The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-09-02


with q cane: but we soon grew to look
upon the little rosewood cane as a 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 q 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 hour we were
not only his admiring, but his warm,
sympathetic friends, and when he took
little lonely Ethel under his especial
care we felt 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,
begged permission to go and see what
was the matter. This 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 q shade of
disappointment as she said ::
"Oh if I only could, but I can't
Mamma is sick and, anyhow, haven't
anything to wear"
"Oh, well soon fix that. You know
that red polka dot Of mine? I Just hate
it, because can't breathe but what a
hook flies of, 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 I 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.
"Oh, 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 felt when 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 a shadow into our hearts by
the sad information that Mrs. Raymond's
was a 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 noble boy; as
kind and gentle a nurse as woman.
They are very refined family, though
50 oppressed by poverty. Poor Mrs.
Raymond i-hers is a sad story. She
told me tonight a good deal of her past
history. 1t 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 qualif-
cations at that time consisted of di-
ploma from leading business college.
just then he received what he consid-
cred a 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 their
only living relative, was violently op-
posed did everything in his power to
prevent what, he insisted, must prove
only q disastrous experiment, but all
without avail the offer seemed SO very
fattering, considering Mr.. Raymondis
limited practical experience, that it was
accepted without hesitation. So the
new firm started, and everything was
highly satisfactory for time. Peace
and plenty smiled upon their home, and
when little Harry and Ethel came they
thought their bliss complete. But the
cloud burst unexpectedly. One morn
ing they wakened to find the new firm
bankrupt, themselves penniless, the
partner having sailed for Europe the
night before. takingwith him all surplus
funds.
"What to do the young husband and
wife knew not, but, after numberless
unsuccessful attempts to find employ
ment, Mr.. Raymond decided to appeal
to the older brother, and received in re-
| ply few words, stating that, as he had
offered advice before only to be rejected,
he certainly would not have the i'm
pertinence to offer more, but would SIM
ply say, as he had furnished the capital
and his partner the experience, it was to
be presumed the result was satisfactory
to both, as he could now boast of the ex-
perience while his partner was doubt
less enjoying the capital, and in conse-
quence of that experience was far more
competent to take care of himself than
several years ago. Hence interference
on his part was entirely unnecessary.
just after thisyoung Raymondreceived
an offer to go to Europe on rather mea-
gre salary. Hoping to find his miscreant
partner he accepted, but in a few days
after sailing the vessel was wrecked and
the young mother with her two little
ones was thrown ON her own resources.
She struggled on, and with few music
scholars succeeded In keeping want from
her door till, on account of failing
health, she was forced to seek change of
climate, but too late as the winter days
wore on she grew worse, and one bright
morning in the early spring there fut-
tered from the door in the soft, balmy
breeze the heavy black Grape, which
told the sad news that death had entered
the little cottage and left Harry and
Ethel motherless, but not without a
friend; some one, whom we afterward
learned was no other than Eugene EN-
erson, ever ON hand with some kind, deli
cate attention for the invalid, had writ
ten to the brother, and at the funeral
the little mourners were led by a tai,
stately-looking gentleman who, it was
whispered, was their rich uncle, come to
take them away, which proved true
The next morning, our childish hearts
almost bursting with grief, Ethel and I
| aoI1 p.I- -hxro