The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-02

have lived ten long years in this great big world and am still a boy. l wish was grown man. I am sleepy now. and will kiss them all good night l hope I to have plenty of money-then watch met
 Sleep and dream. What an opportunity to travel over the years leading to man. hood-to see the world. And what pleasure to throw away the toys and fly to expectations. In fine spirits Johnnie thus closed his eyes and started on his voyage via dreamland; to leave that age of ten years of happy boyhood to bounce into the boots of a man-to pass folly on the route and finally reach experience.
 He fell asleep. s.The first inch he grew he saw the toys thrown to the smaller children on ehe playground; the goat un- harnessed and the wagon put aside. the marble bag made into quilt pieces. and the ring he had made in the sand with his big toe covered and gone. Big things were made for him now; rompers and sandals were too small he has gotten to be a big boy. Tomorrow "I'll be a man." His trunk was packed with things for big boys; time is leading to his wish.
 He had pockets in his pants, watch in his vest and knife-time is flying fast.
 Sleep on sweet child. The mountains are before you; you must climb over them; must stumble and fall; ease is a long way off. The mileage between 10 and 2l is covered with weeds But, the dream He falls in with the crowd, and showing Is fun, until he steps on some boyd's toes.and then the first knock not so big after all. Somebody gets the best of him, but he will beat him yet-just wait, next a knock down. All big boys are not strong. He finds his muscles weak. He must have practice to meet other men.
 He is hungry now. Where is his money? He never needed it before; what can he do-is he tramp?
 At last job-all men want a job. How about work? On it is hard. but most men work. Payday has come Here is his first yellow envelope-not what he expect ed-he owes it all for sleep and eat. He must move on. This will never do. Peep ing back at home, he wishes for father s purse--even reaches out his hand to catch It: alas,
 He is far on the way. His clothes are soiled. even torn. his shoes are worn: lO IHOutNs put ne eADetlS great things, he will soon be grown sure enough, and He is very tired; but falls in dark cor ner on the way; awful rough road, this trip to a man. But he has started, and jolting along he will get there some day. Then he will ask the world no odds. He has forgotten how to play. He can whis- tie and smoke Oh, he has been so scks Mother would have had a doctor: in boy, S laupuage he woIl1d sswpat if oilt But look, 1 am man now. sure enough: have my hat on one side cigar 1 in my mouth; it's nobody's business, not even if I am drunk. I'll try them all. | Here comes a ''cop' I'll sleep in a cell. This is going some.
 l But, it is tough; this getting to be a | man is not so finee if you take the road | that took. I have made bad Job; I don't want to work, and I am afraid to steal; but I am in bad.
 I wonder how father bought that bank bet his dad did it for him. How he l learned to make money. I thought being
 a man was easy; it meant to be boss and 1 something great. I cant measure up to that. I am 32 now: 20 years I have been
 on the way It took 20 years to grow six
 meet, and yet nobody thinks me big man. I have been told I was small; call ed fool. and told I did not start right I had no ambition in fact, I know I am a 1 failure What have l done? I turn my pockets inside out, I have not made a
 dollar that l could keep as my own;
 have not saved a dime. Where am I
 anyhow? I am lost. No, there is q
 chance. I'll begin it all over; I'll play
 am boy again. I'll put on rompers and l play marbles I will learn to work as
 other boys do. I will work hard my way
 to manhood; and when I get there I will
 not be ashamed to say I am a man. l I have reached 30 years again, and am
 once more six feet tall I have a good
 name. money in the bank, influence fol good; never smoked, drank or slept ir a cell, and never will.
 There is work waiting for me. I have @