Year: 1875

ANXIOUS TO BE A MAN.


WE were all growing-up boys-sOme
nearly young men, the rest of us smaller
when Uncle William, who had left the
country when we were little, returned TO
pay visit to his old home and friends. He
was always much interested in fathers
children, and particularly in me, perhaps
because l was called after him; and
rather think he noticed prominent feature
in my character-One of his own, tOo-the
unnecessary anxiety to be a man before the
time. When we were all together one
evening, and after he had entertained us
with his adventures, he took the opportu-
nifty of telling us the following story, which
doubtless was intended for my special ben.
eft:


g In the early part of my life" said he,
lust about the time when I put on my first
pants and jacket, and was shod with apair
of top boots, with brass toe pieces, | was
seized with the ardent and longing de-
sire to become man So much was said
among the school-boys about becoming
twenty one, and so much ado was made
by parents when their sons arrived at
twenty -one and so good and manly a
character most of them had at the age of
twenty -one-they could all dress well,
carry cane, smoke cigar, chew tobac-
co, take glass, and swear occasionally
that looked away forward to twenty-one
as if it stood up in the far-of distance, as
the most desirable of all, and the only
prominent year of my life. 1t seemed to
me the sentinel of all years. 1t would be
an epoch in my history. 1t was year the
dawn of which would make me man. 1t
was to be the dividing line between the
ages of slavery and of liberty. On this
side of it saw nothing but commands,
rebukes, and good, sound whipping now
and then, or, if it went no further, at
least some severe threatening, as Boy, do
this, and boy, do that, or | will fog you.


"As | grew up these disabilities seemed
to increase propOrtionately. There was
the endless school -tasks-no escape from
them-nOthing but school, school, school
and wretched schoolbooks from January
to December, till 1 hastily concluded that
l was born for nothing else than to go to
school and be kept boy for ever and
ever. Even the Sabbath itself was no re-
lease. To escape from day-school was to
plunge into what was ten-fold worse-the
Sabbath-school. Then the tiresome ser
mon to be listened to as if l paid atten
ton; then the text and heads must be re
ported at home. Oh, how | longed to be
twenty-one!


"Boyhood I thought was slavery, bond
age to ones parents. 1 was not master OF
my own will, nor could ] follow once my
own desires. Did | wish to spend the
evening out among my admired COM
panions, my mother interfered, and said il
was not proper. If wished to spend the
evening at the theater my father had the
purse Or if, by strict economy, had
saved enough to purchase my own ticket
had to ask his consent, and that was Ger
tain to be denied. Everything was so ex
actly measured out for me; my time, my
work, my play my food, clothing, compa
| ny-all must pass under the censure Or ap
proval of my father and mother. Why 81
much interfering? Did l not know bette
than they what suited me? And then t.
think boy of seventeen is not boy, but
man! Quite competent to think and ac
/ hi IF hiS 1,o0thar Haal an(
sometimes the wicked thought occurred
I l wish she was below the sod, then
should be free to do as | please, withou
rendering up a daily account


"As came near the year of supposed
jubilee, became impatient Ny feve
grew upon me- If at that age | had hal
the clock of time under my control,


should have showed it forward just fou
years. Time moves SO slowly when on
hastens to be man! As it was, I had t
bear and wait. My grievances increased
The smallest request was an imposition.


was obedient, but after sulky sort. AM
nv sole comfort arose from the though
that should soon be free, a recognize
and acknowledged young man!


1T was the last year of my minorit.
NV apprenticeship wa. 10 expire wit
what 1 thought my despisable boyhooc
If recollect Alright, rather fancied ths
everybody ought to have known that


was 50 near being fuIl-fedged man
gave my mother and sisters to understan
it thoroughly. took very commo
and natural means Of impressing theI


with the fact Though l knew that thei
constant and studied care was to pleas
me, and that not unfrequently they di
more than they thought right in order
conciIiate me, noticed not their though


fulness, but rather grumbled, and frettet


and found fault the more.


my birthday came at last. The usus


honors were done TO me. My friends wei


there. had the inviting of them mysel
| It was day Of joy and feasting and Co


gratulations. And yet there was an inwar
painful reluctance that made me feel Ii
tie sad. / felt as if twenty.one had nj
brought to me so much after all. AT til
dinner-table father took from his pocket


purse. A tear sparkled in his eye as
reached it to me before all my guest


That is your portion, said he; 'youal