New-York tribune., 1918-06-10
BY BRIGGS

talniy had tough time of it, and
hope and pray that there is q place
where good souls. such as his can
have peace and hapolnss FOR the pain
and sorrow they have endured here.
1T Will take me some time to save,
Mother, but have made up my mind
that . will come home better than
cannot say: We'll, / always knew he
was no good, and this proves it, l
am not going to disgrace you any
more, Mother, dear. I am going to
start saving this pay with So"
Disgrace" Greatly Magnifed
The disgrace" he had brought on
his mother had been greatly magnifed
by Paul. His chief offense had been
his dislike for school, and consequent
habit of playing hockey which had
eventually brought visit by the truant
officer.
Paul hadn't run away from home.
He went with his mothers full knowl-
edge and consent. Physically he was
almost man grown, and his whole object
In starting out seems to have been born
OF his desire to get outdoor work. He
didn't like the thought of offices and
desks and books. He wanted to work
with his hands, and neither in Brooklyn
the sort of job he was after.
Bridgeport, Conn.,, was his first OBJ
jective, but his first letter came from
Philadelphia and explained the shift in
his plans.
II didn't stay in Bridgeport" he
wrote, because it was too tough. I
went to Philadelphia on the O'clock
train. arrived at 10:3O P. M. have
a fine room with a nice, clean German
10 al xI
water and gas light. 1t costs 81 q
week. Will look for work Monday"
Paul found work quickly enough and
after that the letters came in steady
stream. The first one was dated De-
cember 16, 1916, and another followed
it to Brooklyn day or two later. AL
ready Paul was experiencing a touch of
home sickness.
Gets Job at 81 Week
II am very glad to hear that Mrs.
wrote. "Believe me, I didn't know v
when I was we'll off. Philly is a nice nice
town, but give me old N. w
In the next letter Paul announced he
had night job with the Adams Ex-
press Company, drawing 81 a week and
managing to live. Then he switched to
the Pennsylvania Railroad and moved
up in the world. His pay rose to SO,
Out of the $40, he told his mother,
$3.50 went for board and lodging, pro
vided by the road
Il had dinner and supper to-day and
1T is rude, but wholesome food" Paul
wrote, just before Christmas "The
hunks are hung from chains attache d
to the ceiling 1t is q regular camp
1t is clean and neat. Each person has
two army blankets and clean sheets, pill
low cases and towels every day. Every
body has to take at least one bath 8
week. get paid every two weeks.
expect to work here two or three
months, then l will go and visit YOU.
nave to get up at half past FIVE, have
breakfast at six and then work until
~ M, go to work at l p. m. and worl
TIL $3.50 p. M, then haye supper and
sit around, then go to bed"
Gleanings from Other Letters
Here arc some gleanings from subse.
quent letters:
"This is pretty rough life, but I
like it. | am getting along fine. am
sorry you had to spend Christmas
Day alone. but didn't fare much
better. When l come home things
will be better"
II am very sorry that you did not
but it is not dangerous work at all.
All have to do is to load and un-
load the mail and baggage from the
trains at Broad St. station. Please
do not worry, Mother. have made
a few nice friends here. They are
boys about my age, but you have to
be twenty-one years old to work hAra-