Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-28
CnnIs Of Fire.


ty which these grant abuses have engendered."
Goals of Fire.
BY HARLAN E. WARD.
"Never mind, Bill he may be better scholar
than you, but after all he's only NOBODY"
The subject of this cruel remark could not fail
of overhcarng it, as it was designed he should,
for he was only few steps in advance of the
boy who had thus spoken. Turning hotly upon
"Only a nobody, am II Take care, Dick Bur-
nett, Tor whatever may be, will not be i'm
posed upon by YOU"
Gust hear him." cried the boy. zone would
think to hear him talk that his father owned
half the wealth of Ferndae, instead Of being
a poor miserable sot, whom everybody de-
spises."
"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 | pleased
You needn't think, because you can beat me at
school, that | am going to knuckle to you out
side. You ARE a nobody, and your fathers a
miserable drunkard, not fit for decent people to
associate withP
Jasper Kennetts dark eyes flashed ominously,
and his hard was clenched 70 strike, but with
great effort be restrained himsslf, merely saving
as he walked away:
"Y0u may taunt me now, Richard Burnett, but
the time viii yet come when shall be as good
will remember you THEN"
Bat when be was out OF sight of his toTTnentor
be threw himself upon a grassy knoll, beside
the quiet river, and boy-like, gave way to pas
sion of tears.
'My poor boy wha. is thee crying for!'
sudden flush overspread his face, as looking
up he beheld the placid, benevolent feature of a
gentleman dressed in the well known garb of the
Friends" regarding him pityingly.
"Nothing," he replied, springihg hastily to his |
feet, and drying his swollen eyes with the sleeve
of his neatly mended jacket.
But thee is not crying for NOTHING, my
boy,-tell me what is troubling thee, l pray
thee"
1t was impossible for Jasper to resist the mag
ic influence of that voice, and manner, and with
another food OF tears out came the whole story
of his fathers degradation, the lifelong struggle
OF his mother with shame and poverty, and the
taunts, and insults, which he encountered daily.
The kind eyes of the Quaker also filed, in sym
patty, as placing his hand on JaspeT's shoulder
he said gently:
"Thy lot has been a hard one, can see, but
thee should not despair. And thee may yet be
able to repay 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, 81 tell you they shall
suffer!'
81 meant not that" the Quaker said, with
quiet smile. II 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"
Jasper Kenneth
"Wel, Jasper, how would thee like to come
and live with mep
The boy gazed earnestly into the kind and
genial face me ment, and then in perfect conf
dcnce he said:-
ooh, should like it much, sir, but cannot
leave my mother. She says that am all the
| stay and comfort she has in the world, and |
can never leave her."
81 honor thee for that" exclaimed the Quaker
warmly, "but shall need a house-keeper, and
| If thee comes, she may come with thee"
With eager steps Jasper Kenneth led the way
| to the miserable hovel where his mother toed
and suffered land soon the arrangements had been
made by which they were to find a brighter,
happier home. And in another week they left
Ferndale, the mother to assume charge of friend
Tilden's splendid residence in Philadelphia,
while Jasper was to 90 TO school under the pat
ronage Of the benevolent Quaker, secure an ed.
ucation that should fit him to grace the highest
circles in the land.
Inc 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
protege take high position in both learning
and inner mt talent, slept with his fathers leay.
ing to Jasper all his worldly wealth, and many
of his virtues. Then came a time of great de-
preston in financial circles, and many men
embarked in the Quaker city saw their for
tunes swept away like chaff before the whirl-
wind. But Jasper Kenneth was not one of these;
he was very careful in his business operations,
and MAIDEN bad investments of his properly
One day two men entered his office in great
apparent trouble, and called for Mr.. Kenneth.
eve come to throw ourselves upon your
mercy, sir" said one in tones almost despair
inc.
"UDon my mercy, gentlemen-in what re-
spectP' SAID Jasper Kenneth, wonderngly.
80. l.
our store, and we are positively unable to meet
the payments on it, already overdue. We,
therefore, come to pray you to extend the
time"
"Your namesp
Orchard Burnett and William ElIersley"
The wealthy merchant was startled.
"And did you ever live in the little village of
Ferndale" he asked.
THAT is our native place"
"And it is also mine"
"Then you will not refuse to spare us2' they
exclaimed, in sudden hope.
And do you not remember me?" he immedi-
ately demanded
Their countenances fell.
Remember you? they said; show should
we? We know some Kenneths there, drunk. |
ard, and his family, but they could not'be rela-
tives of yours p
"But they were relatives of mine, for | am
Jasper Kenneth"
And like an ocean wave the memory of their
rushed upon their souls, and thinking of the
threats he uttered then, they sorrowfully turned
away, and would have left the office.
But he called them back.
Richard Burnett" he demanded, "do you
recoect the way you prosecuted me, because
though only poor boy, CHANGED to be bet.
ter scholor than Squire Burnett's son? Do you
remember, both Of you, the mental tortures |
that l suffered at your hauds2"
They answered not a word.
"And do you call TO mind what assured you
then, that should sometime be as good as you,
and that should not then forget you?'
YES they answered modify, eve recoect
it all, and had we known who you really were,
we never should have come to you for favor.
Your revenge has come at last"
My revengep said Jasper Kenneth, smiling
now as he gazed plying upon their evident dis.
tress cab gentlemen, my words perhaps mis-
lead you sadly. do not seek revenge for VIII It
suffered then-not in the way you think. My
agent shall have orders not to press you"
"WhdtS" they cried, in rapt astonishment,
land after knowing who we are, do you still
spare usp
"You must not think that because have not
yet forgotten what occurred in boyhood, that
have not long ago torgiuer," said Jasper Ken.
meth, quietly The past is past, and if ruin
yon, It VIII IN no wise do me any good, nor be
help Tor that. Ny agent will not press you"
The tears of gratitude sprang into their eyes,
as they grasped bis hands,
You are revenged," they said. GA noble
vengeance, that is heaping Goals of fire upon
u.s."
And such Goals always burnt
The average Kentucky male is an eminently
clubable person. He is a pretty good judge and
I - n. n.