The Starkville news., 1917-11-16
VIII To Work

Through all my school days. writes
ia contributor. whenever I said, N
can't DO It." got the familiar answer.
"Where there's viii there's q way.~
Last week L got 1t again, this time from
a keen-eyed, earnest clergyman, the
head Of one OF our large city missions-
He read behind my apathy the de-
sspondency of failure, and when rose
with a duh '"T'hank you," to his re-
jply that there Was no position open,
Ito me, he said abruptly: @Sit down"
Then he told me story after story OF
lmen, today known and respected in the
business world, who were once down
and out" This was the last; I win
tell it in his words:
"A man went to see friend OF mine.
also a clergyman. He wanted a job.
iHe was pretty seedy-his shoes were
shabby, his collar soiled. his suit un-
pressed.
There's no use trying, anyway,
he declared with n twisted smile. 'Tbe
whole rotten worlds run by graft. '"To
everyone that hath shall be given
you know the rest-"but from him that
hath not" Well, there's always the
rive-'
"The clergyman said nothing, but
looked steadily at the speaker. The
man squirIned. fnmbled with his hat.
,gazed at the floor, at the pictures, as
the window-anywhere except into the
sother mans eyes. He knew he had
whined like coward
"'My man. said the, minister finally.
you're down on your lnck. You feel
that your life is futiie, that nobody
needs you. What you need is work.
not money. You've Ioafed: you've ac-
auired the habit of loafng and kick
ing. Now, il ] give you something
to do. will you do itf no matter how
silly It may seem. will you DO ttf'
"Ye-es,' came the hesitsting an
'swer.
"'Good. Take that brick and he
pointed to one lying loose in the fire.
place, and carry it all around Madison
square; then come back
"The man felt foolish as he picked
up the brick. He felt more foolish
when the elevator boy snickered; bus
he remembered that in his school days
be had never refused a challenge, and
he vowed he would see 1T through.
SolemnIy he crossed the park and
paced round the square, carrying his
burden past grinning oniookers with
as much sOIicitude as If 1t had been
of gold instead of common red clay
When he returned his shoulders were
straighter. He looked pleased with
himself though somewhat sheepish.
"HeIIo, so you've done I'll Weh
don't you feel betterr
"He dfd-undeniably. He had not
one cent more in his pocket, but he had
forgotten that he was hungry in con-
centrating upon the brick.
"A]l right; now here is another job.
Take these two dollars, go TO first
class coffee merchants, buy all you
can of their best grade of coffee, ssh
them for some small bags and strings
and do it up into quarter-pound pack
ages. Go MP to Park avenue, ring the
basement ttoorbell OF each house and
say to the servant who comes to the
door:
"'Madam, I am introducing a very
excellent brand of coffee. This is q
sample package OF quarter OF q
pound. I should not sell it if were
not convinced that it is something VOC
will be glad to try. II you do not Ike
It should never try to sell 1t to you
again. Charge enough to make two
cents Or each sale Then go back and
buy some more"
The narrator stopped and smiled
quizzicalty. 'I don't know the rest Of
the story. I like to think the man
made good: like 10 think that he LIZ
q prosperous salesman Of high-grade
coffaes and teas today But that's not
the point. You are a writer and you
want a job. Here Is story for you.
Use it or not, as you choose. l think
you, too, can make good. Good-dayr
YOUTHS Companion.