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Literary
June 11, 1889
San Antonio Daily Light
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
What is this article about?
Robert, a restless young man averse to farming and hard work, leaves his village to learn a trade. After failed attempts, he meets a boatman on a lake who lectures him on diligence. The boat capsizes, and Robert awakens in a strange, luminous land where he is captured by men in red and brought before the boatman.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
GOLDEN ISLAND.
Robert had finished his education at the old school in the village where his father and mother lived, and he was now of an age when a healthy and strong boy, with a true spirit of developing manhood and independence, wants to learn a trade. The village in which the boy's parents lived was but a small one, and outside of the tailor and the shoemaker there were no tradesmen living there. All the rest of the men, Robert's father among them, were farmers. Now, Robert did not like the life of a farmer. It was too quiet and too much like slavery to him. Not that he despised a farmer, however. He was a good son and he loved his father dearly. But Robert was of an enterprising, active disposition, and the uneventful existence of a farmer did not suit his restless character.
When his school time was over, therefore, he resolved to learn a trade. He did not know which one he would like best. He meant to find that out after awhile. So one beautiful morning he packed his valise with the most necessary things a man wants when he goes on a long journey; then he went to his father and mother and bid them good-by.
"Where are you going, Robert?" both exclaimed, with astonishment, as they saw the young man standing before them, equipped for a journey.
"I am going away to learn a trade," he replied. "This place is too small for me, and there is nothing to do here for a boy as I am. I am going into the city for a couple of years, where I can learn a trade and make a name and fortune for myself."
The old people saw that their son was determined, and they thought it better to let him have his way. So they wished him god-speed and good luck, and told him not to forget his parents and come back after some time. Robert promised that and then departed.
He had traveled for many a day and many a month, but still he had not found the business he liked. He had been working with several masters, but somehow or other Robert grew tired of his job and left. One day he was sitting on the bank of a beautiful lake and noticed a boat gliding over the smooth surface of the waters. There was a man sitting in the boat who was feathering the oars in a leisurely manner, while the boat continued to float noiselessly along. Robert looked at the man and his boat for long time, when he murmured to himself:
"Well, now, rowing must be the most pleasant thing in the world. The man seems to enjoy the fun amazingly, I wonder whether he would allow me to have a row with him. I will call him and hear what he has to say."
He shouted out and beckoned the man in the boat toward him. When the owner of the boat heard Robert he came ashore and invited him to accompany him. While the oars were dipping the water and the boat was quietly moving along over the beautiful lake Robert told the man all about himself.
"So you did not like to be a farmer; what would you like to do then? Have you not been able to find a trade suitable at all?
"No, sir," replied the young man, "I have not been able to find a job that I would like. What I have to complain of most is that everything seems to be hard work, and I don't like that. I would be glad to learn anything where I had the opportunity to make a lot of money without any trouble and exertion. But hard work I do not like; it makes me tired so quick."
"Oh! oh!" said the boatman, "that is the way you feel about the matter. You are lazy, I should say. Look here, my boy, any trade is a good one, if you only work at it hard enough, and with an earnest intention to make a success. All work is equally ennobling to the man who labors honestly and diligently. Now, I think it will be a very good thing for you if I give you a lesson that will be of service to you all your life." The boatman had no more than uttered these words when Robert suddenly noticed that the boat began to roll and to pitch. The young man anxiously grasped at the side of his seat to prevent himself from falling into the water. But the motion of the boat increased more and more. The waves ran over each other and rolled up mountain high. It was too much for Robert; he could not hold himself any longer, for an immense wave came with terrific force against the side of the boat. It turned over, and the young man fell into the lake.
Soon the waters swallowed him up and they closed in over him like a pall on a box.
Unconsciousness overcame him immediately after he fell into the water, and he awoke again, and, to his utter astonishment, found himself on dry land. It was a peculiar place, the young man thought. The ground was hard and rocky, but still there were lots of trees growing everywhere. A beautiful light shone over all the land, but where it came from Robert could not imagine. The sky above was as blue as the azure heavens that expanded over the beautiful fields around his native village. But he could not see a sun or a moon, or even a star above him. The young man was bewildered. He stood and looked at his surroundings as if he were enchanted or dreaming.
Suddenly he was awakened from his reverie by the approach of three men, all dressed in red clothes, with black turbans on their heads. Neither of them spoke a word. They walked straight up to Robert, and while one of them took hold of him by the neck the others caught him by the legs. Then they carried him away, and all the resistance and expostulation on the young prisoner's part was in vain. The three men held him as tightly as if his limbs were screwed in a vise, and did not stop until they came to a large building. This structure was of wood, but in front stood a very comfortable chair, in which Robert noticed the boatman with whom he had been rowing on the lake not long ago. He lifted his hand to the three men and they stood still before him
"Now put the stranger
Robert had finished his education at the old school in the village where his father and mother lived, and he was now of an age when a healthy and strong boy, with a true spirit of developing manhood and independence, wants to learn a trade. The village in which the boy's parents lived was but a small one, and outside of the tailor and the shoemaker there were no tradesmen living there. All the rest of the men, Robert's father among them, were farmers. Now, Robert did not like the life of a farmer. It was too quiet and too much like slavery to him. Not that he despised a farmer, however. He was a good son and he loved his father dearly. But Robert was of an enterprising, active disposition, and the uneventful existence of a farmer did not suit his restless character.
