The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-23
" Too Rich to Afford It."
BY MARY aRAoE nArrrr.

to the face OF his first born, a lad about
fifteen.
And bright, intelligent face il was,
though it was little clOuded now by a
feeling Of dubiOusness as to how his
words would be taken.
why don't you want 10 go to school
any more ?"
"Well, sir, I'm tired Of studying, and
I don't see any use of it,"
Think you know enough-that you
don't need TO learn any more ?'
The boy cOlored a little at that quizzi-
cal look aud tone.
II know as much as George Lyman
does, and he left school three months
ago. He says that he 'ain't going to
drudge away at school when his father
has got plenty OF money!"
Mr.. Palmer turned upon his sons face
a look Of grave surprise.
"Did George Lyman say that, Wal
ter? His father is q poorer man than l
thought him."
"You are richer than Mr.. Lyman is,
amt you, father ?i cried the boy, ca
gerly.
81 hoped I was; but that remains to
be seen.h
"Mr. Lyman is rich, too, father;
everybody says that be is"
THAT remains to be seen, also. So
you have quite made up your mind that
you don't want to go to school any more,
my son ,"
''Yes, sir"
"Nou needn't, then"
"Oh, thank you, father :" cried Wal
ter, his face Frightening.
"Wait a minute" )" said Mr.. Palmer, as
the boy caught up his hat preparatory
TO making dive through the open door.
"COme back; have something more to
say TO you. You have nothing to thank
me for-except, perhaps, my good in
tentiOns. Considering II as the best gift
l could bestow, IL was my intention 10
give to you q thorough education. But
there is homely but true saying, 'One
man can lead horse to water, but ten
cannot make him drink So, though I
have by no means changed my opinion
as to the value Of an education, l con-
sent TO your leaving school, because, IL
you feel as you say you do, il will only
be time and money thrown away. But
/ want you to understand clearly one
thing-that If you don't go to school,
you will have 10 go 10 work. l can't
afford TO have you idle"
Walters countensnce underwent a
very perceptible change.
"DO you mean that must go out at
days work like Dan Baker and Sam
Blake?n
81 mean that you must have some
steady employment; some trade or bus
iness, that will give you just so many
hours work. as surely as the sun rises"
why, father, George Lyman aud
Will Bromley dOn't have 10 work aud
they say they don't mean TO, either
George told me that he heard his father
say that you were the richest man in
the county"
81 might be the richest man in two
counties, and yet not be rich enough to
afford to have my boy idle"
Mr.. Palmer smiled as be saw Walters
puzzled look.
"This is hard thing for you to un-
derstand, my son and ! might talk to
you from this time until sunset and not
make it any more clear to you. To-
morrow is Saturday, and you know
always take you somewhere that day
This time il shall be TO Plainfield, where
an old schOOlmate Of mine is living. A
visit to him, and the place where lie
lives, will serve better to explain my
meaning than anything I can say"
The next morning Walter aud his
father started out, bright and early, in
the open phetOn, drawn by a pair OF
well-matched, mettlesome bays, which
bore them swiftly along the smooth,
hard road.
Plainfeld was fifteen miles distant,
and the way thither lay through such a
beautiful country, and so entirely new
to Walter, that he forgot all about what
his father had said the day before, un-
I'll the carriage stopped in front Of 8
gloomy stone building.
"Are you going to stop here, father
Why, IL looks like prison :"
at is a prison :" said Mr. Palmer, who
had been unusually grave and silent
during their ride, az Walter remembered
Rfterward.
"But l thought We were going to see
an old schOOlmate OF yours ~
Here is where he lives"
Walter followed mis- father silently uu
the steps which led to the heavy, mas
sive door Of the main entrance.
Ibid you ever think that any one ol
your schOOlmates might find home ia
some such place as this s?-or that even
you might?" said Mr.. Palmer, as he
pulled a bell, whose clangor broke
harshly upon the strange silence thai
Teigned around.
Before Walter could reply, the heavy
door swung back, and they were ushered
iutO the warden's office.
He was a heavily-bearded man, O
stern, almost forbidding counteBance
but be shook hands with Mr.. Palmer
whom be had met before, bestowing on
Walter pleasant word and smile, the
latter giving his face quite another as.
pect.
II came to inquire about John Jack
son, the fOrger," said Mr.. Palmer, after
Few preliminary words. "He is an
old schoOlmats of mine. 1 remember
him as high-spirited boy, rather head.
strong and fonder Of plGy than study
but with many genial and pIeaEa1
traits OF character. How is he pettinV
along ?"
VERY we'll. Had he been conrnetant
1 should have given him a place NJ
OOok-keeper, made vacant by a convict
whose time was up. As it was, | hsd
TO put him in the shoe-shop. lie 1,
quiet; out be takes il pretty hard, a.
such chaps are apt to, who have Away
had plenty Of money and nothing to DO
II lie not in strict accordance with thl
rules bot II you would like TO see him
III have him sent outn
Mr.. Palmer assented and in a few
minutes grave, quiet man entered
whose closely-cut hair and peculiar dres
gave him a very strange look to Walter
who had never seen anything like it be
fore.
He seemed glad to see Mr.. Palmer
though there was a visible constraint il
his manner, which showed that he fel
keenly his changed position and SUI
rOuudings.
OF the two, Mr.. Palmer seemed th