The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-10-28


Two men on their way home, met at
a street crossing, and then walked on
together. They were neighbors and
friends.
"This has heen very hard day."
said Mr.. Freeman in gloomy voice.
And as they walked homeward, they
discouraged each other, and made
darker the clouds that obscured their
whole horizon.
"Good evening"" was at last said
hnrriedly; and the two men passed
into their homes
Mr.. Walcott entered the room where
his wife and children were gathered,
and without speaking a word to any
one, seated himselfin chair, and lean
ing his head back, closed his eyes.
His countenance wore sad, weary,
exhausted look. He had been seated
thaafo only few minutes, when his
wife said in a ffetful voice -
"More trouble again."
"What is the matter now?" asked
Mr.. Walcott, almost starting.
"John has been sent home from
school,"
"What?" MIR. Walcott partly rose
from his chair.
"He has been suspended for bad con
duct"
"Oh DEAR" groaned Mr.. Walcott-
"where is he ?''
cup in his room; l sent him there
as soon as he came home. You'll have
to do something with him. He'll be
ruined if he goes on in this way. I'm
out of all heart with him."
Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by
the manner in which his wife con
veyed the unpleasant intelligence, as by
the information itself, started up under
the blind impulse of the moment, ant
going to the room where John ha(
been sent on coming home from school
punished the boy severely, and thi
without listening to the explanation
which the poor boy tried to make hin
hear
Father" said the boy with forcet
calmness, after the cruel stripes ha'
ceased-"I wasn't to blame, and if yo1
will 90 with me to the teacher, l Cal
prove myself innocent.
Mr.. Walcott had never known hi
son to tell an untruth, and the word
fell with rebuke upon his heart.
every well--we will see about that,
he answered, with forced sternness
and leaving the room he went dow
stairs, feeling much more uncomfortable
than when he went up. Again he seat
ed himself in his large chair and agai1
leaned back his weary head, and close,
his heavy eyelids.. Sadder was hi
face than before. As he sat thus, hi
eldest daughter, in her sixteenth year
came and stood by him. She held
paper in her hand @ '9e
" "Father,"2he opened his eyes.
"Here's my quarters bill. Can't
have the money to take to school witt
me in the Eorning?"
81 am afraid not" answered Mr
Walcott in despair.
" Nearly all the girls VIII bring il
their money tomorrow; and it mortl
fies me to be behind the others" Iii;
daughter spoke fretfully, Mr.. Walootl
waved her aside with his hand, and
she went off muttering and pouting.
sit is mortifying," ,"said Mrs. Wal
colt, little sharply "and ] don't won
der that Helen feels annoyed by it
The bill has to be paid, and 1 dom
see why it may not be done as well frs
as last.
To this Mr.. Walcott made no an
swer. The words but added another
pressure to the heavy burden under
which he was already staggering. AT
ter a silence of some moments, Mrs
Walcott said: -
"The Goals are all gone" 81
aImpossibler Mr.. Waleott raised
his head and looked incredulous. C
laid in sixteen TONS"
"I can't help it If there were sixt,
tons instead of sixteen; they are al
gone. The girls had hard work to-day
to scrape enough to keep the fire in"
"There's been a shameful vast
somewhere" said Mr.. Walcott, witt
strong emphasis, starting up and NOV
ing about the room with a very dis
turbed manner.
I" So you always say, when anything
runs out" answered Mrs. Walcott
rather tartly. "The barrel of flour i
gone also; but / suppose you hay,