Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-01-15


ions, and frequent the theatre, said jim.
'Oh, hang it, Your blood's water, jim
and besides, your position is differenl from
mine. Things are expected from me-
must so into society. By-and-by shal
get case that will pay me richly for al
these sacrifices"
''Sacrifces!" repeated Jim, in tone
that made Charley's blood move faster, SC
that he said to himself, with the addition OF
an oath.
"Thc same old slow boy, with no more
brains than an OK.
You are still at the machine, see, he
said aloud, a moment after.
''Oh, yes; it costs next to nothing; and
if 1t never succeeds, il gives me something
to think about"
"iou don't say that you ever think, was
the sarcastic response.
"Well, now and then" was the slow re-
joinder.
Charley rose, sauntercd back and forth
for few moments, and then stood still, his
handsome face reddening
Il say, Jim, can't you lend me ten dol
larsl I'm absolutely out of cash."
II never lend" said jim.
Charley's breath grew short and quick.
Some insulting speech was on the end of
his tongue, for he felt both rage and con-
tempt; but Jim, rising quietly, went TO a
desk and lifted the lid.
IF five dollars will do you any good,
you are welcome to them" he said. '..rhey
are all have by me-"
''Jim, you're a good fellow !" gasped
Charley, his tongue yet hot with the words
he had intended to saw.
Jim went once or twice to his brothers
office, and did not like it. "Why should
the young lawyer spend hundred dollars
in pIcturesf" he asked himself Indignantly;
''and why does he keep the company of
such men as have met there2'
One day Jim received letter from his
brother Oscar:
DEAR OLD JIM expect | shall have
to leave college. Things are going wrong
at home. | don't suppose any one has told
you. They seem to think you have all you
can do to take care of yourself; and so you
have, | suppose. Charley has been an aw-
full weight upon father, and this year the
crops have all failed, and father ia disabled
from work by rheumatism. | don't care
much about myself | only studied med-
cine to please father, and should rather be
almost anything else.
| think | could write for the newspapers
Can't you get me a place in some store ?
and / could write evenings, and live with
you. Think it over, for Pm sure father is
going to lose all his property. Charley
plays billiards, and Pm afraid cards. Write
me as soon as you can what can be done
for me.
Jim wrote in less than week. His EN-.
ployer wanted an under salesman Then
be set himself to look carefully into his ia
theirs affairs.
Everything there was going i. ruin. i, The !
were nearly hcart-broken, and no one
thought for a moment of looking to him.
But nevertheless he laid his plans. To |
pay the mortgage was quite impossible, |
out he hired some comfortable rooms in the |
old house where he stayed, sold what he
could from the stock of the farm, had the |
necessary furniture brought to town, and
installed his father and mother in COM
Portable home. The months passed. The
old folks learned to depend upon him, and
his sister found a situation as bookkeeper.
One day gentleman called upon Jim,
and was invited into his room. You've
been at work fifteen years on this machine,
you say?" remarked the gentlemen when
be had examined 1t.
The speaker was a business man, whose
favor was almost equal to fortune.
"Yes, sir, !" said Jim, quietly; 81 was
always plodder. "
"Well, you've plodded to some purpose"
was the answer. 81 am very sure there's
money enough in it to make you rich
man."
Jim grew very red, and the room seemed
to 90 around for moment
''Thank you" he made reply. 81 should
like to be rich for the sake of others.
And so, eventually, plodding Jim won
the race, and became the practical, efficient
and prosperous man of the family.