The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-12-26
SELECTED STORY,
j O H N M O R TON:
OR,
L Ii + r U n A WAY SON.

"JoHs, give me back that book
These words, spoken in a harsh tone by
his father, csu'ed John Morton to star, in
alright.
"Please, father, I va, only"
"No words" interrupted the father
"give me the booki"
With fearful eyes and trembling and.
John passed the book to his father, who
Immediately threw it into the FIRE.
snow, sir, go and fiui.h choppiug .ha.
brush, and remember, il you qui. il again
before il is all done, I'll give you whip
ping"
Mr.. Morton was 4 small farmer, who
lived fe" miles from the village Of NJ
-, iG Massachusetts. A man ofno
literary taste, himself, he could not en-
dure |, in Others and for this reason was
an unkind and often unjust father towards
John, kia second son, who loved books
better than any thing else 10 the world.
John WAS not lazy boy. but ss = farmer
boy kso~s no sacb thing as leisure, he
wss obliged to do bis reading as such
times As lie could steal from his work.
when his father Was no, by. George. his
elder brother, Was his opposite in every
ra'psct; hs vas . good farmer, but the
Ounce .. school. II tell you what il is,
John," he would say. IL wouldn't give a
snap Of my fiugsn Cor all your book learn.
ing; bu. u you like Il. 70 10. il the old
'nao will let you; but as for me, am
bound TO stick to The farm"
John had been saving his money for
some time. 10 buy = fns edition OF Coop.
srs works complete, which an .cqssiu,-
sncs had bought At auction in . neigh.
boring town, and not caring much for it,
bad offered it to him for half price.
The night before our s,o'y commences,
John had procured the long cove, ed ,,ess
urs. aud in the morning had commenced
10 rsse - soon - Il ~ss light. From
THE he vas soon called by his father 70
chop . load OF brush hs had just brought
10. ..... ..
Reluctantly John Left the book and
went to the task, but the departure Of his
sather after another load was too much
fos him; he lsf the brush heap. and was
coon absorbed 10 bis book. .... ...
M. Morton had gone but short die
tancs. .hen he remembered some dirsc.
.ions which he baa forgotten TO give
George. and returned. As he nsared the
howss. he rsisssd the sound OF the hatchst.
When he entered the house, there sat
John comfortably befor. the fire, com pIste.
ly .os, in his book. II wss ,hi, that made
him Aoe'iiy burn the book. With .
bunting heart John went TO the brush
hsap again sod commenced his work
He worked steadily all day, hu, spoke no,
wosd 10 any one. .. I..'' ...
George, seeing how bad he feit About
il, good natursay said 10 him:
'.Nssss mind, Jack, I wouidat cafe
lett GO, swd the osxt .ims 20 10 the
city I'll get you another"
~And What II you cot" replied John.
sa3ly, he viii not 10. me read Il. I tell
you. George, i,'s no sss; Tn going away
where I esn hs,s chance 70 study a.
much - | please" an5I
"oh, nonsense, Jsek," }" ssid Gsorgs, "you
VII soon 20. owe, H. A for my part,
cant see What you 6ud go interesting In
books I'd rather 90 into the corn,fsld
and work the hottest dsy 10 summer than
70 have to get one lessoo Of any kind"
~ kaow thN." ssid John. ats your
nature, bot I eaot do the farm work, 4.
isn't in me. was never mssut for il.
and therefore, TO morow morning I'm
Qoisg, come Whist may" getug
George tried 10 change bis mind for
some time, bu. finding him determined,
hs.psd him to get ready 10 the beat Of bic