Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-02
Goals of Fire.
BY HARLAN z. WARD.

Never mind, Bill-he may be better
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 bad thus
spoken Turning holly upon them he ex
| claimed:
Only a nobody, am [? Take care, Dick
Burnett, for whatever may be, will not
be 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 Ferndale
| instead of being a poor miserable sot
whom everybody despises.'
Don't say that again if you know what
is good for yourself was the thoroughly
angry rejoinder.
But l shall say it as many times as
please! You needn't think because you
can beat me at school, that am going to
knuckle to you outside. You ARE a no
| body, and your fathers miserable drunk
ard, not fit for decent people to associate
with =
Jasper Kennett's dark eyes flashed omi
|
strike, but with great effort he restrained
himself, merely saying rs he walked
| away:
You may taunt me now, Richard Bur
nett, but the time will yet come when
shall be as good as you, if AM the son o.
| a drunkard And I will remember you
THEN
But when he was out of sight of hi.
| tormentor he threw himself upon grassy
knoll, beside the quiet river, and boy-like
gave way to passion of tears.
MY poor boy what is thee crying for j.?
A sudden flush overspread his face, a,
looking up he beheld the placid, benevo
lent features of a gentleman dressed in
the we'll known garb of the Friends" re
garding him pityingly.
"Nothing," he replied, springing hastily
to his feet, and drying his swollen eye:
with the sleeve of his neatly mended
jacket.
|. "But thee is not crying for NOTHING
my boy,-tell me what is troubling thee
I pray thee ?"
1t was impossible for Jasper to resis,
the magic influence of that voice, and
manner, and with another food of tears
out CdLuo tuo Wuoio stoEy OI nla IaGner {
degradation, the lifelong struggle of his
mother with shame and poverty, aud the
tannts, and insults, which he encountered
daily. The kind eyes of the Quaker also
filled. in sympathy, as placing bis hand
on Jasper's shoulder he said gently:
"Thy lot has been hard one, I can see,
but thee should not despair And thee
may yet be able to repay them doubly for
all the contumely which thy evil school.
mates heap upon thee. But thee must
bide thy time"
Sand when it comes" exclaimed the
boy with flashing eyes, 81 tell you they
shall suffer p
81 meant not that" the Quaker said.
with quiet smile. ST 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
well Jasper, how would thee like to
come and live with mel?
The boy gazsd earnestly into the kind
ana genial face moment, and then in
perfect confidence he said -
oh. I should like it much, sir, bat I
cannot leave my mother. She saws that I
am all the stay and comfort that she has
in the world. and I can never leave her.
4 honor thee for that exclaimed the
Quaker warmly, but I shall need house.
keeper, and If THEE comes, she NAV cone
with thee