Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-11-25

Mr. Warning, sir! Is any thing
wrong7 / have the last weeks list, and
l am sure made no mistake"
:" No, no, my good Mrs. Burns, / am
only keeping Thanksgiving Day in my
own fashion, and thought would call
and see what family you had, and what
your prospects are for the winter
- Mary and John gave their mother
bright, yet anxious glances, as much as
to say, 'Now is your tine; do tell this
gentleman our need" Little by little
the story was told it was almost exact
/ ly the tale of the night before. In one
year more John would be able to take q
position as assistants book-keeper, and
Mary was steadily advancing toward
the goal of her ambition-a certificate
which should entitle her to a position as
public school teacher.
s'But mother isn't strong, and she
was not brought up to wash and iron if
she could only work little less for a
year, we might save her life," said
Mary, impetuously.
"Well, suppose agreed to advance
you one hundred dollars, John, would
you sign a paper promising me to pay it
by weekly sums from your salary when
you obtain a position?'
'Indeed, would, sir, and bless you
every day of my life. And when l grow
rich, as 1 intend to, I'll help other
boys.1'.
t.Ddd't wait till you get rich, my boy;
keep your heart and eyes open, and give
out of your first earnings, or you may
grow hard and mean and miserly.''
The. boy colored violently, and Mr..
Warning felt sure that his dream had in
deed been true. "All the more reason
1 should hurry home, and cheer up that
good little Mrs. Downs. Bless my soul!
here I'm about to leave her, and that
will be dreadful blow! must find
her another lodger, or pay at both
places. L declare, I'll be poor man if
1 keep on! But somehow I can't stop
never felt so happy in my life."
Mr.. and Mrs. Downs were surprised
by call from their rich lodger, and still
more surprised at the kind, friendly way
in which he talked. He was as eager to
talk over routes to Florida and Colorado
as Mr.. Downs himself, and knew much
more. about the advantages of the latter
place. How enthusiastic the two men
grew as they talked of the feasibility of
Mr.. Downs going first ard getting bet
ter, and then taking house at Denver
for his wife to keep dodgers; or better
vet, IL his health were once fairly re-
established, he might get chance at
farming.
ats the getting there that is the
troubie,' said the invalid, at last, the old
cloud settling down on his thin face.
ooh, that's the least part of it! You
must allow me to see to that. l had
delicate sister when l was a mere boy
that might be living now, if we could
have sent her to the West-in memory
OF her want to send you"
The wife's happy face, the sick mans
broken, thanks, helped on the good work
in James Warnings already softened
heart. They would not hear of his eat
ing alone. and he and Mrs. Downs be-
tween them improvised high tea which
was grand success, the invalid sitting
up and even asking to be helped seq
ond Time.
1t was not quite easy to tell Mrs.
Downs of the proposed change of rooms,
bat Mr.. Waring found her sympathies
al Con the sidefof the brave young wife,
and though she was sorry to lose him as
a lodger, she was 50 delighted to have
gained him as friend that she did not
complain.
just as the oldest of her boys was
kissing her good might, Mr.. Waring was
announced to Mrs. Archer.
{" You could not persuade your friend,
I see," said that lady, after introducing
her husband, spray do not think us
very much disappointed.
But indeed, madam, my friend-a
mans best friend, they say, is himself
has come to beg that he may take pos
session of his room as soon as possible"
Mrs Archer's surprise was great, but
she did not try to conceal her relief that
a total stranger was not to be thrust up
on them. She felt that Mr.. Waring
would help her in all her undertakings,
and hoped that his friendship might
prove enrolling to her husband.
The three talked together for an hour,
and then, mutually pleased with the
prospect of spending many evenings to-
gether, they parted, Mr. Warning to
walk home thinking over the change in
his feelings since the night before.
"This has been the happiest holiday
of my life, and l mean to have many
such. Tomorrow I'll speak to Ben,
and raise his salary, aud then l must
begin to plan for Christmas. There'll
be lots of presents for all of these
young folks I've picked up. declare,
instead of dreading my holidays shall
be getting ready for the next one all the
time, and after this l shall have, as my
blessed mother advised, my own poor to
help and encourage -Eranainer and
Chronicle.