The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-01-05
Temptations Of City Life.
By NOSE SKINNER.


4fr. Editor The story l have to tell
is not a new one. 1t is the oft repeated
tale of reckless youth, blasted home,
aged parents stricken with grief, and, alas!
all that sort of thing. i am indebted to
the courtesy Of my wife's brother, who
used to saw wood for them folks, for the
details
Hiram Potluck was the only son Of
poor but honest parents, whose humble
cottage nestled among the green hills of
Vermont. You may notice that humble
cottages always nestle. It's way they
have.
Here, far away fiom the wicked world,
did Hiram's father labor early and late
on the little farm that was handed down
to him from his ancestors, his Aunt
AIMS sisters, and his sister Ann, and be
might leave Hiram comfortable home,
when in vulgar parlance, be should 'siip
his mind .
For the old man loved Hiram better
than :he apple of his eye, '.for,' said he,
''the apple of my eye is Only good for
cider, any how, and what is cider compar-
ed IL Hish-rum p
And Hiram was indeed captivating
youth. AT The tender age Of five months
he began TO lake notice of folks, and smile
in his sleep, which caused his mother to
say that he saw angels, but, ah little
did that fond mother suspect that it WAS
not smiles, but grimace, not angels, but
collie.
AT the age OF eleven months he could
upset the vinegar cruit, and say ''ba, ba, y
with clearness of perception that gave
token of no common intellect.
AS be advanced toward manhood he
grew older, and;at the mature age OF
eleven years we find him happy in agri-
cultural pursuits now milking the gentle
steers or, anon, whntcbipg he yirtuous
oxen with a hay-Gork. And it WAS a
sublime sight to see, in the mild hush of
twilight, Hiram and his father leaning
over the pig-pen in their shirt sleeves,
and the worthy old farmer, with flush
of honest pride on his honely face, teach
! ing little Hiram how 10 squirt tobacco
/ juice into the little pigs eyes.
| At such times the old man would di>
late upon the prosperous condition Of the
| farm, and say that when lie died he
should leave it all to Hiram.
''Yes to my darling little Hy,' adding
with proud wave of the hand, ''Hows
this for Hy q
And Hiram grew and grew, and Time
rolled on. Let 'er roll.
| 1t is night. Yes it rs, in the old
kitchen the candles are lighted, and the
! huge fire which craekles in the large old
/ fashioned fire place sends ruddy glow
throughout the room and into the spare
/ bedroom The good old father, still
/ hale and hearty, ia pensiyely pairing bis
| tue-nais and sucking his faithful pipe,
while the kind old mother, among whose
rich brown hair the silver threads Of Time
are visible, is busy gaul dai ming Hiram's
| stockings Nothing disturbs the silence
| but the soft purring of the eat, and the
noise made by Hiram in brushing off his
| mothers eye, which occasionally lights
upon him with pride.
| And the old folks are sad at heart, for
Hiram, their only son and prop of their
declining years, is going TO leave the old
roof Not that the old roof needs shing-
hing, or anything of that sort, but he's
been reading in a Sunday school book all
about poor boys from the country who go
| to Boston with nothing but few cop
pers and small bundle, where, by simply
being honest, they sooa become eminent
and wealthy merchants, and have their
statues erected on the Common, where
they can be seen any fair day. And be
said be iidn't see why he couldn't be one
of them kind And when Hiram's mind
was once set on thing you couldn'. move
it no more n a meetin'- n'-house.
So the old folks reluctantly consented,
and Hiram was going on the stage the
rext morning. And when be had gone to
! bed in his little room for the last time, he