Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-05-10
HOE OUT YOUR row.

The youngest son stood with his fair
bride upon the threshold of the old
farm house. He was the last of four
brave boys who had gone forth from that
humble roof to work their way up man
fully to place of honor and usefulness
in the world. Perhaps there was little
dimness in the old mans eye, and may
be q little tremor in his voice, as he
spoke the farewell words. But he took
from the old side-cupboard his parting
gift !; a bright, new hoe, and as he placed
it in the hands of the youth, the accom-
panying admonition sounded cheerily on
his ear, Hoe out your row.
1t was fourth time similar pre-
sentation had beenmade in the old home
stead.
Everybody will find his row to hoe
- i'll this world, George, and sometimes it
is mighty tough one; but it is only
towards that shirk it. Whatsoever thy
hands find to do, do it with all thy
might, and never forget to look up"
The old man wrung the hand of his
son, and stopped down to kiss the cheek
of his fair, new daughter while mother
busted herself with the dozen "last
things" which every one but mother
forgets.
The lingering farewells were all said at
last, and the old coach rolled away with
the two hopeful, sunny hearts just enter
ing life's bright and beautiful summer.
The old homestead seemed deserted
and dreary as last years nest. The
aged pair sat down by their own hearth
stone alone, as when they began life to-
gether.
How these old walls had rung to the
sound of childhood's mirth, and child
hoods steps, and in later years had
echoed with the tread of manly feet.
Now they must live more in the buried
past.
But to George and Ellen life seemed
all one bright future, with rainbows of
hope arching all their plans and pro-
jects.
Their Western home was a humble
one, and plenty of work for willing hands
within it. The young farmers chief
capital was his strong arm and stout
heart, and the sound working day prin-
ciples he had been taught from child,
hood. Sometimes he grew discouraged
at the prospect of paying for the place
he worked, but he was sure to meet with
hearty encouragement and words OF
parting gift of his father, as it stood OF
the mantle in the family room, was as
good as a sermon any day. There il
stood, ever ready to give encouragement
or admonition, as the case might be
Strangers might think it a strange, curl
GUS ornament for chimney-piece, bu
it was soon regarded as one of the house
hold treasures. Dust or rust was never
suffered to mar its brig ghtness.
Ellen, it is no use trying" sale
George, one evening, quite despond
ingly, as he turned away from some fig
ures he had been making on scrap O.
paper, 81 can't make out the payment
this week, and I may as well give it up.
Ellen looked up cheerfully from hel
work and nodded toward the mantel
" | have hoed and hoed, but this row
is too much for me. The wool will pa,
the next installment, and the crops tn,
next, but where this fifty dollars is t.
come from, that I need in addition t,
what l can make out, is more than 1 ca,
see."
"Sellthe COW, George" advised Ellen
"You We're offered sixty dollars for her
you know"
"But what can we do for butter, an
for cream in our coffee, and all that p