The Evolution of "Dodd" Part 15

He finally concluded to take a course in a school that advertised to fit a person to engage in any business whatever in three months, without regard to age, s.e.x, or previous condition. He went to this school.

I have no quarrel with inst.i.tutions that make a business of fitting young men and women to engage in commercial pursuits. I know of many excellent inst.i.tutions of this kind. But I nevertheless submit the record of "Dodd" Weaver in his connection with this college, so called.

The man at the head of the inst.i.tution was a brisk, nervous sort of person, a shrewd fellow, and given to much flourishing with a pen, which was to him much mightier than any sword. He could whirl off a scroll-winged eagle on a blank sheet of foolscap, in a twinkling--a royal bird, with a banner in his beak, on which was inscribed "Go to ---- college," and which the king of birds was bearing towards the sun for advertising purposes. He could also add a column of figures with wonderful rapidity, and occasional accuracy! He was a believer in lightning methods and processes everywhere. His own education had been wrought out on that plan. He was seeking a fortune by the same route. He drew crowds of boys into his school. It was through them he made his money.

"Dodd" had much skill with a pen, as will be remembered by his sketching Mr. Bright's face on the board one afternoon. He took to the practice in writing with some alacrity, but for the rest of the work he soon did as the others did--studied little, and in lieu of a recitation listened to a long and disjointed talk by "the professor." He was held to no account for his work, and whether it was right or wrong made little difference. He found that his teacher would profess to know things of which he knew he was ignorant, and, in a word, that there was an air of shoddy, not to say dishonesty, about the whole inst.i.tution.

This did not trouble him greatly, however.

It was only in keeping with what he conceived he had finally discovered the whole world to be--a gigantic sham--and he mentally remarked to himself "I told you so," and drew an unusually large spread-eagle upon a fresh sheet of foolscap.

He stayed three months in the school and then graduated. His diploma was handed to him by a venerable gentleman who delighted in the appellation "president of the board,"

while an orchestra, composed of young ladies of the school, all of whom were learning to play the violin, by the "short method,"

discoursed most execrable music from an improvised platform that had been built in the church, for the occasion. Six other pupils came through with "Dodd," and their going out was used as an advertis.e.m.e.nt to lure still another half dozen to fill the places left vacant.

The young man came forth from this experience more the slave of doubt and distrust than ever.

But the worst feature of all was that this infidelity in "Dodd's" soul was poisoning his whole life. Honor was to him now only an empty name, but policy was a quality to be held in high esteem. Truth was to be used if convenient, but if a lie would serve a better purpose for the moment, it would be brought into service without hesitation or scruple.

Fortune was his G.o.ddess, if he did deference to any unseen power; tricks and chicanery were to him helps to rapid and boundless wealth.

"Let the sharpest win, and may the devil take the hindermost," these were the tenets in his creed, if he had a creed.

Armed with such ideas of life, "Dodd"

Weaver set out to battle with the world. He had also his diploma!

CHAPTER XX.

In the course of a few weeks "Dodd" secured a clerkship that was much to his mind. It was, however, one greatly in advance of his ability to manage, with his present attainments. If he had believed that fidelity, honesty, and attention to business were the prime factors of success, he might have mastered the situation, perhaps. He did not so believe. On the contrary, he held that the more he could shirk and get out of, and still draw his salary, the sharper he was. He acted in accordance with his belief. People usually do!

But business is business. "Dodd" found his employer an exact man--one who required service by the card. This the young man could not, or rather would not render. He blundered in his work on more than one occasion, and resorted to tricks to bolster up his carelessness or inefficiency. The result was that after a few weeks' service he was discharged. He was chagrined, mortified, angry. But he "cheeked it through," as the young men of his cla.s.s would say. It is bad business, this "cheeking."

He loafed about once more, as formerly. He took a "deal" on the curbstone occasionally, or now and then ventured a few pieces of silver upon the black or red. He was back in the old notch.

For more than two years "Dodd" led this reckless, wasteful existence.

He was of age now, and his father had felt it his duty to tell him that he must shift for himself. Mrs. Weaver mildly protested, but the Weaver family was large, and though the Elder commanded a fair salary, it cost money to live, and every mouth to be fed counted one.

So "Dodd" took a room down town, and then if the devil went to sleep, sure of his victim, you do not wonder, do you?

Yet the great majority of young men in large cities room down town.

Details of degradation are always revolting. I will not trouble you with what happened during these years of exile of this young man. His story is like that of thousands in like case. His evil habits grew upon him, and held him tighter and tighter in their thrall. Still, he dressed well, went much into fashionable society, and saw much of life.

He was one of the boys, and he held his place among them by hook or by crook. He was never brought to face a court on criminal charges. He may never have been guilty of such acts. If not, is it not remarkable?

