Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-15
THE STORY OF TWO BOYS.
BY ELLA WHEELER.

boys, ten or twelve years of age, were
playing together on grass plot, at little
distance. | knew them by sight, well.
One was Harry Waters, the son of a law
yer, the other Timothy Graves, the son of
a dry goods merchant Both were bright,
intelligent lads, with fresh young faces,
and both were neatly clad. After time,
having tired themselves out with racing
and jumping, and wrestling, they threw
themselves down upon the grass, under
the shade of tree, but a few feet from
where | sat, To rest and chat.
IL suppose you are going away before
long?' heard Harry, say questioningly,
as they sat down.
Timothy shook his head. NO." said
he
"No?" echoed Harry, surprised. Il
thought YOU said, few weeks ago, that
you were going to visit your cousin in
Clinton, this summer"
Il did, but the old man thinks had
better 60 to school this summer-you know
il begins next weck-and make my visit
next fall"
"Who thinks so?" quericd Harry, with
| look of wonder and surprise on his round
| fresh face.
Timothy laughed a little pompously.
| "Why, the old manor the old gentleman,
suppose you think should say, but
can't always stop to be so particular, you
! know"
! Still the look of wonder and surprise
did not leave Harry's face. "But what
old gentleman do you mean?' he asked.
al didn't know there was any at your
house."
| Timothy shouted. ola, Ia no, no ~
! ..,i, q 4,
! Why mean the goeert0r, my boy, if you
! like that better. Now, do you know ~
! "The GOVERNOR" Harry repeated,
/ slowly, ~ have heard that young horse
/ Jockey Jack Jones call his father that.
/ Is it him you mean ="
You are Just right--it is" Tim re-
sponded, slapping his knee as he had Seen
older boys do. II mean my respected
daddy, and nobody else.
The look Of wonder Oh iiarTy's face
changed TO one of unmistakable disgust.
Z" would be dshamed to call my father
any of those Names he said.
Timothy laughed again, boisterously
81 suppose you would always say my
! honored parent he sneercd. You
would oh, yes, | know how girl.boys
| talk
No" said Harry, calmly. 81 shouldn't
say that should say my .tather, or just
! father but | would sooner always call
him an honorcd parent, than 10 use such
words as old man, or governor
"Oh, to be sure you would " Tim re-
| sponded, little scornfully. But you
see as boys that are boys grow older, they
get over such notions, and follow the
fashion. The fashion is, now, to say the
old man or the old gemman, or the gov
ernor. You can take your choice"
"Wcll, it's low, mean fashion," Har.
nv cried, spiritedly, land just fit for jock
eys and loafers to follow; but boy who
has any sclf-respeCt, or any respect for
| his father, will never speak Of him in
that way | know. ! never would dare
look anybody in the face, after had
spoken so of my father
"Oh, well, you're green and spooney,"
Tim said, disdainfully. You'll get over
such girl notions, maybe, unless you're a
regular mufi. For my part, ! think it
sounds great deal more manly to hear "A
fellow say the governor, or the old gem
man, than tatter or papa. That's for girls
to say"
"And I'm very glad I'm girlish enough
to keep from being rowdy, them" Iiar
ry said, proudly. 81 would sooner be
called muf any time than rowdy, and
that is what any boy is, who calls his
father the old man"
Tim laughed with an air of affected
age, as he sprang up from the grass.
"Oh, well, old fellow, we won't fight
over that" he said You can say fak.er
all You please, and I'll say the old man.
Now, for another race"
They were off like the wind, forgetting
in n moment their little misunderstood.
ing, and perhaps neither ever thinking OF
it again. But / did not forget so easily.
] determined TO keep track OF these boys,
and | did. | left the city soon after,
and did not return for ten years. One
! Of the first questions ] asked on returning
| was, "What has become of Harry Waters
! and Timothy Graves 2"
"Oh. they are large boys now" laughed
nv friend. Harry was twenty-one a
! few DAYS ago, and was admitted TO the
! bar He is an uncommonly fine young
I, man. and his father is very properly proud
city with finer prospects"
"And Tim 2"
NV friend shook his head. 81 can't
say as much for him." he said. " ! wish
! | could but he's spcndthrift, and a
| ne'erdo-well. 1t is strange, too. lie
and Harry were brought up together, al
most. Both had good, steady parents ;
they attended the same school, and had
| the same advantages. Yet Harry went
up. and Tim down He seeks loafcrs
! and rowdies for companions, and has
almost broken his parents hearts with his
/ conduct"
! II knew it would bc So" cried.
! NV friend looked up questioningly.
! Glow did you know ity''
/ | told him the conversation / heard be-
tween the two boys, ten years before. Il
never knew it to fail" added, when a
boy has such firm and fine ideas Of right
and wrong as Harry had, and all his com
panions' jeers only make him the tirmer,
| he is sure to turn out well. And when
boy shows preference for low things,
and begins to talk about the old man, and
affects the ways Of loafers, he is pretty
sure to grow up miserable affair, unless
some strong, healthy influence Is brought
to bear against these inclinations."