Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-21

womans eyes.
Oh! grave girls faces, listening, kind! glad
will sing for We,
While the proud figure of the Sphinx is all
that I can see. ..,.,..
The LAST DITCH.
Fred Grover sat In his attic mp town.
A few short months before, Fred had
Left his home in Massachusetts to study
medicine in New York. His father had
given his son some good advice, and(what
Fred thought great deal more vaiuable)
five hundred dollars to pay his board bills
and other expenses. His mother had Civ
en- him new set OF shirts, some flannel
jackets, fifty dollar bill-which she had
saved from her housekeeping expenses
made him promise to be good boy
which Fred very readily did. for he in
tended to be if he could-and off he start
ed. ..,
When Fred arrived in New York he
set to work manfully, having determined
to rival Mott or Carnechan in very short
time or ANONYMOUSLY retire from the pro.
fession. d..
New York is very seductive, and II
am sorry to say it--Fred Grover was very
fond Of pleasure. Consequently, he soon
became an accomplished player at ;!bllli-
ards, and quickly discovered tho houses
where the best dinners could be obtained.
When young men indulge too freely in
good dinners, cigars, etc., they observe
with surprise how quickly their money
disappears. It was 50 with Fred, tor
having occasion one day to draw twenty
dollars out Of the bank, where he had
deposited his money, he was somewhat
Disconnected 10y being told that there was
only two dollars and some odd cents to
his. credit. ,'"'''
Fred went home feeling pretty badly.
What to do he did not know. Having
been in New York only three months
and spending five hundred and fifty dsl-
lars, he couldn't write home for more
no., that was impossible, so he made up
his. mind to attend lectures regularly and
study tremendously hard.
Poor Fred!
So things went on for four or five
weeks. Fred had visited pawnbroker
several times, and had left that gentle
man, who so kindly lends money to
those who are in want Of it, his watch, a
dozen shirts. one or two coats, and several
pairs of pantaloons.
Fred's Ian lady had received no money
for some time, so she began to importunc
him for payment, and had limited mildly
that some was not forthcoming very
shortly Fred would have to find new
clearinghouse.
Well, us I said before, Fred Grover sat
in his attic, bordering over his ill-luck-
as he called it, but correctly speaking,
over his improvidence-and deploring
the hour that brought him to New York.
How seldom we think of blaming our
own lmprudence! We generally manage
to find an excuse for our little weak
nesses.
"1f," unused Fred, II were to write to
mother, know she'd send on the money g.;
bnt i can't do that-no, I'll starve first.
wonder if-come imp
The last two words were shouted in a
tone much louder than there was any
occasion for, but Fred had been inter-
rupted by a tap at the door, and it had
somewhat startled him.
The door slowly opened and in stalked
nlatronly-looking woman, with rather
red face, and who had three curls on
each side OF her face. .,
Fred turned all manner of colors.
"Mr. Grover said the lady, "would
YOU let me have some money, if you
please?"
Il haven't any to-day, Mrs. Jackson,
but, but
But what, sir?" and the matronly-
looking woman frowned at poor Fred
II was gong to aay I expect a remit
lance from home in day or two and
then I'll give you some"
Mrs. Jackson's face twitched about all
manners of ways; finally she said:
IF YOU cannot let Inc have some mon
ey tomorrow, Mr. Grover, I shall feel OBJ
liged to you if you will get another board
ing house.
Fred readily promised to let her have
some money the following day, though
where he was going to get it from he
hadn' the widest idea. However it was
a respite, and he shouldn't have to face
Mrs Jackson till the following day
When we owe money and promise tc
pay tomorrow, what long way off that
tomorrow appears.
When Mrs. jackson had left the room
Fred put his hands to the bottom of his
trousers pocket and began to walk about
the room with rapid strides
"What the deuce is to be done?
don't know. Let me see-oh that's nc
use; I've pawned everything that's pawn.
able!'
Fred threw himself upon his bed tc
try and calm himself. He counted all
the flies upon the ceiliug, and longed tc
he a fly because they didn't have to pay
board bills.
SPY Jovc, good ideal" said Fred
starting up. "I'll try to borrow it; very
likely Jim can lend it to me.'
He seized his hat and hurried from the
house.
Attached to the house that Fred had
just left is yard, but called by the land
lady a garden; behind that garden is a
small lane leading to nowhere in particu-
lar, and having its entrance in street
chiefly devoted to tenement houses, dirt
and squalling children. :. 49,. ~ .
About eleven O'Clock that night mar
very carefully looked over the fence thai
separated the aforesaid garden from thu
aforementioned lane. Looking careful
ly around, he drew from his pocket pail
Of pincers, and commenced breaking of
short a few Of the spikes that were ON thu
top OF the fence, and had been put there
l presume, for the express purpose of al
noying the neighboring cats. e, =
After counting the number. he .hat
broken off, by feeling them with hi
hand, he carefully climbed to the top o
the fence, and then lowered himself int,
the garden. = -.-..,-~.-....' *'@t j
Blame the things!" he muttered, hay
ing alighted in the middle Of lilac-bust
which slightly scratched him, 'sthere'
always something to interfere with asfe
Ow's business" a,.%,,,
Having. extricated himself from tb
bush, he crept stealthily toward tho var
door, applied his car to the key-holc, an
listened. = |' q -, =
He produced an augur from one Of. tn
numerous pockets in his coat, and tina
EouoV, fs, 1,orn q h01p-.cO G1,iotIx, tbnA NJ,