Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1876 — MY EXPERIENCE. [ARTICLE]

MY EXPERIENCE.

A Story for Young men. I am a middle-aged man now, and I have always lived single. I had a good bringing up, but my lather being only a hard-working mechanic, with a large family, could give me nothing except good advice and a common-school education. I was the eldest born, and as I spent my childhood under the shadow of a great city I contemplated making my fortune there, and would then make the old age of my parents rich and happy. So my freedom suit was installed behind a counter, and my good habits and wishes to please were the best recommends I had to bring to the firm of Hunt i«fc Ketchum. I received three dollars a week besides my board, which a score and a half of years ago was considered big pay. My clothes being new, 1 should need no new additions "lor a long time. My mother, dear, good soul, washed and kept my clothing in repair, and I had only .to pay the express charges to and from my old home. My employes seemed to be partial to me, and often ftsked me to stay and assist them in extra'jobs, and never forgot to give extra money's for the servjces done. So I was in a taiiVway to become rich. I loved my father and., mother, and looked forward to the day when I could repair the old house and add something to the interior as well. I wanted it said of me: “See how well Tim has done; he was a poor boy when lie commenced.” I soon learned the different grades of society, and also found out that those who were most thought of did very differently from the way I . was doing, tone of the other clerks said if he was in my place he would not have my mother do my washing. It was asking too much of one’s ’own mother; besides, he could tell a bosom done up by the Stiffs a mile off. I could see the force of this reasoning, and felt ashamed of myself for putting so much on my mother for the sake of saving money. I had been obliged to pay the express to and from my old home, anyway, and the Stiffs would deliver their work free, and it was not likely the cost would be a great deal more; and if my city friends should ask me what laundry I employed, I could hold up my head and answer them, and these things do have a bearing on one’s demeanor; besides, if there is one thing you are a “ leetle” ashamed of, that one thing comes uppermost the oftenest. I attended a little church and went- regularly to Sabbathschool. I gave sparingly, hut, somehow, when my first quarter’s bills were settled I had but two dollars left.

The first year was passed and I had saved nothing. But then, everything was new to me, and the Stitt's were very hard on my linen, and 1 was forced to buy new. I sent my old clothes home, and mother told me afterward' that they lasted over a year for my younger brothers. I was glad it helped them, although it was something of a loss to me. But i had one comforting thought: I was always well dressed. My salary was raised the second year, and I was considered a favorite. The older ones suggested that it would be expected of me to go to I)r. Grand’s church now. They did not take up Contributions in Dr. Grand’s church,'and I thought that would beasaving. I hired a single sitting at the cost ot silty dollars a year, because that included all expenses, and it would turther my interests to sit among the rising men. Of course one must look to his .surroundings if he expects to be a rich man. At tue end of the second year I studied book-keeping, so that I could get a higher salary, and that used up my extra change; and it was therefore impossible to save anylhintr that year. The fourth year i bought a watch, and as it was only a silver one and cost forty dollars I thought I could attord a tliirtydollar chain to go with it. 1 kept my old place the fourth year at an advanced salary; out where I attended church they called a new minister, and concJ uded to keep the old one on retired pay. They felt like doing this because there were so many younig men in the congregation who would be glad to help to maintain a servant who had been of such great service in the world. The rest of those in my set subscribed liberally, and as 1 never could bear stinginess in such matters I gave all 1 eould spare out of my fourth year’s labor. The next year our new minister thought we ought to build g church, and as such a call might mot come again in a lifetime I pledged S2OO for five years, believing that bread cast on the waters would return some day. If you don’t do some good in the world what will the same world think of you V The next year, which was the sixth, I became dissatisfied w ith my employers, for every other man who had abilities Hke mine commanded better wages. %ou remember we are commanded not to hide our talents, and if we man get better pay it means about tbe saint thing. Finally I left and went Ho Sharp & Lookout's on two hundred a' year more than Hunt A Ketchum gave me. 1 had .always dressed in a uusiness-suit for church, but I was getting older and it would look better to have a real black suit, something that would not show the work and wear of the week. It would not make any difference in the end, as I could wear it in the store after I left off wearing it Sundays. , 1 went out considerably, evenings to church, societies, concerts, etc., and one feels better to have clothes on that he

