The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-02

upon the little rosewood cane as part
OF our teacher, and probably would never
have associated it with pain and suffer-
ing had he not one day told us of boy
whose reckless. propensity for fun and
daring exploits had made him cripple
at the age of Ia, and disappointed man
for life. This told in a sad, agitated
tone of voice convinced us that the wild,
reckless boy was no other than our
gentle teacher. From that nour we were
not only his admiring, but his warm,
sympathetic friends, and when he took
little lonely Ethel under his especial
care we felt q silent rebuke from one
whose good opinion we all coveted, and
in short time all hearts were opened to
the little stranger, and when the teacher
placed her in the seat beside me we grew
inseparable, and those long, bright sum-
mer days seldom found us apart.
Ethel's mother, delicate, fragile lit
tie woman, seldom went out. Missing
Ethel from school several weeks after
the commencement of the fall term, I
begged permission to go and see what
was the matter. This I readily OBJ
tanned; and, as it was the day before
Thanksgiving, also permission to invite
my little friend to spend the morrow
with me. The dead November grass
may have writhed and cracked under
my flying feet, but you may be assured
none grew as I sped to Ethel How
the bright eyes shone when told her
though speedily followed by shade of
| disappointment as she said:
"Oh if I only could, but I can't
Mamma is sick and, anyhow, I haven't
anything to wear."
"Oh, wen soon fix that. You know
that red polka dot of mine? I just hate
| it, because can't breathe but what a
hook flies off, and believe it will just
| fit you, because you amt as fat as am,
and know mamma is tired of sewing
on hooks, and will be ever SO glad for
me to give it away, SO you're all right
there"
"Oh, but mamma, You know; she's
real sick She just coughs all night,
and is so hot Sometimes 1 wake up
and hear her moan. Then I almost
scream, I'm SO 'fraid she's going to die /"
and the great eyes dilated with horror.
ooh, Ethel; you always get scared SO
easy. Everybody gets sick sometimes,
you know. You come tomorrow, and
when everybody's gone I'll get my
mamma to come over and, see her and
bring her something nice-a Thanks
| giving dinner, you know. Won't that
be nice? Now run and ask her must
| go. Remember. the dress II come to-
night"
The next morning, among the first
arrivals, was my little friend. How
proud and happy I felt when I saw how
universally petted and admired she was
by the other guests That was bright
day to us, but when my mother re-
turned, after accompanying Ethel home,
she threw shadow into our hearts by
the sad information that Mrs. Raymond's s
was hopeless case of consumption, and
the probability was that Ethel and her
brother would be motherless before the
/ spring.
"Poor, poor children" she went on /;
"that Harry of hers is a noble boy; as
kind and gentle nurse as woman.
They are very refined family, though
so oppressed by poverty. Poor Mrs.
Raymond hers is sad story. She
told me tonight good deal of her past
history. It seems she was very young
when married, as was her husband. He
had nice little sum of money to put
into business, but all his business qualii-
cations at that time consisted of q di-
ploma from leading business college.
Just then he received what he consid-
cred very brilliant offer, in the shape
of partnership with an old, experienced
business man, who had more business
reputation than either money or honesty,
as it afterward proved To this arrange.
ment an older brother of Mr.. Ray.
mond, who was very wealthy, and theil
only living relative, was violently op.
posed = did everything IN his power to
prevent what, he insisted, must prove
only disastrous experiment, but al
without avail the offer seemed SO very
fattering, considering Mr.. Raymond's
limited practical experience, that it wa.
accepted without hesitation. So the
new firm started, and everything was
highly satisfactory for a time. Peace
and plenty smiled upon their home, ant
when little Harry and Ethel came the.
thought their bliss complete. But th'
cloud burst unexpectedly. One morn
ing they wakened to find the new firm
bankrupt, themselves penniless, tn,
partner having sailed for Europe tn
night before, taking with him all surplu
funds.
"What to do the young husband ant
wife knew not, but, after numberles
unsuccessful attempts to find employ
: ment, Mr.. Raymond decided to appea
, to the older brother, and received in re
ply few words, stating that, as he ha
,, offered advice before only to be rejected
he certainly would not have the i'm
r pertinence to offer more, but would sim
3 ply say, as he had furnished the capita
: and his partner the experience, it was [
be presumed the result was satisfactor
: to both, as he could now boast of the e1
perience while his partner was doubt
, less enjoying the capital, and in conse
D quence of that experience was far MOI
competent to take care of himself tina
: several years ago. Hence interference
Z on his part was entirely unnecessary.
I Justafter thisyoung Raymondreceive
Z an offer to go to Europe on rather mes
, gre salary. Hoping to find his miscrear
partner he accepted, but In few day
after sailing the vessel was wrecked an
|, the young mother with her two ittl
ones was thrown on her own resources
She struggled on, and with few mus
q her door till. on account of failin
= health, she was forced to seek change
climate, but too late ; as the winter day
= wore on she grew worse, and one brigl
q morning in the early spring there flu
: tered from the door in the soft, balm
K breeze the heavy black Grape, whic
a told the sad news that death had entere
z. the little cottage and left Harry al
u Ethel motherless, but not without
: friend; some one, whom we afterwal
~ learned was no other than Eugene Ell
!, erson, ever on hand with some kind, de
y q cate attention for the invalid, had wri
y y ten to the brother, and at the funer
. the little mourners were led by tal
:, stately looking gentleman who, it W
Is wbisDarad was their rich ,1ncle coma