Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-08-19


school. She demonstrated sorcly; she
saw no good so much learning would do
him; she was lone widow; she could
nobody to work for her; and she had
not afford TO keep great boy like him in
idleness."
The schoolmaster urged her to try. for
her boys sake, for his future good !;
and at length, but not without considera-
BILE difficulty, he obtained her consent,
promising that she should be at no OK.
pense about books, and that he should en-
deavor to help her in the matter Of clothes.
These latter stipulations Mr.. Fcnton
managed in peculiar way; tor, with n
heart open as the day to charity. he had
not purse whcrewithal TO second his
wishes.
/ have great favor to beg of you. Mr..
Courtney said he to a gentleman who
had come to take his son home for the
holidays.
"Pray name it, Mr.. Fenton; shall
feel much pleasure in obliging you. il it
be in my power"
ut is quite so; easily so. ! have n
protege, a poor lad, humble and industri-
Gus, but with such an irrcpressible love
of books, that it is useless to attempt TO
curb it. am willing to give him the run
OF the school; his mother, hard work.
ing woman. consents TO give up his time !;
but we are at loss for clothes and books.
Your son is about year older, and my
petition to you is, that may have Mas
ter Edwards cast of suit, mt the end OF
each half-ycar. for poor Tom Mutton"
"Oh, willingly-most willingly"
"And perhaps | may be permitted to
take Master Edwards school classics. rs
he rcinquishes them; truth compcls me
TO say. they will hardly grace your library
shelves after they have done duty here
There is hardly need to add, thai ready
permission was granted, and moreover.
that a lasting interest in his fortune was
thus awakened for Tom in Mr. Courtney's
breast. Similar applications W ere made,
rs they became requisite, by Mr.. Fenton
TO other parents. and with the like success.
Thus was the errand boy provided regu.
latly and permanently with clothes, with
books, and placed in the path Of scholar
ship And he became scholar, not q
great, mot a shining one, but safe,a sure,
a correct one. lie was alwas assiduous,
always attentive. always industrious. If
he made no great or sudden steps for.
ward. he never retrograded; and thus
gradually and surely winning his on
ward way. he was qualified in few
years TO succeed. in the post of usher. the
young mau who had so kindly and cor
daily co-operated with MI. Fenton in his
education And it may be doubtful
whether Tom Mutton himself. now call.
cd Mr.. Thomas. was more proud Of his
advancement than was his ever kind pat
ron, Mr.. Fenton, or his fast friend, Harry
Fenton, who WAS now bound for the uni i.
vcrsity.
But there was yet another who. silent,
unobservcd, unsuspccted. watched Tom
Mul,on's progress with far deeper in
lerest than either his patron, his school
friend, or even she who watched his era
die and iostered him with mothers
love. This WAS young girl of domestic
habits and retired manners, gentle and
unobtrusive, who had been nurtured from
infancy in the house which now. since he
assumed the duties Of usher, was also his
home Rose Fenton was an orphan, but
not destitute one, for her good uncle
and guardian had taken care that the lit
tie patrimony bequcath ed to her should
not diminish in his hands. She was
kind and good tempered, n clever house
wife for her years, obliging to those
about her. and very good TO her poor
neighbors Her uncle used to say joking
ly but most kindlN that she was ''cut out
ont for parsons wife," but at present.
all Roses hopes and wishes seemed to be
centred in the home Of her childhood
But ere long they began to stray, and it
could not escape the notice OF 50 observ-
ant person rs Mr.. Fenton. that warm
and mutual attachment was ripcning be-
tween his usher and his ncice.
At first this sorely srieved him, for he
felt, naturally enough. the inequality OF
their stations; for though bred up in q
homely and domestic way, Rose Fenton
had a right 10 look to a much higher
marriage than one with the child OF chari.
ty, the son Of his charwoman, Susan.
But when. again. he reflected on the
youths course of conduct even from his
cradle until now his unvarying integri-
ty, industry, and docility; his good
temper, his kind disposition, and the ad-
vance in station which bis own unwearied
perseverance, had already achicved-he
thought perhaps he might rather con-
gratulate his neicc than otherwise. He
determined to let matters take their
course.
But whatever hopes Thomas Mutton
might secretly cherish, he was too prn-
dent as yet to give any expression to