The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-01-11
can have chance to study as much as 1,

can have d chance to study as much as d
please" 10 ii s,pl .,r,f H.i'tie, 4,
I"Oh, nonsense, Jack" said George, ''you
will soon get over it.. AS for my part, l can t
Esee what you fnd SO interesting in books. I'd
rather go into the corn-Gcld and work the
hottest aayih sahi6er thaii to HAVE to get one
lesson Of ahyokihd.nl ~ iha ,'''pc1 awob %
tE "I know fthat1 tsaid.Joh ait,s your nature,
but can't do the farm: work, it isn't in me. L
was never meant for it, and therefore, to-mor-
row morning I'm going, come what may"
George tried to change his mind for some
time, but finding him determined, helped hin,
| to get ready to tho best of his ability, forcing
him to acoept all his spare pocket money, tell
ing him that he. could re:ay it when he got
rich.
"But, one thing Jack" said he, s'whatcvcr
you do, be an hottest iiili;i,ii. You'll make
smarter man than ever shall am sure of
that And remember, expect to be here rs
long as.I i've, So. if at. any time tho world
goes hard with you, dou't forget home" .,
T The next morning at breakfast, John was
that he had taken his little bundle of clothes,
and gave evidence to his fathcr that he had
gone for good. M
"Ne:er mind, said he, "hell soon be back. ..
Thirteen years have passed since John Nor
ton left the old homestead, aud contrary to his
fathers prediction, he had not come back
In the meantime, things had not gone on
smoothly at the farm. Farmer Morton had
given up the whole charge of the farm to
George, who had married girl in the neigh
borhood, and was now the father of five chill
dren. Years before, in case Of emergency
Farmer Morton had mortgagcd the farm to
small amount, and ever since the marriage OF
George, in spite of oil his excrtions, the mort
gage had been gaining ground, until now the
place must be sold, as he could not meet the
terms Of agreement.
This was terrible blow to George and the
old man, but there was no help for it; their
friends and nciYhbors were no better off than
themselves, and therefore could not help them
had they been ever so:mpch inclined,
It WIS bitter cold night in December and
they, were seated around the kitchen fire. 1t
was to be their last night at home, for the
next day would be the SALE and then they
would be houselcss. Farmer Morton sat with
his head buried in his hands At times he
would raise it mp and gaze upon some cherished
article, as if totake Il last farewell, and then
bowips it again, would sob aloud.
"Comc, come, father said George, ;lont
DO SO down hearted. Cheer up, cheer up l
am young yet and if | live, and hard work
will do it, you shall come back to the old place
yet"
II cannot hope for it, George" returned the
old man. "1t will require years of successful
labor and ] am old aud cannot last long.
had hoped to die i'll the old house, but | nm
afraid it cannot be. Sixty years have passed
+ here, boy and man, and it is hard to leave
now" h.H' II
They were interrupted by a knock at the
door, and upon opening it, there entered "a
young man very shabbilyl dressed; For mo-
mcnt he stood surveying the group, with tears
in his eyes, aud then reached forth his hand
excaiming:
George, do you not recognize nc ?"
"Fathcr, it is John" exclaimed G Gorge, Joy
fully seizing his hand, and leading him towards
his father. .'i.ru
The old man arose, ,and turning towards him,
exclaimed
"John, my son!' mt the same time stretch
ing forth his arnis-thcn suddenly drawing
himself up to his full height, lie said, John
for thirtoon years you have been strlngcr to
me; during that time we have known neither
where you were, nor what you were doing can
you give me the hand Of an honest man?'
81 can, sir !" replied John, proudly, and the
next moment he was folded in his fathcr's
arms.
Next iollowed;inquirios from John as to how
things had gone i'll his absence; and ho soon
learned the whole story.
GAS for you, said George, II do not need
| to ask how the world has gone with you-that
coat speaks for itself. But never mind
have some better clothes up stairs and you are
welcome to take your pick. But what have