The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-27
Written for the Free Trader
RICHARD FENTON'S LUCK.
A STORY OF THREE NEW YEARS
by TIMOTHY HAY.

Goodbye, mother; take good care OF your
self and keep stout heart" The speaker
Richard Fenton, stood at the gate of his snul
cottage home, one New Years morning valist
in hand, awaiting the arrival of the stage
tina, would convey him to the station, where
he WAS to take the cars for New York. Rich
ard Fenton was born in the village of C ----
and had lived there all his lifc but being of q
rowing disposition, the quiet village life became
more aRd more Tksomc AS he grew in years
until at last he determined to "see the world, ~
rs he told his mother. He had reached the
age Of twenty, and as he stood at the gate on
that bright New Years morn, tall, athletic
his dark-bluc eyes flashing, and firm resolve
depicted IN his whole bearing that he would
dare and do" anything right he seemed per.
fcctly confident of beng allie to take care of
himself"
His mother and jessie Conroy had followed
HIM to the gate. Jessie, whose parents had
died eight years before, had been adopted by
Mrs. Fenton, and the little waif and Dick had
been brought up together almost as brother
and sister
Goodbye, mother,' said Dick again, this
ume dropping his valse and throwing his
arms about his mother, for at that moment the
shrill sound Of the stage horn told he had not
long to tarry,
Goodbye, Richard my boy, and may God
watch over and protect you, and may all your
o. . L., -;
glorious day Of the new year. said Mrs. Fen
ton, kissing him again and again.
Goodbye, Jessie; take good care of mother,
won't you, little gIrly" SAID Dick, imprin,inga
Kiss on her rosy check
yes, will, Dick, good.bycw replied Jcs.
SIZE, bursting into tears, for now the stage had
halted at the gate and Dick was hurryng to,
wards IT. Soon the drivers long whip swung
ont, there was sharp crack, and away the
horses dashed down the village street.
Mrs. Fcnton and Jessie watched the stage
until it was lost to view by turn In the road,
and then they returned to the cottage again.
bnhl now Mrs. Fenton had borne up bravcly,
hut when she entered the house everything
seemed so different, and there was such lone
some look about the place without Dicks mcr
ny laugh and good nature that she sat down
and Jessie, hiding her face IN Mrs Fenton's
lap, they silently wcpt together
A few weeks passed by, and one day jessie
came running INTO the house crying, "Oh,
mother, here's letter from Dick"
The letter stated that he had arrived safely
IN New York, and that he had been lucky in |
getting good place to work at fair wages, and
giving glowing description of the great city.
ime sped on, three years had passed, and |
SUN DICK remained in New York. He was
BOW one OF The head clerks of large firm, his |
employers placing the utmost confidence in
nm. In the last letter he had written 10 his
mother he told her that he was to have vaca-
non OF month some time IN the winter and
mat he should spend il at home. A week after
jessie came in with another letter from Dick
and opening it said:
Now, mother, we'll see when Dicks com.
ing home" CHANGING oyer the contents mo |,
ment before reading 1t aloud, she suddenly
uttered cry letting the letter fall upon the
floor ""
What's the matter, Jessie; has anything
happened to Richard ," exclaimed Mrs. Fen.
ton, picking up the letter
The hrst words that met her eye were
Mother, I'm going TO Australia A gentle
sah has formed company TO 20 TO the mines
ana have Joined them. | met Tom Hood on
NE street the other day--you remember him.
he and were boys together, and the most dis
agreeable fellow ever knew-and he seemed
very glad to see me, informing me that he also
had joined the company. He Is a sleek.
tOngued fellow, and no one knows how he gets
bis living: be has been in the pententiary /
once. If had known it in time would not
have signed my name, but it's too late TO back
But now. would like to see you and Jessie,
lear mother, before leave but il will be i'm.
possible, as the ship sails In week"
"Oh, my son, my boy, will never see you !
.gainY' walled the poor woman, burying her i