South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-15
Too Rich to Afford It.
By MARY GRACE ALPINE.

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 TO 90 TO school
any more?
Wei, sir, I'm tired of studying. and
don't sec any use OF it.
Think you know enough. that Won
don't need to learn any moreY
he boy colored little at that quiz
zical look and tone.
4 know as much as George Lyman
does, anal he left school three months
ago. lie says he Amt 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. Walter?
His father is poorer man than thought
him.
You arc richer than Mr.. Lyman is,
amt you. father? cried the boy, eagerly.
Il hoped l was; but that remains TO
be soen'
MIR. Lyman is rich. too, father every
body says he is
you have quite made up your mind that
you do not want to go TO school any
more, my SOM? Yes, SIR
You needn't. then.
oh, thank you, father J. cried Walter,
his face Frightening.
w ait minute said Mr.. Palmer, as
the boy caught up his hat preparatory
to making dive through the open door.
Come back l have something moro to
say to you. You have nothing to thank
me for-except. perhaps my good intcn.
lions. Considering it as the hest gift
could bestow. it was my intention to
give you thorough education. But
there Is homely but true saying: One
man can lead horse to water, but ten
cannot make him drink SO, though
have by no means changed my opinion
as 20 the value OF an education, con
sent to your leaving school, because, if
YOU feel rs you say you do. it will be
only time and money thrown away
But | want you TO understand clear w
one thing: that if you don't go to school
you will have TO 20 TO work. | cant af-
ford 10 have you idle
Walters countenance underwent q
very percep;ible change
DO you mean l must go out nj day's
work like Dan Baker and Sam Bake?'
i mean that you must have some
steady employ mont; some trade o. bas;.
ness, which will give you just so many
hours work. as surely as the sun rises
Why. father, George Lyman and Will
Bromley don't have TO work and they
l.nt * :,I
told me that he heard his father say that
you was the richest man in the county ;
i might be the richest man in two
counties, and Yet not be rich enough TO
have my boy idle
Mr.. Palmer smiled when lie saw Wal.
tcr's puzzled look.
This is hard thing for you to Under
stand, my son, and | might talk To YOU
from this time until sunset and not
make il any more clear TO you. To-
moro" Is Saturday. and you know | al.
ways take y2r somewhere that day.
This time il shall b. "a Plainfcd, where
an old schoolmatc OF mine IS living. a
visit TO him, and the placc where he
lives. will! serve better so explain my mea-
ming than anything can say.
The next morning Walter and his fa>
Their started cut. bright and early, In the
open phntOa. drawn by pair of we'll
matched. mettlcsome bays. which bore
them swiftly along tho smooth, hard road.
Plainiield was fifteen miles distant,
and the way thithcr through such u beau
/ tiful country. and so entirely new TO
Walter that lie forgot all about what bis
al ipr ha1 cai1 Ian 10 lao Il a. 49,
carriage stopped in front of a gloomy
stone building.
Are you going TO stop here father?
Why il looks like prison.
1t is a prison. said Mr.. Palmer, who
had been unusually grave and silent dur.
ing their ride, as Walter remembered
| afterwards.
But / thought we were going to sec
an old schoolmatc Of yours?'
/ Hero is where lie lives
Walter followed his father silently up
the steps which led TO tho heavy. mas
/ sivc door of the main entrance.
Did you ever think that any one OF
/ your schoolmatcs might find home in
some such place as tlis?-or that even
| you night said Mr.. Palmer. as he pull
cd bell, whose clangor broke harshly
upon the strange silence that reigned a
round.
Before Walter could reply the heavy
door swung back, and they were usher
CO into the wsrden's office.
lie was n heavily bearded man, with q
stern, almost forbidding. oouutcnansc
/ but he shook hands with Palmer, whom
lc had met before, bcstowiug on Walter
/ a pleasant word and smile. the latter
giving his face quite another aspect.
i came TO inquire about John Jack
son, tho forger,' said Mr., Palmer, after
n few preliminary words. lie is an old
sChoolmate OF mine. | remember him
RS high-spiritod boy, rather hcadstrona
and fondcr OF play than study. but will
many genial aud pleasant traits OF char
acter. How is he getting along?'
a