The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-13
written for the Free Trader
LOCUST VALLEY;
OR,
MONEY Is POWER.
CHAPTER VII.
nY DIR. sTEINWAN'

Next morning ! was up DrlSht anu N"'y'
took a run through Auntc Griflin'S garoeh'
ate hearty breakfast and after enjoying many
enchanting views from Bridgeport hills, GOT
my lunch and started for the stage office at
Workman's, mile away, My friend JACK
Camp was there, and with Auntie GrIilinS
boys-thrce in ALL was having Jolly tlWe'
when up came the line OF stages from HIS
boro and the west Last came Billy Robinson
and as he spied me he cried
"Oh, you truant; you young rogue; "hcre
have YOU been? was uneasy last night, ana
moor Sally did not sleep wink. Your father
will be as mad as March hare at. both oil u.s.
helped Billy to put away his horses, ano
soon explained all | bought two large or
anges for Jack Camp--thc Griffin boys cach
gave me one | went around TO the bank ana
paid ninety cents on my note, ana received
handsome present from cashier K, accom-
panied by these remarks;
"My dear Ned | have taken fancy toyou;
here is keepsake that was given me by one
long gone to his reward. promised to wear
il until had made my fortune and to remem'
Der the good advice that came along with II.
| givelt to You asking you to keep out OF evil
company; never enter dens of vice, honor
your father and the memory of your dear
mother, and remember that while you carry
this you always have money in distress
should YOU ever get therc-you may pledge ii,
but do not part with it permanently until your
habits are fixed and your fortune is made"
| promised, and he threw strong, light
cord about my neck, attached to which was a
bright fye.dollar gold piece.
RETURNING HOME.
Perched upon the top of the stage coach
with Billy Robinson, was suprcmely happy
gazing first at the small boys playing on the
streets of Brownsville, and then at the clear
and beautiful Monongahela river rs 1t swept
from It's mountain home, and taking its silent
way to the city of smoke, there mingllng Its
waters with those of the Allegheny and form
ing together the great Ohio, which sweeps
maieslcaly It's thousand miles, and washing
the banks or shores of the mightlest states IN
The Union-grand river fifty named "beaut-
'tu"
Again we left the river hills and plunged
into the "hill country" was just a little
sad as | thought Of the absence of kind Mr.
Ward and his dear little daughter; but | sad
20 myself, Soon will go to visit my sister
and shall see them again IN their beautiful
home on the Allegheny"
All too soon we arrived in sight Of HillsbOro.
l felt as though had been absent week or
more, and now came the thought what will
my dear father say" | did not dread a whip
ping, as he had net whipped me since my
dear mother had gone away,
AS we drove into town and ncared the hotel
we met my father riding his superb chestnut
charger | never thought my father so hand
some before. He looked up at us raised my
hand caily to him He tried to look stern, but
at my confidence the corners Of his mouth
twitched ever SO slightly, and the dimples
shonc in his bronzed cheeks, and knew my
punishment would not be very severe de-
scended from the stage and went directly To
the iouRtain, bathcd my face aud hands and
took good draught of the crystal treasure,
and then repaired to the great porch IN front
of the stone hotel. | was here busy recitng
the wonders of my visit to old Uncle Stephen,
the proprietor, when my father came quietly
up behind us He must have stood and listen.
ed some time; but at length, as | told of my
battles with the town boys, he spoke up and
said
Ned, have often punished you for fight
ing why do you persist in it,"
Father" said |, at was fight or die had
nobody to defend me, and thought If | whip
ped one boy, would have at least one friend.
have heard you say, If you want to make
an enemy, Go somebodya great kindness--gct
them under obligations 10 you-and so the
contrary"
why did you goaway without my conscntg
My boy, you are rather young TO make such
excursions alone aud you see you came near
drowning IN the river Suppose Ben hadn't
been there to save you, how would have
iel; if Billy Robinson had brought my boy
back a stlilened corpse? Suppose had to get
spring wagon and take my dead boy back to
my family? Think Of the mourning at home,
and Of your poor, sick sistcr,-the doctor
drinks she has gone into IA decline"
He had touched me in tender spot. oh"
said l. ".s my little sister worse? Let us go
home an very sorry | went away; | Will
NOT Foo i,agaiu; wll never leave my sister
again while She is sick. Now, won't you for
give ue. father and TAXI. me home quick will
you no,.'
CHAPTER ~.
When We arrived at home my brothers greet
ed me Mostly. Susie chided me little rs a
little runaway" and dear little Matte held
out her feeble hands and said patheucally:
Ned, you do not love me as you used to do