Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-06-17

With o smile so real that his astonshed
companion could not pursue his banter.
Time went on, and, TO the surprise of
all, Wheaton's circumstances kept i'm
proving, The babies had brought r
blessing to his house. IN less than eigh.
teen months he had paid OF the little
mortgage that for years had rested on
his little home; and not only this, but
had improved it in various ways even to
the putting up Of a small addition, so as
to give them q neat breakfast room.
The children grew fincly-there were
three of them now, for their hearts and
home had opened to another orphan ba-
by-being carefully Trained by Mrs
Wheaton, were light and JOY to the
house.
At the end af ten years We will intro
duce them briefly TO the reader. Whea-
ton is a master workman and employs
ten men. Ae has enlarged his house and
made it one of the neatest in the village.
Among his men is the yeiy orc who
bantercd him most about the children,
and prophesled that he would soon be
sold out by the constable. Poor man?
it was not long before he constable had
him in charge. He had wasted his mon
ey at McBride's instead of paying it TO
the landlord.
Walking home one evening after work
was over 'WhGdton and his journcyman
took the same way. They were silent
until they came near the formers pretty
dwelling, when the jonrneyman said,
half in jest, yet with undisguised bitter
ness, 81 guess we'll have to take baby
or two"
"Why ~ asked Wheaton, not perceiy-
ing what were The mans thoughts,
"For good luck"
ooh ~
"You've had nothing but luck since
you took Mrs. Grants orphan Children"
Only such good luck as every one
may have if he will, answered Wheaton.
Il can't see it, Your wages were ne
better than mine. had one child, and
| v"u saddled yourself with two, and not
long after added third. And how is it
to day? You have a nice house, and
your wife and children are we'll dressed,
while have never been able to make
both ends meet, and my boy looks like a
ragmuiin half the time"
'Do you see that house pyey there
the largest and handsomest in the
place 2" said Wheaton.
eyes"
"Who owns it -
"Jmmy Mcbride"
"How MUCH did you pay towards
building it %
"NIe = in surprise.
ayes, you. How muck did you pay
towards building it 2"
"Why, nothing. Why should l help
pay for his house ?"
"Sure enough I Why should your
hard earnings go to build and furnish an
elegant hogse for man who would
rather sell liquor, and 50 ruin has neigh.
bors, body and soul, than support him.
self in useful calling, as you aud are
trying to do ?
81 can't see what you are driving at,
said the journeymaa:
GLOW much a week do you spend al
McBride'g SELDOM =
"The man stood with blank look OF
his face.
"a dollar week ?" said Wheaton.
EYES"
"Say dollar and half ?"
"WelL say as much."
"Do you know what that amounts to
a year p
"Never counted it up"
"Seventy-eight dollars"
"Nor'
eyes, to dollar So in FIVE years, at
this rate, you have contributed nearly
four hundred dollars toward McBride's
handsome house, without getting any
thing in return but harm, and LyyR't q
single over your head that you can call
your own. Now, it's my advice in a
friendly way, that you stop helping Nc
Bride and begin to help yourstlt. He's
comfortable enough, and can do without
your dollar and balf week. Take a
baby, if you will, for good luck. You'll
find ope over TO the poor house it wcn'i
cost you half IS much as helping Nc
Bride, and | don't think he needs youl
aid any longer. But here we are are al
home, and | see vile and children wait
ing for me. Come in, won't youf
4 $40, thank you. I'll go home ane
talk to Ell,n about taking baby fol
good luck" And he tried to smile, bu
1T was in anything but cheerful way
He passed onward, but callle3 back attel
going few steps:
"It you see anything of my Jack abou
your place, just send him home, will you
Jack was there. meanly dressed anc
dirty, ard ia striking contrast will
Whcaton's three adopted children, who
with the only mother they knew, gave
the man happy welcome home.
."Pve turned over a ney leaf" said thu
jopfneyman, when he came to work th'
next morning.
"Indeed Pm glad to hear it, returned
Wheaton.
."Elen and talked it al oyer las
|, night. Pm done helping saloon-keeper'
build find houses. Glad you put it t(
t me just in that way. Never looked q
, it SO before. But it's just ,he hard truth
What fools we are =
u Going to take a baby p said Wheaton
smiling.
r "WtH, we havn't just settled that