yifwJfa'politS S'ans'Sf befell to the biggest party, and every one knows there are times in a man’s life that political influence may be" of use to him, I wanted to keep all I cohid If I didn’t help, wouldn’t lijbe considered lukewarm? <T , r . All of this timo I met my church obligations, and the eighth year our minister wanted a change. It had been very hard for him, and as I was Chairman of the committee to raise funds to pay his expenses for a foreign trip I could do no less than put my name down for enough to nay the voyage over. The ninth year my influence was snoli among men that I was ashamed of my silver watch; for any observing person well knows that a watch is an index to a man’s standing in society. I could not F;t half the value for my old one, and as had not given my parents anything but my cast-off clothes I gave my father the silver pne. The old neighbors and our folks thought I was getting rich to be able to do this. „ The next year, which was the tenth, was the last that the pledges of the church were due, and as I had never* had a vacation I thought it no more than right that I should take a rest.' This was urged by my mates, and pur friends cau tell what is best for us sometimes. Sharp & Lookout objected a little, but I had been a faithful hand, and I was allowed to go if I did not “ expect pay” in my absence. I stayed longer than I expected, and they found’a man for a less salary; of course they had .a good excuse for dismissing me under the circumstances, or one that suited their pockets, rather. I was out of employment two months, but during the time I learned telegraphing; it helps a man to know more than one or two things, and the little expenses I was to in the way of board I coulu pay when I found work. The eleventh and twelfth years I spent as an agent. Agents do make fabulous wages sometimes, and expenses are not high in the country. It rained a great deal the first season, and I could not sell all the time, but no one was to blame for that, and, unfortunately, the next year the firm broke down. People shook their heads and thought I liad better have stayed at Hunt & Ivetclium’s, as the man that took my place had married old Ketchum’s youugest daughter, and herlather was not long for this but who can foresee the future? So I cannot see as I was any to blame for not laying up this time. The thirteenth year I went back to the city, and luckily found a situation at almost my old price. I was determined to put by a set sum every quarter, but it was really necessary to give myself care first. It is a little humiliating to go back among your friends in a cbmedown state; besides, one lias some duties toward society, and I had been deprived i*of it for two years. It took this year and >tlie next- to get back into my former clothes and position; and when the fifteenth year of my business life came I was really prepared to lay up money. - Now my best fellow got married, and the rest of us thought we could not afford the luxury ol a wile, but we would show our friend that we could have a good time after all. Most of the fellows in our set furnished a room, kept a library of books, and had a real snuggery. Bopks are never considered extravagant, you know, and one can never spend his money foolishly if he expends it in books. So I bought a hundred volumes at the start, and a book-case, which I never imagined cost so much, and felt happy. I remembered the first watch, and profited by it in buying the book-case—it was the best. I went into society the next year more than ever. I attended lectures and all the firstclass concerts. I always took a lady, as people of my age (i was thirty-seven) grow narrow-minded find lose that grace of manners if they do not mingle with the gentler sex. It costs a great deal to hire a livery every time one wants to ride; besides, a person is never sure of a safe horse, and ladies are timid, arid want a driver to know his horse. A good horse will bring the cash any day, and so I resolved to buy one.

Somehow I did not get out of debt until my fortieth, birthday, a®d Iliad been nineteen years in the wide world. So I resolved to curtail my expenses and start anew. I am sure anyone can see how difficult it has been for me thus far, but to persons situated differently the case would be altogether different. I am sure I do not see the reason why I never saved anything up to this point. I am not a spendthrift, have no bad habits, do not drink, smoke or play cards —but there must be a leak somewhere. But how am I to save ? If a man goes into cheaper lodgings people will think he is getting loose in his habits, and, moreover, he must be running down in business as well. Ido mean to give to none but the worthiest of objects after this. The new church was finished, and, as I was a single man, and commanded a large salary, of course I could take more than a single sitting, for wasn’t I expected to help the young men now ? To be sure, no one ever did it for me, but things wern’t-so when I was young; people that live long know that our posterity expect things different from what we had. So I invited two younger fellows behind the counter to sit with me.

Tlie twenty-first year I sold my liorse and rig, ftnd actually put the money in the bank. It was not much, but then it had always been my principle to make a beginning. I think, as I did at my twen-ty-first birthday, that a man who is well and has good pay can lay up money, and it is a mystery to me why ipore don’t. People tbund out I had money somehow —may be I Was so proud that I let it out —and you have no iuea how much I was consulted In all financial matters. I was President of the Society of Industrious Young Men and belonged to sundry other ones for the advancement of young men. People said, behind my back: “ He’s got money, has a large salary, no family and goes into the best society.” One is forced to keep the good opinion of others and do accordingly. Things went on in this way until my business career reached Its twenty-third year. Then, within a few weeks ot each other, my parents died. My sister Minnie was the youngest, and unmarried. They came to see if I could not do something about helping her into a place. She could have gone into a store or taught school, but it would not look well for one in my situation to let a sister do that, so I boarded her in the city, and when I got too “hard up” let her ruu in the country to visit. She married well after a year, so I could not complain of the expense I had been to. -1 wanted to do something handsome in the way of presents, especially as she was going to have so many from other sources. This compelled me to take tiie money from the bank to have (he whole affair go off right. Certainly, I said, I can make it up very soon, as 1 have nobody but myself to care for. The next year, which was the twentyfifth, and the last which I shall chronicle,

was spent in traveling. tlw*» malif ml naa never taken a trip hut once in n»y life, and a person should see something of the world. , I feel so refreshed that I think. I shall be able to lay by a. handsome sura bv the tifije lam sixty. I cannot see why 1 have not been able to do it, but if—well, I do think generally a man can lay up something if he has a mind to. And I will stick to it, that a man with fair health and good wages can make money and have something in twenty-five years after he begins life for himself. They can do it in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, but you see how it was with me, and so I must be the hundredth case.—Phrenological Journal.