Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-12-01
seIsft Starry.
From the Yourg Pilot.
CROSSING THE VALLEY.

In answer to the gentle knock at the
library door, MIR, Sayers admitted boy
of fourteen, who bore in his hand the
morning paper.
"You advertised for an ostler, SIR"
"Yes. do you know of one?"
IL wish to take the situation myself"
"You? Could you take care ofa horse?"
81 think could. sir; I would like to
try"
''What is your manner"
"Henry Hall, SIR"
"Hall-Hall-not the son of the late
merchant, Walworth Hall?"
''Yes, SIR"
81 remember you now You took the
first prize at the Hartley Grammar
SCHOOL,
The boy nodded assent.
"Well, Henry, do you think by be-
coming an os'ler that you are making
the most OF yourself?"
"No, sir" said the boy, his cheek
flushing; but have failed to obtain
anything more desirable"
Have you no friends?"
az suppose so, sir-we haven't inquir-
ed"
''You will leave when you find some
thing more to your mind?"
''Yes, sir, after giving weeks no.
tice."
The gentleman hesitated no longer.
There was a manliness about the boy
that particularly pleased and interest
ed him.
"You can comeat six this evening""
said he; and 60 the interview closed.
EOnly six months before, Henry Hall
lad beenthe petted child of wealth, and
the change seemed 10 him like a dark
panorama, which must soon pass, and
leave to life its former brightness. First
came the financial ruin, wrought by
false friendship; then the sickness and
death of his father; the crushing sor-
row the change from wealth to power
ty-from the mansion to the cottage;
and the wearisome, and hitherto fruitless
search for employment.
Mrs. Hall type of true womanhood.
unlike the modern wranglers for office
and position, she recognized the digni-
ty of labor, and had long withstood the
corrupting influence of wealth and fsah-
ionable society. When informed of
Henry's new employment she smiled
pleasantly, and observed, that "travelers
always cross the uaUey before they come
to the mountain"
"There's one thought that troubles
me-" remarked Henry, Howard Sayers
SO nearly fresembles this gentleman,
that think they must be father and
son."
Indeed! hope not"
"He has never forgiven me for win
ming the scholarship in the Commercial
College,"
Have you forgiven his slanderous at
tack on your good name?"
"I'm afraid not, mother. I speak of
him tendeIly when:I say tLat he's the
meanest of all creation"
Punctually at six, Henry presented
himself at the house of Mr.. Sayers, and
received minute directions as to his new
duties. The boy entered into its details
with a Zest that surprised and delighted
his employer. As person entering a
tunnel fixes his eyes on the light at the
farther end, SO beyond this menial en-
ployment glowed bright future, when
his own exertions would win an inde-
-pendence for his mother. Seeing moth
ing of his old school enemy, he began
to think the likeness merely fancifuI.
With boyish fondness for horses, he
petted and carressed his beautiful charge
till he would follow him like spaniel.
Thus six weeks passed, not unpleasant
ly. The ostler and Grand boy of the
day was the close student of the eve
ming at the Commercial College, where
his prize had given him fres admission.
The morning exercise was refreshing
after the nights study, and the whinny
of Lightfoor like the greeting of an old
friend.
With nice sense of honor, he was
faithful to the wishes of his employer,
and felt an honest pride in well-doing.
Like him who sung,
"If cobbler by trade, will make it my pride
The best of all cobblers to be,
And If I'm tinker, no tinker beside
Shall mend an old kettle with.me,"
he resolved to ennoble his vocation.
He had just finished his work one day,
and was about laying aside his uniform
as he called his overolls, when shadow
fell across the barn. Looking up he saw
Howard sayers regarding him with a
smile of gratified malignity.
So /. was for this that you won the
scholarship, that you might be exalted