death?"

"No, sir."

The boy applicants seldom have any clear idea of the ultimate prospects
in any line of work they may have in mind--as to the salary limit for
the most expert, or the opportunities for promotion and the securing of
an independent position. Many of them have no preconceived idea even of
what they want to do, to say nothing of what they ought to do.

Here is an instance.

"I want a position," says a boy.

"What kind of a position?"

"I don't know."

"Haven't you ever thought about it?"

"No."

"Haven't you ever talked it over at home or at school?"

"No."

"Would you like to be a machinist?"

"I don't know."