The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-05-01
Atchison's Struggle.
BY W. r.. G.

"Poor Bobby Atchison," he was Of
ten called by his well-to.do neighbors.
He was an honest, plodding farmer !,
and lived in the old home left him four
years before by his dying father. Scarce
ly year later he followed his moth
er to her resting place, and sadly re-
turned to the old homestead a lonely
man, without kindred remote or near.
The farm was free from debt. and
was capable of yielding large corps; yet,
though Bobby toiled early and late, he
seemed to increase his possession but
little, and was unable to lay very little
aside for the proverbal 'rainy day."
Why was this? Why did the crops
fail him when his neighbors had abun-
dant harvests? 9NHi .
Truth to tell, Bobby's heart was not
in his work. He was full of thoughts
far away. His mind ran in channtls
other than the furrows down which he
steadily moved day after day In fact
this plodding farmer boy was an ardent
student of nature, as she is declared
in rocks and flowers.
His first impulse in this direction was
received long years before by an old ma
turalist. This man, returning from one
of his wild jaunts, was thrown violent
ly from his horse near Mr.. Atchison s
residence, and was obliged to remain
under that hospitable roof for many
weeks.
| The injured man proved TO be the
geologlst of the State in which he iived,
and was an enthusiast in lis work
just what any man must be who sue
ceeds in any undertaking-and this
was the very reason why Bobby did not
succeed as a farmer. NI ftr
AS many others, this enthusiast believ-
ed everything impinged upon his dearly
loved science; that man must be un-
happy indeed who believed not its truth
and felt no interest in its development.
His was the spirit of the proselyte,
and he turned his eyes towards Bobby
in the first hours of convalescence. The
youth proved an apt student. Eagerly
he swallowed the sweet water of know.
ledge, and Iambled, in Imagination
with his teacher over wonderous rocks
and through innumerable forests.
Soon he saw language in flowers, and
heard the rocks speaking in unmistak-
able tones. .,........
His staid old Puritan father and mat,
ter-of>fact mother warned and besought
their only boy to turn aside from such
Improbable studies, and take more in
terest in the sowing and reaping, and
in the work which naturally fell to hi.
lot upon the farm.
But the youth had tasted the sweet:
of knowledge, and would not be turned
aside. He could plough, be could SOW
and gather the grain, but his inclina-
tions all pointed him to other fields.
For long time he struggled agalns
mighty obstacles; it was with great diff
ficulty that he conld obtain books con
tanning even therudments of his favoritC
language; but his mind was resolved
and nothing could turn him aside.
Going to and fro from field to house
the plucked thetlny blossoms and bits o
rock, or wandered off many miles OIL
, afternoons and during moonlight nights
in quest, OF other witnesses of the SAM
kind. .....,... .-. .-.
When his parents were goue and he
, became master of his own income, the
first Investment he made was in book,
pertaining to his favorlte subjects, ant
: these books he eagerly devoured nigh
after night. During the long days whel
the farm work required him to toll II
, the ield, his mind was filed with flint,
J rock rather than fertilesoil, with fragi
flowers rather than standing corn ant
, yellow grain. Thus years past by un
3 til the opening of my story.
He was no great favorite with hi
: neighbors. Few even suspected Tia
9 stories of knowledge which lay hiddel
! beneath Bobby Atchinson's quiet ex
$ terror, Modest, yes bashful to an al
most painful degree, he had carefully
+ concealed his books and researche
+ from prying eyes as far as he wa
' able. 'ri-.. ~
: There was one little lady in the vii
i lage who understood this young man
4 position, and heartily sympathized wit
d him in his longings and reaching afte
; a different life. She Viewed him witt
partial eyes, it is true, for she love-
: him; but love did not blind her goo
sense. ~ -l.a ,9.htu - .f
! To Katie Saddon alone had Robe1
. Atchlson had the courage to speak 0