Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-04

tiles. However, they were better thar
debts, and didn't tangle her steps like
mortgages, for the place was clear he
own. For my own part, never coult
see the sense of such q common persor
as Queen Victoria living in such style
and such natural born queen as widde1
Hennings working so hard and faring SC
plain.
But for Rash. Not but whot he wa.
the best of sons, ready to help in every
thing she wanted done. And didn't he
put into lessons, when he found his moth
er's heart was 80 sot on his learning. And
how good and patient he'd listen, while
she'd tell Of the old governor, and the
senator, and the teachers, and the profes.
sor, and how anxious she was to have hin
study hard! She'd been well dedicated
herself. and taught him some Latin and
French, and wasn't bad scholar.
But, whatever he got it from, it didn'
seem to be what he'd chose. He'd study
hard. and keep up in his classes; and ev.
cry spare minute he got, he'd be fussing
round in my shop. He'd pick up bits oi
half and quarter inch stuff, and notch and
whittle, and carve and fit, and turn on,
the neatest little toys, chairs and tables,
and such like, that you ever saw. He
gave one to my little Bess. the winter she
broke her leg-she's got ityet. It's like
a chair | once saw in church-carved
gothic back and arms, and q table to
match. Sometimes it has been all
could do to get him to give enough atten-
ton to his books, he'd be so busy with
his work. l kept a strict lookout for
that. I've got such little learning my
self that know its value; and he never
missed lesson on my account. Id seen
too many make love of whiting and
talk, mere excuse for idling away prec-
ious time; and after all. there wasn't no
genius of any great amount.
Horatio was getting to be a large boy,
when some connection died and left him
a matter O five hundred dollars. 1t was
to be used at his mothers discretion. ell
ther kept till he was twenty one, or spent
on his eddication.
Mrs. Hennings, she decided at once
tha, it should help him through college.
She could help out the balance, somehow;
and it seemed like the good old day Of the
governor and senator come again, when
she could talk about Colleges and so
forth.
So one evening. as he was sitting by
her, reciting his Latin to her, she just be-
gan the subject, and Rash told me all
about it the next day. Rash said he nev-
er saw no one so beat as his mother was,
when he told her she shouldn't touch the
but just as soon as l thought him
old enough. he was going to learn a
trade.
"A trade! And what trade::"
"Why, a carpenter and joiner. to be
sure, love that sort OF work. and Jack
Playne says III do well at it.
"But my dear son, what ever made
you think Of learning that trade. There
never was carpenter in our family, and,
in fact, l don't know that they ever
amount to very much"
"Why, my dear mother" you forget !;
wasn't our dear Saviour one; and don't
that make the craft honorable forever."
True, my dear child. Yours is a
just reproof; and yet our Saviour did not
choose his humble calling. 1t was les
son of obedience which he was taught by
submitting to his parents necessities.
His work had been fixed and fitted for
him before the foundation of the world.
But for you, my dear boy, had hoped
to see YOU in the chair of the professor"
81 am afraid, dear mother" said Rash,
quite humbly, "that I'd rather make the
chair than sit in it. know it Is not 30
great a work, but it is my work, which,
after all is the important thing. And, if
1 make the chair strong and well, and
handsome and easy, 1 don't see why I'm
not just as respectable as he is. It's my
work to build the pulpit for another man
to preach in; and we may as well accept
the facts, But, mother, don't you want
to see some of my work; things I've done
by odd spells:'
For his mother had bowed her head on
her hand. and her face was growing set,
and her lips showed white thread. She
wasn't one Of the crying sort. l hate a
weeper; but they don't begin to be so un-
manageable as the stony.eyed sort, that
neither speak or cry.
In q minute or two, Rash came down
out of the woodshed loft with his arms