It was when "Dodd" was well down the steep he was descending that he chanced, one day, to meet his old teacher, Mr. Bright. More than three years had pa.s.sed since they had seen each other, and each had changed with time. Mr. Bright had grown not a little gray, and his devotion to his profession had caused the marks of his craft to become deeply seamed in his face.

His former pupil we have followed, day after day, and we know well enough what he looked like.

The two pa.s.sed a hearty greeting, "Dodd's" disbelief in mankind leaving him for the moment, consumed by the positive integrity of the man whose hand he held. Each took a searching look at the other, with mental reservations in each case, as thus:

"Dodd": "Gray--hard worker--not up to snuff--square as a brick."

Mr. Bright: "Flashy clothes--shambling gait--a look in the eye that is not direct."

These are the things they thought. They spoke of other matters.

Mutual inquiry led to the disclosure of the whereabouts of each, and what each was doing though in this last item "Dodd" drew largely upon his imagination, informing his teacher very indefinitely as to the calling in which he was engaged. Mr. Bright had moved to the city, having been called to take charge of an important educational inst.i.tution located within its corporate limits. He had a home of his own, and said he should be glad to see "Dodd" there.

"Dodd" said he would call on Mr. Bright. He did so.

And now began one of the most perplexing series of circ.u.mstances that I have yet had occasion to record. "Dodd" came to see his teacher, who was really anxious to have a sober talk with him, and the two spent an hour together. When they separated, "Dodd" had five dollars of Mr.

Bright's money in his pocket! He had "struck" his former preceptor for a loan. I do not say that he had deliberately stolen this money.

Perhaps he meant to pay it back sometime; but he had long been used to borrowing, and the impulse was almost irresistible to borrow whenever he came where he could. Sometimes he returned these loans; oftener he did not. His sense of right and wrong in such matters was not very keen at this time.

And so he began to sponge off Mr. Bright. He came to visit him frequently, and often left with a dollar or two extra after the interview.

At first Mr. Bright did not fully realize the depth of degradation which "Dodd" had reached. He made these small loans as he would have given money to a son of his own, had he had one. He talked with the young man, and once or twice hinted that he feared all was not as it should be. But "Dodd" evaded an issue, and so the days went by.

But one evening these two people met, and the truth stood revealed.

"Dodd" was drunk.

Mr. Bright knew a good deal about human nature, but he had had no experience with the peculiar vice of drunkenness. His heart went out towards "Dodd," and, taking the boy's arm in his own, he led him to his house. He would care for the prodigal with his own hand, and restore him if possible.

So he gave him the best chamber, and bathed his head, and watched with him till far into the night. The next morning they talked it all over.

"Dodd" was penitent, even to the extent of tears and bitter weeping.

He pledged Mr. Bright that this should be the last time; that he would reform now. He confessed that for years he had been a miserable sinner in the matter of drink, but declared that now he would break off. In a word, he did the usual thing on such occasions.

Mr. Bright heard his pledges with a swelling heart and a thankful soul.

He fondly hoped that he might save the young man yet. You may have had like hopes under similar circ.u.mstances, my gentle reader.

The scene ended with "Dodd's" leaving Mr. Bright's house in the afternoon of the following day, accompanied by any amount of good advice and even prayers for his future good behavior. He took with him also a ten dollar note which he had borrowed from his benefactor, just to get a start with.

CHAPTER XXI.

The wise Mr. George has remarked that "by no possibility can one really use up his living in advance." "That is," he explains, "it is as impossible to antic.i.p.ate the products of one's labor, and live them up before they are earned as it is to eat to-day the egg that is to be laid to-morrow."

I do not dispute the egg part of this proposition, but I must protest that if it is impossible for a man to antic.i.p.ate the products of his own labor, and to live them up in advance, it is quite possible for him to antic.i.p.ate the products of what some one else has already earned, and to live them up most effectually. The only impossibility in the premise is for this some one else ever to get his own again.

This statement should pa.s.s for an axiom, since it needs no proof. You have had dollars of your own that have been appropriated thus, have you not?

And of all habits that tend to demoralize a man, this one of dead-beat borrowing is the worst. It will sap the last germ of manhood out of a soul sooner than anything else I know of. It is one of the meanest vices in society, and one of the most prevalent among a certain cla.s.s of young men.

I will not say that every person who asks to borrow money from a friend without offering security is a dead-beat. Such a statement might be somewhat wide of the mark. I only a.s.sert that I have always found it so!

It was not without misgivings that Mr. Bright advanced "Dodd" the ten dollars spoken of in the last chapter. But alas, poor man, he was yet blind to the fact that whoever thus a.s.sists a person in the condition in which "Dodd" now was does that person more harm than good.