St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-17

that it worries her to know what he
does with his money.
''Its rather strange" replied Mrs
Thorn. "If he doesn't help his mother,
what does he do with his money? I'm
sure it isn't spent on himself; one could
almost believe he had worn that same
suit of clothes since his fathers death,
though of course he hasn't, for he would
have outgrown them; but I'll warrant
no one can tell when the change was
made. He must be nearly sixteen 10y
this time, and could, it seems to me,
keep his mother at home, with what
light sewing she could get from the
neighbOrs. Her hard work is telling on
her health. Well, for my part, l can't
see what he does with his money, any
how"
"My dear Mrs. Thorn, there are a
thousand ways in which young men
can spend their money, and not have it
count much either. | think it is down
right shame. Mrs. HaTtly's sister Jen
says, SO, too, and she says that she'll
not keep that child much longer, unless
Henry seems more willing to help"
"TOo bad, too bad, such fine look
ing boy, too," sighed Mrs. Thorn, as
scream from her youngest aroused her
to the fact of her own responsibility,
while strong smell of burnt bread
warned Mrs. Blake that she, too, was
needed elsewhere.
Such was the opinion of the elder
people in the little Iowa village where
Henry lived. So far, Mr.. Barton had
no fault to find.
"The lad is honest and trusty," lie
said, "and it is none of my business
what lie does with the money he earns.
l own it would be more manly in him
to keep his mother away from the
wash-tub; but it is their business, not
mine"
A little incident which occurred
about this time will show how Henry
stood in the estimation of his young
companions. One bright winter even
ing, as he was coming from home after
tea, his work at the store being over for
the day, he met a boy of about his own
age, who on seeing him, exclaimed:
You're just the fellow L want to see,
Henry Hartly. We boys are getting
up sleigh-rde for tomorrow night,
and we want youto get some pretty girl
and go along too. We are to meet at
evening, and start from there
"Pm sorry, Tom but | can't go"
"Oh, it won't cost much," said Tom,
his face flushing up, for he thought he
understood the reason of his friends re-
fusal; "only matter of fifty cents or
a dollar, you know"
81 thank you, Tom, and the other
boys for thinking of me, and .or Wishing
me to go, still, will have 20 refuse to
accompany you" There was Il misty
gleam of tears in the boys eyes, which
Tom did not see.
''It's just as the boys said, exclaimed
Tom angrily, when | asked to have
your name added to the list, they said,
hes too stingy to go anywhere ifit costs
him Il cent For my part | don't see
what is the use in doing as you do. You
go looking like a beggar of course,
you are always clean enough but your
clothes are patched all over, and every
body knows you get good wages. Why
can't you be like other boys, and 90
once in a while. 1t looks little and
mean, never to spend a cent. There,
have said it now, and | expect I've
made an enemy of yOu ?"
"No, Tom, You haven't; YOU will
| think differently some time, perhaps" j"
said Henry as he turned sadly away.
| Turning the corner, lie entered Squire
| Eldridge's back yard, where a large
! pile of uuSplit wood waited his arrival.
Something bright and round dropped
on the AK as he stopped 10 lift it from
the ground something that shone in
the moonlight like Il drop of dew.
"NO, no. said he bravely, Il can't
afford to spend one cent now, and |
must improve those moonlight nights
Only 4 few weeks more, mother dar-
ling; only a few weeks more, little
homesick sister. Oh, it seems as though
| can never wait; the nearer the time
comes, the hmder it is to be patient"
"Do you know what day it is moth
er ?" asked Henry one bright spring
morning, few weeks later, rs he stood
in the door of their cottage.
'Ges,n SAID his mother, with weaIy
sigh, ''the mortgage is due on our home
to-day, and haven't got money enough
for the interest I've worked so hard
II MY, but it don't seem to count much
afte. all.
1t was the nearest to reprGach OF
anything she had ever said to him. "IIe
is only a boy" she thought, "and it is
only natural he should want to spend
his money as the boys do. ! Will new
ar ask him for a cent until have to-"
"Mothcr darling,' said he, putting
his arm around her, with freedom he
had not used since his fathers death
promise me that you will not go t.
work to-day. ! am going to the city
and will bring a fIiend home with me
Please have tea at five tonight, anC
get something extra good. Here is !;
to buy whatever you may need for sup
per-
\ look of surprise shonc on her face
it was the first money he had givel
her.
eff you are going to the city, yor
could stop and see Mr.. Howard abOu
the mortgage, and ask him if he will
! let it run little longer. YOu may pa
him what Eve got; but, dear me, whl
good will it do, our home will have t
go anyhow
GIVE me the money, mother, and T.
stop and see him." said Henry. 'No,
2 don't worry about the future, it will a
come right. Just have everything mic
! Tonight" and he hurried away, feelin
= that the long cOnstraint he had exercis
ed was breaking away, and fearful tha
$ if he remained longer, he would reve;
, the precious secret lie had guarded s
= many weary months.
5 "Dear boy" said Mrs. HartIy, as 81
;. wiped her eyes with the corner of h,
= apron. "He's too much like his faith,
p, to go wrong, in spite of Jen's complain
{ ings. He seems more like himself t,
+ day than he has for months. Well, |
d shall have as nice Il supper for his frier
nc I pla-., IL l..