Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-04-26

decided that Samuel, as hearty ant
strong as many lad much older, mus
begin to do something himself TOWARD
his own support, and accordingly /;
place as errand boy, i'm a respectable
grOcer's shop, was soon secured. JOSEPH
accepted for his son a somewhat smaller
weekly sum than usual, i'm consider.
alton that he should be allowed foul
evenings in the week TO leave work in
time to attend an evening school in the
neighborhood.
The boys uniform good conduct and
steadiness soon gained the confidence OF
his master, and for nearly two years he
continued in Mr.. Morton's shop.
1t wanted only two or three days to
Samuefs thirteenth birthday, when one
evening he came in from his day. work
with cloud on his usually bright,
kindly face.
"Father," said he, as he hung up his
cap on its nail, ''Mr- Morton thinks i
| had better leave him."
"What's that for?" asked his father,
in startled tone; "hast been up to any
tricks. lad?"
''No. indeed, father. Master saws
he'll give me a good character to any
one," and the boy drew himself up
proudly as he spoke; ''but he says Pm
too old and big for errand boy now-I
ought to be doing something better for
myself now. He says he'll be sorry for
me to go, but he won't stand in my
way-he wants a new prentice, though
i know he'd take me, but that can't
be, know that" and a tear or two
stood in the boys eye, which he was
too manly to let drop.
"Why can't it be?" inquired the
mother, looking up from the ironing in
which she was engaged.
'Why, mother, he says he can't take
less than 9l0 with a prentice; mostly
he gets more than that, but where could
we get that from?'
"Would'st like to go prentice to Mr..
Morgan, Sammy?" inquired his father.
'Indeed should, father. better than
anything else T"
"Better than the factory?'
81 hate the factory" said the boy ex-
citedly; ''father, I'd rather"
''Gently, my lad; you've always been
a good, Obedient boy, and if bid you
come along to the factory to work, you'll
come; but," he added, seeing the boy
was about to answer, "don't say any
more about the matter now. Thursday
will be your birthday; you'll be thir-
teen then, time you were something
better nor an errand boy; you come
home to supper directly after work, and
We'll talk it over. You needn't go to
school that night, reckon"
''But, father" urged the boy, "If
can find another place, with better
wages than Mr.. Morton's, L needn't go
to the factory, need II"
"Well, you can look around if you we
a mind to-"
Thursday night came, and Joseph,
much TO his wife's surprise, was nearly
an hour after his usual time. Samuel
was home, the Tea ready set, and the
kettle singing on the fire when he made
his appearance. How coy and COM
Portable the little kitchen looked; so
clean and bright, and the good wife, in
her usual neat trim, waiting to receive
him.
you're late tonight, my man" said
she, as her husband took his seat by the
fire, and warmed his hands by the
cheerful blaze, for the cold east wind
bowling outside made the weather al
most as severe as midwinter.
"Yes, I'm late, sure enough" he
said, cheerfully, as he took the tempting
cup of hot tea from her hands.
swell, Sam, my boy, how about find
ing another place? You know we were
to talk about it tonight"
81 haven't heard of one," said the
boy, moodily.
"Well," returned Joseph, with Gu
rious twinkle in his eye, 'then / sup
pose you'll he walking along with me
to the factory on Monday; there's a
berth for you there with five shillings
week."
"Must 1, father?"
"Must you, my lad? Amt what's
good enough for your father good
enough for your"
The boy did not answer; his disap-
pointment was too deep to find express
sion in words.
81 looked into Mr.. Morton's as came
along" pursued Joseph; she's got a
prentice lad, find; dost know who
tits Sam?''
"No, father"
''Tis a friend of yourn, l hear; canst
guess who?'
Sam looked up quickly. "Is it John
Jackson, father2 He was in to see Mr..
Morton to-day"
''No, it amt; guess again."
81 can't TELL" said the boy, sand
'tisn't much Odds"
Saint it much odds? Well, then,
I'll tell you, my boy, tits you."
"Fatherr"
"Yes, tits you, and here's the money!"
almost roared Joseph in his exultatioH
and delight; ''count it my lad; it's all
your'n and he tossed upon the table a
| little canvas bag.
Sam seized it eagerly, and turned out
the contents-bright sovereigns and a
few shillings. 1t was a pleasant pic
ture-the proud, happy father, the
eager, excited boy-the loving wife and
fond mother, standing with clasped
hands, looking from one to the other
with face expressing the utmost as
tonishment.
| "Thirty-three pounds, sixteen shil-
lings." exclaimed Samuel, as he rapidly
counted over the glittering coins.
''Father, what does it all mean? Did
you say that it was all miner"
"Every penny of it, my lad" replied
the happy father; and he proceeded to
narrate to them, i'm his own simple way,
the interview he had had with his mas
ter on the day following Samuel's birth
and the impression his words had made
upon him.
Il saw then" added Joseph in con-
clusion, s'that a little sacrifice on my
part would leave enough money to give
you a good trade when you should be
growed big enough. resolved to give
up my beer and say nothing about it,
and I've not had drop from that day
to this. I've always took a shilling
from my weeks wages as usual, but