that boy tramp of yours today. Martha. I was talking with the foreman of the pattern room and happened to notice him asked the foreman how he was getting on, and he said the boy worked faithfully enough but he was a sullen. obstinate little brat a regular mule, I guess he'll get fired before long,"
 Mrs. Gerald sent for the youngster and had long talk with him. She has rare
  any case in which she is interested deep ly. She explained to the boy how he ap- peared to others and how he aided them in misjudging him. She told how great a thing will power is, and how valuable it Is when properly employed, but how closely allied it Is to obstnacy She said his character was just forming, and what sort of man he was to be would be determined by what measure of self control he practiced. To obey the orders of his superiors was most important. To do cheerfully was almost necessary as to do well. He must overcome the bit terness, the sullenness that had come up- on him through the injustice and mis- treatment of his father and stepmother It was another life he had entered now Whether it should be one of brightness and happiness or one of gloom and oppo- sition rested with himself Ont of her own ardent imagination she drew a pie ture of what he might do If he but tried, | and then she told him it was his duty 10 himself and to her that he should | 10 so The statement that 1t was his duty to | ne seemed to impress the boy more than | else. You are the only one | who has been kind to me since my | mother died,'' he said and I'll do every | thing you ask me-. A few days later he reported how he | had been ordered to do something he | from a man he disliked but under whom | he was working. He did not want to i, do it and refused. Then he thought of | all she had said, and he had forced him. | self not only to do it. but to smile in l doing it. He had surprised the man by his change of attitude. and the man had scoffed and sneered at him because he | thought he had mastered the spirit of the obstinate youth, never imagining, of course, the real cause.
 Mrs. Gerald was delighted. She told the boy he had won victory and that if he would be steadfast there would be less and less difficulty in overcoming his one great fault. Soon time would come when what now was habit would dis appear. Then she told him he must study There was a night school to which she advised him to go. She had learned that he delighted in his work and that he wanted to learn all he could about the business. She explained how narrow was his opportunity for advancement if he confined himself to the routine work of the shop. He must know the business not only from the practical but the theo- retical end.
 This was the age of electricity It of- fered wonderful chances to those who succeeded. One great essential to sue cess in any branch of endeavor was edp-