The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-07-20
GOALS OF FIRE.
by HARLAN T.. WARD.

Never mind, Bisl-he may be bet,
ter scholar than YOU but after all he's
only "a nobody"
The subject of this cruel remark could
not fail of overhearing it, as it was de-
signed he should, for he was only few
steps in advance of the boy who had
thus spoken. Turning hotly upon them
he exclaimed:
"Only a nobody, am I? Take care,
Dick Burnett, for whatever I may be, l
will not oe imposed upon by YOU"
Just hear him." cried the boy. "One
would think to hear him talk that his
father owned half the wealth of Fern
dale, instead of being a poor, miserable
sot whom everybody dcspises.'
"Don't say that again if you know
what is good for yourself" was the
thoroughly angry reioinder.
"But shall say it as many times as I
| please! You needn't think, because
you can beat me at school, that am go
| ing to knuckle to you outside. You are
nobody; and your fathers IA miserable
drunkaTd, not fit for decent people to
associate with!"
Jasper Kenneth's dark eyes flashed
ominously, and his hand was clerched
to strike, but with great effort he re-.
strained himself, merely saying as he
! walked away:
"You may taunt ME now, Richard
Rurnett, but the time will yet come
W!!en shall be as good as you, if I am
the son of drunkard. And I will re-
member you then! !"
But when he was out of sight of his
tormentor he threw himself upon a
grassy knoll, beside the quiet river, and
boy-like, gave way to a passion Of hot
| tears.
"My poor boy, what is thee crying
for?p
\ sudden flush ovcrspread his face,
as looking up he beheld the placid, be-
| nevolent features Of a gentleman dressed
| in the we'll known garb of the Friends, ;
regarding him pityingly.
! "Nothing,n he replied, spring ng
hastily to his feet. and drying his swol-
len eyes with the sleeve of his neatly
mended jacket.
but thee is not crying for nothing,
my boy-tell me what is troubling zee,
| pray thce?'
1t was impossible for Jasper to resist
! the magic influence of that voice and
/ I, - r
out came the whole story of his fathers
| degradation, the lifelong struggle Of his
mother with shame and poverty, and
insults, which he encountered daily.
The kind eyes of the Quaker also filled,
in sympathy, as placing his hand Oh
Jasper's shoulder he said gently:
"Thy lot has been hard one, l can
see, bat thee should not despair. And
thee may yet be able to relay them
doubly for all the contumely which thy
evil schoolmates heap upon thee. But
| thee must bide thy time"
"And when it comes," exclaimed the
boy with flashing eyes, II tell you they
shall suiitr!'
Il meant not that" the Quaker sail,
with quiet smile. ~ meant that thee
should punish them by kindness. For
doing that, thee will heap Goals of fire
upon their heads that cannot fail to
burn. But thee has not told thy name
to me as yet"
casper Kenneth"
"Well, Jasper, how would thee like
to come end live with me?"
The boy gazed earnestly into the kind
and genial face a moment, and then in
perfect confidence he said:
"Oh, I should like it it much, sir, but
cannot leave my mother. She says
that am all the stay and comfort she
has in the world, and I can never leave
herr
II honor thee for that" exclaimed
the kind hearted Quaker waimly, "but
I shall need Il good hcusekeepcr, and
if thee comes, she may come also with
thee"
With eager steps Jasper Kenneth led
the way to the miserable hovel where
his mother toiled and suffered, and soon
the arrangements had been made by
whicl, they We're to find brighter, hap.
pier home. And in another week they
! left Ferndale, the mother to assume
charge of Friend Tilden's splendid res
idcnce in Philadelphia, while Jasper
was to 90 to school under the patronage
! of the benevolent Quaker, and secure
an education that would fit him to grace
the highest circles in the land.
The lapse of twenty years worked
wondrous changes and Jasper Kenneth
ranked high among the wealthy men OF
Philadelphia, for good Friend Tilden,
having lived to see his protcge take
| high position in both learning aud in