The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-06-16
The Lucky Thought.
By MRS. MARY C. VAUGHN.

into his bedroom. 81 don't believe he'll
ever be Of any use to me on the farm, and
he says he don't want to learn trade.
amt able to give him an edication, or not
college larning, at any rate, and it troubles
me to know what's going to become of the
boy, thuts fact"
"Perhaps d better talk with him, father"
replied the mild tones of Mrs. Whately,
"and see what he wants to do. He is old
enough now to have some idea of the way
in which he would like to employ himself in
the future" .s
That's fact, wife, he is," answered
Mr.. Whately, from the bedroom, where he
had been during the dialogue, preparing for
rest. Then he added, in sleepy tones, as he
laid bis head on the pillow, " dare say you
know all about it now. Dicks real mo.
ther-boy, and guess you're both of you
good deal above me, anyhow"
Honest James Whately was even nearer
right in his "guess" than he knew, but do
not suppose Mrs. Whately thought anything
of that as she sat there alone, busly employ.
ed, long after her worthy husband gave au.
dible tokens from the adjoining room, of his
departure to dream land nor as she read
few pages from the book which she drew
from beneath the pile Of mended garments
that lay in her basket, nor even afterwards,
as she sat an hour in deep and anxious, but
not sorrowful, thought.
She was "above' her good husband in
many respects, being a woman Of strong,
good sense, great deal of native refinement,
and considerable culture. She had received
on education rather better than was common
among girls of her class, and taste of read.
ing had led her to seek further instruction,
and had developed her powers of thought
She loved her excellent husband devotedly,
and though her neighbors often spoke of her
as superior woman, she never seemed to
think of herself in that light in relation to
him, though she had doubtless wished many
times, that he would take more interest 10
that world of information and thought, that
books were constantly opening to her.
No doubt, though happy and united in heart
and purpose with her husband, she had ex-
pcrenced many lonely hours when her soul
craved sympathy in its higher aspirations ;
but as her boy grew, and developed beneath
her watchful affection, that feeling was grad
ualy removed. He was all she could de.
sre-brave, earnest, thought 'ul, yet full of
the fire and spirit of high nature. He was
and many were the conferences the twain
had held, in which the boys ambitious
dreams found shape and utterunce, and all
the mothers intense, smothered aspirations
and enthusiasm were clothed in vivid, start.
ling words. The boy loved his father, but
he worshipped his mother next to God, and
was rewarded by such deep, swelling, pas.
sionate flow Of fondness, as a mother alone
can bestow upon the child who is OF once her
pride, and hope and joy.
The boy was genius, his mother believ.
ed, for he understood her aspirations, and
had lofty ones of his own which she could
scarcely follow. He longed for career,
fair chance in the race of life with his fell
lows, and was confident, with all his soul, Of
success. But Mr.. Whately had bee 4 heard
often to declare, that the Whately farm had
descended for several generations from fa-
ther to son, and it was to be Dicks, ond
Dick must be farmer, as all the Whatelys
had been from time immemorial. This was
the one subject on which he had differed
from his wife, who had naturally wished that
her boy might have such opportunities of
education, and such field for the exercise
of the talents which she believed he pos
sesscd, as he deserved. But hitherto the
husband had been inexorable, and to-night's
dialogue had given the first intimation Of
relenting disposition.
Mrs. Whntely had received it quietly, for
she was we'll used to repressing emotion
But it was not because she did not feel much.
Her mind went trembling away into the fu-
ture, beholding first the boys delight when
told Of his fathers relenting disposition;
then following the course of the years that
should develope Dicks talents and give him
knowledge, and power, and strength, till at
length the goal of all his wanderings was
reached, and she saw her boy worthily fill.
ing his place in the broad field of life, use.
ful, rich, and famous. This later vision fol.
lowed her into her dreams, and disturbed
with great joy and pain, the uneasy slum-
bers into which she fell, just as the Sum.
mer dawn came peeping through her window.
A week later, and it was decided that Dick
should not be farmer, but in the matter Of
disbursing moneys for his education, Mr..
WhOtely was yet firm. He wanted to build
a new house, and there was needed con.
siderable sum to be laid out on the farm, so
that If Dick was to get Charming" he must
help himself.
This did not seem SO great hardship to
the boy. but the mother thought sadly that
eighteen years Of his life had been spent in
toiling on the farm, and many more must
pass before he could, by such slow degrees,
complete the studies necessary to prepare
him for his chosen pursuits. She was sore
\ lv troubled. She was quite willing to live