The Starkville news., 1917-11-02
VIII To Work
aae sEas


cant do It," u got the familiar answer,
f"Where there's O will there's a way"
Last week / 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-
spondency of failure, and when rose
with a dull THANK you," to his re-
ply that there was no position open
to nae. he said abruptly: "Sit down"
Then he told me story after story Of
men, today known and respected In the
business world, who were once "down
and out" This was the last; Twill
tell 1t in his words:
"a man went TO see friend Of mine,
also clergyman. He wanted a Job.
He was pretty seedy-his shoes were
shabby, his collar soiled. his suit un-
pressed,
There's no use trying, anyway,
he declared with twisted smile. The
whole rotten worlds run by graft. '"To
sveryone that hath shall be given
you know the rest-"but from him that
hath not" Well, there's always the
river
'The clergyman said nothing. but
looked steadily at the speaker. The
man squirmed, fumbied with his hat,
gazed at the floor, at the pictures, at
the window-anywhere except into the
other mans eyes He knew he had
whined like coward.
"'My man. said the minister finally,
you're down on your luck. You feel
that your life is futile. that nobody
needs you What you need is work,
not money. You've loafed; you've ac-
uuired the habit Of loafing and kick
ing. Now, If I give you something
TO do, will you do it? No matter how
silly 1t may seem. will you do it?'
"'Ye-es,' came the hesitadng an
swer.
"GoOdl Take that BRICK and he
pointed to one lying loose In the fire.
place, and carry It all around Madison
square, tnen come DICK.
1.-THE man felt foolish as he picked
up the brick. He felt more foolish
when the elevator boy sntckered; but
he remembered that In his school days
he had never refused a challenge and
he vowed he would see 1T through.
Solemnly he crossed the park and
,o,nod ~,upd fha ccu.aro CARRYING his
burden past grinning onlookers with
as much solicitude as II 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.
"'Hello, so you've done It! Well,
don't you feel betterf'
''He did-undeniably. He had not
one cent more In his pocket, but he had
forgotten that he was hungry in con-
centrating upon the brick.
"All 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, ask
them for some small bags and strings
and do it up into auarter-pound pack
ages Go up to Park avenue, ring the
basement doorbell of each house and
say to the servant who comes to the
door:
@tMadan. / am introducing very
excellent brand Of coffee. This is
sample package Of quarter OF a
pound. / should not sell it If were !.
not convinced that 1t Is something you
will be glad TO try. If you do not like
1t should never try to sell 1t to you
again. Charge enough to make two
cents on each sale. Then go back and
buy some more"
The narrator stopped and smiled
uuizzieally. 81 don't know the rest OF
the story. like to think the man
made good; / like 20 think that he is
a prosperous salesman of high-grads
coftees and teas today. But that's net
the point. You are writer and you
want job. Here is a story for yoa.'
Use it or not, as you choose. think
you. too, can make good. Good-dayr
Youths Companion.
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