When his school time was over, therefore, he resolved to learn a trade. He did not know which one he would like best. He meant to find that out after awhile. So one beautiful morning he packed his valise with the most necessary things a man wants when he goes on a long journey; then he went to his father and mother and bid them good-by.
"Where are you going, Robert?" both exclaimed, with astonishment, as they saw the young man standing before them, equipped for a journey.
"I am going away to learn a trade," he replied. "This place is too small for me, and there is nothing to do here for a boy as I am. I am going into the city for a couple of years, where I can learn a trade and make a name and fortune for myself."
The old people saw that their son was determined, and they thought it better to let him have his way. So they wished him god-speed and good luck, and told him not to forget his parents and come back after some time. Robert promised that and then departed.
He had traveled for many a day and many a month, but still he had not found the business he liked. He had been working with several masters, but somehow or other Robert grew tired of his job and left. One day he was sitting on the bank of a beautiful lake and noticed a boat gliding over the smooth surface of the waters. There was a man sitting in the boat who was feathering the oars in a leisurely manner, while the boat continued to float noiselessly along. Robert looked at the man and his boat for long time, when he murmured to himself:
"Well, now, rowing must be the most pleasant thing in the world. The man seems to enjoy the fun amazingly, I wonder whether he would allow me to have a row with him. I will call him and hear what he has to say."
He shouted out and beckoned the man in the boat toward him. When the owner of the boat heard Robert he came ashore and invited him to accompany him. While the oars were dipping the water and the boat was quietly moving along over the beautiful lake Robert told the man all about himself.
"So you did not like to be a farmer; what would you like to do then? Have you not been able to find a trade suitable at all?
"No, sir," replied the young man, "I have not been able to find a job that I would like. What I have to complain of most is that everything seems to be hard work, and I don't like that. I would be glad to learn anything where I had the opportunity to make a lot of money without any trouble and exertion. But hard work I do not like; it makes me tired so quick."
"Oh! oh!" said the boatman, "that is the way you feel about the matter. You are lazy, I should say. Look here, my boy, any trade is a good one, if you only work at it hard enough, and with an earnest intention to make a success. All work is equally ennobling to the man who labors honestly and diligently. Now, I think it will be a very good thing for you if I give you a lesson that will be of service to you all your life." The boatman had no more than uttered these words when Robert suddenly noticed that the boat began to roll and to pitch. The young man anxiously grasped at the side of his seat to prevent himself from falling into the water. But the motion of the boat increased more and more. The waves ran over each other and rolled up mountain high. It was too much for Robert; he could not hold himself any longer, for an immense wave came with terrific force against the side of the boat. It turned over, and the young man fell into the lake.
Soon the waters swallowed him up and they closed in over him like a pall on a box.
Unconsciousness overcame him immediately after he fell into the water, and he awoke again, and, to his utter astonishment, found himself on dry land. It was a peculiar place, the young man thought. The ground was hard and rocky, but still there were lots of trees growing everywhere. A beautiful light shone over all the land, but where it came from Robert could not imagine. The sky above was as blue as the azure heavens that expanded over the beautiful fields around his native village. But he could not see a sun or a moon, or even a star above him. The young man was bewildered. He stood and looked at his surroundings as if he were enchanted or dreaming.
Suddenly he was awakened from his reverie by the approach of three men, all dressed in red clothes, with black turbans on their heads. Neither of them spoke a word. They walked straight up to Robert, and while one of them took hold of him by the neck the others caught him by the legs. Then they carried him away, and all the resistance and expostulation on the young prisoner's part was in vain. The three men held him as tightly as if his limbs were screwed in a vise, and did not stop until they came to a large building. This structure was of wood, but in front stood a very comfortable chair, in which Robert noticed the boatman with whom he had been rowing on the lake not long ago. He lifted his hand to the three men and they stood still before him
"Now put the stranger
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Fable
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Moral Tale
Hard Work
Laziness
Adventure
Golden Island
Boatman Lesson
Literary Details
Title
Golden Island.
Key Lines
"Oh! Oh!" Said The Boatman, "That Is The Way You Feel About The Matter. You Are Lazy, I Should Say. Look Here, My Boy, Any Trade Is A Good One, If You Only Work At It Hard Enough, And With An Earnest Intention To Make A Success. All Work Is Equally Ennobling To The Man Who Labors Honestly And Diligently."