Year: 1862




mess is very bad the substitution oI
steam engines on railroads for horses up
on turnpikes, has broken in seriously
upon the harness making business. The
consequence is, that l do not average
six dollars week the year round
rs it possible that railroads have
wrought such a change in your busi-
ness 2


'Yes-the harness making branch OF
ESPECIALLY in large cities like this,
where the heavy wagon trade is most en-
tirely broken up


Did you say that six dollars week
were all you could average?'


Yes, SIR


How large is your family 2


L have five children, sir


Five children, and only Sc week


THAT is all But six dollars will not
support them, and am in consequence
going behindhand.


You ought to try and get into some
other business


But | don't know Of any other


The merchant mused awhile and then
said, Perhaps | can aid you IN getting
into something better. am President
of a newly projected railroad, and we are
about putting on the line a company OF
engineers. for the purpose Of surveying
and engineering. and as you studied
these sciences at school at the same time
that | did, | suppose you still have cor
rect knowledge Of both. II SO, l will use
my influsnce to have you appointed sur
vsyor The engineer is already chosen,
and at my desire will give you all requi-
site instructions until you receive early
knowledge of these matters. The salary
is one hundred dollars a month


A shadow darker than before rested
thcre, fell upon the face Of the mechanic.


Alas, sir = he said, have not the
slightest knowledge. 1t is true | studied
or rather pretended to study at school
but it made no permanent impression on
my mind. l saw no use Of it then, and
am now as ignorant Of surveying as if |
had never taken lesson on the subject.


L am very sorry, Mr.. Allen the mer
chant replied in real concern. If you
were a good accountant, l might perhaps
get you into a store. What is your ca
pacty in this respect p


l ought to have been a good account
ant, sir, for | studied mathematics long
enough. Although | was many months a:
school, pretending to study book keep
ing. | am utterly incapable Of taking
charge of a set of books


Such being the case, Mr.. Allen, l
really do not know what l can do for you.
But stay am about sending out an as
sorted cargo to Buenos Ayres, and
thence round to Cairo, and want a man
TO go as a supercargo, who can speak the
Spanish language. l remember that we
studied Spanish together. Would you
be willing to leave your family and go ?
The wages will be one hundred dollars a
month


Il have forgotten all my Spanish, sir.
Il did not see the use Of it while at
school, and it therefore made no impress
ion on my mind


The merchant, really concerned for
the poor mechanic, again thought OF
some way to serve him. AT length
he said, Il can think Of but one
thing that you can do, Mr.. Allen, and
that will not be much better than your
present employment. Ii is sevice for
which ordinary persons are employed
that of chain carrying to tho surveyor
on the proposed railroad expedition


What is the wages ?


Thirty five dollars a month


And found 2


Certainly


/ will accept it, sir, thankfully tn.
man said. 1t will be better than my
present employment





Then make yourself ready al once
for the company will start in week


i will bs ready. sir the poor mar
replied, and then withdrew.


In week the company of engineers
started, and Mr.. Allen with them a.
chain carrier, when had he, when a boy
taken The advice Of his parents anc