The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-03-11

| TOO, and had To give up some time to Its
cultivation. He also thought a mod
crate amount of practice in the gym
nasium was desirable, to prevent his
hssltA n breaking down under the
c0nnneMGat of study. So, on the
whole, the actual work that he did in
the college course was not very exten-
sive.
"This didn't seem to have any bad
effect till well along in the winter,
when the habit of shirking work had
grown SO strong, without his noticing
It, that he fell easily into reading
novels when he ought to have been in
the recitation room. Gymnasium.
theater, billiards, smoking-and l am
afraid must say little drinking-frit-
tered away his time.
Zone horribly snowy, sleety morn
ing when he had got up too late for
prayers, the postman brought him q
note from the Faculty-an .admoni-
tion.'
"He dropped the pipe he was just
lighting, and bolted OF to recitation.
discouraged him.
she soon began to make light of the
warming, and did himself no credit in
his studies. Though he managed to
squeezes through the examination at
the end of the freshman year, he came
out far down towards the foot of his
class.
"He wasn't quite contented with
himself, and thought he'd try to do bet
ter the next year. But during the jour-
ney home, he recovered. his usual spir-
its.
"When he walked up the village
towards the parsonage farm, he was
thinking that-sipce he was q sopho-
more now-he would buy the knottiest
and biggest-headed cane in Cambridge
when he should go back. there, And
what do you suppose was the first sight
that met him at homer
"It was his father ont in the field,
digging for new potatoes. his coat off
and his spectacled face perspiring!
"The sight struck shame into the
boy. He vaulted the fence, and run
ming up with hardly pause for greet
ing, cried:
20 father, let me do that! don't
like to see you at such work
"Mr. Blake stopped and looked ear
nestly and rather sadlyat him.
"'Well, Sam, think that's about as
good o "How-do-you-doP" as you
could have offered me. There's some
thing right about you, after ALL
"It hadn't occurred to Sam that
there was any doubt on that point be-
fore. He blushed as he asked:
Where's the hired manP"
"Pve discharged him, can't afford
one at present. my son. was the an
swer.
"Sam was rather puzzled and began
to reflect. 9a .al,1Gt .Efyrv.A
"They went into the house, and
there, when the minister reappeared
after making his toilet, his son noticed
that he wore the old shabby, shiny coat.
At this he was more than ever aston
ished.
1.-The supper, also, notwithstanding
that it was the first night of the prodi-
gals return, was very meagre. Not q
single extra luxury was on the table,
and Sam observed that his father and
mother took no sugar nor butter. His
own appetite began to fail at seeing
this, and his perception was sharpened
accordingly. He was now aware that
his father looked very thin, as well as
sad. Suddenly he laid down his knife,
and exclaimed to his sister Katy:
IS. sis, what does all this mean-this
going without the. hired man, and
starving yourselves ?"
His sister looked at him, then
glanced at MIR. Blake and her mother,
made no answer. !. r
ia. thought said Sam, petulantly,
that Williston's money was going to
make it easy for you, father; and here
the pinching is going on five times
worse than ever" 81
;.sf don't own my friend Williston's
money said the minister, quietly.
.as'sOf course not. But the five hun
dred dol Sam stopped abruptly
on an entresting gesture from his sister.
The subject was not resumed. But
before he went to bed Sam obtained
an Interview with his sister alone. He
felt, secretly, that he was responsible
for the depression and trouble which
seemed to fill the household, but that
only msde him speak more impetuous-
ly. - Now, sis,' he began, scan I get
two words Of sense out Of youP' Il5af
Not until you ask politely ne res:
plied.l Y EGNl1 .rDDtE} ftNtE-
".well, then. please tell me what
the mystery is.' <-B4h' GAihJoi
SIT oughtn't to be q mystery to You,
Sam, that you haven't done well at coll
lege. Papa is terribly disappointed
AL don't see why he should commit
suicide, if he is,' Sam retorted. Il
haven't cost him much this year.
$50 yes, you have. Do you know he
actually sold the new coatP' f'- l-.s 7,
"Whyr Sam frowned.
"Because he's been trying every
way to save money since he began to
get reports of how you were wasting
your time
".What forP' asked Sam, though he
began to suspect.
tWell, he-how should knowp-
Don't you seeP He's ashamed to have
had that money from his old classmate,
and he's nearly saved enough, and he's
going to pay it all back. There, l was
to keep it secret, and now I've told
your And his sister burst into tears.
You've nearly broken his heart, Sam
poor papar
The next day Mr.. Blake's son went
OF directly after breakfast, and was not
seen again, till afternoon.
"Coming back, he overlook his IA
thsr returning from the post-office.
"Iknow an about itr he exclaimed.
in his excitement. Katy told me last
nighk / wish, though, you'd held on
to the new coat awhile
sWhyp" asked Mr.. Blake, imper-
turbably.
Because said Sam, I'm going to
pay my own way now. I've been of
to-day and hired out for the season to
Farmer Hedgeburton. You won't send
thst money to Wiliiston, will you.
fatherr
ss.You are too late,' was the minis
ter's answer. i've just mailed the let
ter to him.
"In fact, next day the kind mer-
chants eyes were dimmed as he read
these words:
"sDEAR WMLIsToN-My boy-it almost
breaks my heart TO say so-has not proved
worthy Of your generosity. I have decided to
return the sum which You sent me for him
last year, and you will find draft enclosed