The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-23

IS u SAID
II am glad to see you, Mr.. Jackson,
but sorry, very sorry to find you here. y
You can's be more sorry than l am
10 hnd myself here" said the man, with
forced smile.
Then, as If anxious tn change the sub
ject, be turned to Walter.
Il needn't ask whose boy this is 2'
ut is my eldest son, Walter. He is
just about the same age that We were
when we used TO go 10 school together
IN dear old Bridgeville. Have YOU for
gotten all about those days, John ?"
Whether II WAS these words, or the
sight Of that fresh, Innocent face, for a
few moments jackson struggled silently
with the tender aud subduing recollec-
tiOns that rushed over him; then break
ing down utterly, he covered his face
with his hands
Walter had never seen man weep
before, and those sobs aud means were
/ something that he never forgot
81 wish / could ?" said the wretched
man, lifting up his pale, tear stained
face. 81 wish | could forget what once
was, all that | might have been, and
what / am ; ! sometimes think that IL
/ is a horrible dream that | shall some
day awake and find il So -
"How did it happen ?" inquired Mr.
[ Palmer, as soon as his companion was
ealmer. "When / last saw you, your
prospects were bright - apparently
brighter than mine"
at can be summed up in two words, )"
was the gloomy response: "Idlcness
and bad company. II my father bad
trained me 10 habits OF industry and
self-reliance, / had not come to this.
Ruf ha 1nnan arnh ola
the grave has hidden from him all
knowledge OF the shame aud misery Of
the son whom his ill-judged, short
sighted kindness ruined. As you know,
would not study | thought that there
was no need Of ms-a rich mans son
10 do that. / can remember how / de-
spised the dull, plodding fellows who
are honOred men to-day. My fathers
death put me into the possession of
wealth OF which l had never earned
dollar, and Of whose use aud worth
knew nothing. How il went | hardly
knew; but aWoke one morning to find
myself poorer than the lowest clerk in
the establishment that my father built
up with 80 much care and labor, but
which had now passed into the hands Of
strangers. My fair-weAther friends,
who had helped spend my money, urg-
/ ing me to every conceivable folly and
extravagance, left as soon a. they found
that there was no more TO spend. l
knew nothing about getting money by
honest work, but money l must have /;
so turned my attention to the various
ways Of getting money without work.
| The rest needs no telling"
Here the warden entered, and, with
/ his heart somewhat cheered and
strengthened by Mr.. Palmer's whispered
words Of encouragement and sympathy,
Jackson returned to his dreary task.
The warden now took them around
/ through the various workshops, cells,
etc, kindly explaining 10 Walter all
that he did not understand.
When they visited the shoe shop,
[ Walter saw Jackson sitting there among
/ the rows Of busy, silent men, not one OF
whom dared TO lift his eyes as they
passed by.
"HoW many Of these men," inquired
Mr.. Palmer, as they returned to the
Office, "hRve ever been trained TO any
useful trade or business ,"
Not one In ten."
The spirited bays, in their glittering
harness, were champing their bits and
tossing their heads impatiently outside
the high walls, and Walter experienced
feeling Of relief as he found himself
once more out in the pure, sweet air aud
/ bright sunshine.
"How dreadful il must be 10 have "a
4 live in such place as thstri he said, as,
reaching an eminence, he gave back
ward glance at the building which
looked so grim aud solitary in the dis
tance.
at is the necessity that is dreadful
my son. Miserable as these men are
they are happier there, where they are
/ obliged To be orderly and industrious
though only through the fear OF punish
ment, than il they were allowed to fol.
low, unrestrainedly, the devices Of theil
foolish aud evil hearts"
There was silence for some minutes
when Mr. Palmer said:
"YOu asked me q question yesterday
Walter, and this Is my answer, a bettel
answer than words can frame. Tn,
world calls me 4 rich man, and 60 am
| am able to afford you many advan'
tages, any opportunity you can ask FOL
moral aud mental culture; but / an
mott never shall bs-rich enough tS
afford TO have you idle. Strange as i
may sound, / am too rich to afford IL
: have a mill filled with industrious op
erAtives, whose living from week I,
week depends on its skillful and pruden
management. / have houses, full o
tenants, whose health and comfort de
pend largely upon whether their land
lord is a just and faithful man. Thesl
aud other interests may some day b.
entrusted to you. Many a father ha
learned, TO his sorrow, that TO have hi
boys idle is something that rich mel
} cannot afford to do"
81 think | will go 10 school Monday
, father" WAS Walters only response L
this.