Year: 1869

Dick stood looking in the window of
a gift store. He ought to have been at
his place at the Office half an hour be.
fore, but he stayed over night with Phil
Borney, and oversight himself


81 might as well be hung for a sheep
as lamb, thought he; "Pm late any
how, and I'll take a peep in here and
finish my cigar. If should buy any
of these gift things 1 shouldn't get a
decent prize. 1 never had any luck in
my life. Some folks are always in luck
There's Tom Porter. He has not been
on the street any longer than have,
and his salary is raised, and he has one
hundred dollars in the savings bank.
It's too bad. I've a good mind to go
out west, where wages are better, and
board cheap.


Just then, to use Dicks language, 'as
bad luck would have it, his uncle Rich
ard, for whom he was named, and whose
good will he particularly valued, drove
up in a carriage, to call on an architect,
whose office was over the gift store.


"What are you doing here, Dick, at
half past nine in the mornings Throw
away that cigar; get in my carriage and
III take you to the Office. want to
talk to you"


The architect was out, and uncle Ri.
ehard's feet which had been in actire
use sixty-two years, carried him up and
down the stairs aud back to his seat q
bout as soon as his eighteen year old
nephew could walk from the window
to the carriage.


"What does this savage old fellow
want of mel This is justa piece of my
luck" thought Dick.


Uncle Richard got in, and repeated
his question:


"Why aren't you at the Offices At
your age I began my work at six o'clock
by filing lamps and sweeping the store
You have one of the best places in town
but Pm afraid you'll lose it if you hang
around mornings in this style. Dick
if you were not my only sisters orphan
son, I'd wipe my hands of you


1T would be just my luck, nncle, if
you did"


Nonsense, Dick don't use that
word to Inc. 1t is a word of the devils
coinage. There is no such thing as
luck"


"You call me lucky man, do your
said Uncle Richard.


Dick nodded his head


"Wel, 1 never smoked a cigar until
1 could pay for it 1 didn't sleep nights
with idle fellows ike Phil BoFney. l
l worked to learn the business and make
myself necessary to my employers, so
that they would have to take me into
partnership when I became man-not
with my eye on the clock and my hand
on my cap, ready to rush home. 1 wore
pants a little short for me, and coat
sleeves that would not cover my wrists,
and coarse boots, till I could honestly
pay for better ones. Iwalked when I
wanted ride, worked when I wanted to
play, tasted when l wanted to eat, held
my tongue when I wanted to make pert
replies, got up when l wanted to lie a.
bed, and went to bed when 1 wanted TO
sit up; and to cap all, 1 never felt too
old to obey my mothers wishes. The
devil soon got tired of hanging around
me whispering about good luck. I
laughed in his face, aud now have the
reward of life Of honest, active labor
through Gods blessing.


"Dick, what are you going to dop
'Uncle, sometimes l think I'll got
Chicago or California, where so many
young men make fortunes"


you'll make beggar or a thief il
you do. The west is oyerrun with sill
ly fellows who are in search of luck
The men who succeed out there work
just as l have done. Your luck lies in
your feet and hands and head. Listen
to me Dick. Don't run after luck. It
is device of the devil to lead young
men into fatal pitfalls, gambling dens,
and jaiIE."


i Just then the carriage stopped. Tom
Porter hurried BY on his way to the
bank, too busy to see Dick or any one.


"LOok at Tom Porter, Dick. Instead
of hanging around gift store window,
in the middle of the morning. smoking
cigars and dreaming Of lRck, he Is hard
at work learning business, and gaining
the esteem of his employers.


''Never say luck to ne again, Dick,
as long as you live. e."-Mssssngsr.