The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-30
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA, APRIL 3o 1878

The body of his father Abner Nun
son, was found stark and lifeless, in the
office Of the Barborough Iron Works.
On the floor, by it's side lay pistol.
A just settlement of the claims against
the estate left the family of Abner Nun
son without dollar. :
"We must give up the house, the
furniture, everything, Barry" said his
mother. I'VE have nothing left now"
Then Barry, pressing the hand of his
mother said:
I" 1 have my youth and your love-
Let them take all else; l can provide for
us both"
The Barborough Iron Works passed
into the hands of joint stock company.
A superintendent was needed one with
practical knowledge of the business, and
competent TO raise the works to their old
level of prosperity. For this responsible
position there were fifty applicants. The
directors were pleased to select man
who had made no application.
This was Tom Finch.
He's young" said the President of
the Board, "but he's reliable as -
IRON"
The portly President intended to make
the comparison &C steel, but iron struck
him as more appropriate.
To his old school-fellow went Barry
in search of employment.
should have sent for you," said
Tom, but didn't suppose you would
accept the place. You shall take charge
of the books, if you will, and help mel in
many ways. The position will pay you
81 300 year only, but that is better
than nothing"
Infinitely" said Barry.
And with that he threw away his eye
glasses, gave up all thoughts of aston
ishing the world, and went to work in
his fathers old office, for the moderate
compensation of $25 week. 1t is to be
presumed that bookkeeping was not al
together to his taste, but nobody ever
heard him grumble, and he applied him
self so diligently to his work that Tom
Finch declared from the first that with
out Barry he should have made o miser-
able failure of the superintendency. AS
it was, he made complete success. The
Barborough Iron Works weathered the
storm and found smooth waters.
Bending over his books, Barry Mum
son recalled often that memorable after
noon when he and Bessie walked side
by side under the overarching elms. He
saw her but rarely now. The sudden
changes which year had wrought, the
sorrow and responsibility which had
come to him since that October day, had
driven the thoughts of self from his
mind. Yet ever in his ears rang, these
words:
81 would have you become anything
to show yourself man |"
What triumphs could he hope to
achieve in the narrow confines of that
Officer What chance of heroism over
those musty books? What hope for
fame, adding long columns of figures ?
What noble aim in life, beyond caring
for his dependent mo other?
Something of all this he said to her
in the twilight of another autumn day,
walking again beneath the Barborough
elms. And she turning her truthful
eyes upon him, made answer, saying
&C Barry, you have shown yourself a
hero. You have won my respect"
81 have nothing to offer you now,
Bessie, but my love-" he added quietly
"And if you had all the world to of
fer me,' said she, =" 1 would prize only
that which you now give"
And thus it came to pass that Barry
Munson, the book-keeper, welded the
girl whom Barry Munson, the declaimel
on philosophy, wooed in vain.