The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-13

Harvard that fall and there matters
stopped for a while.
" A freshman has great deal to
learn, as you know; but l think the
chief thing Sam learned that term, was
the great difference there is between
Harvard and little village like Elm
bank, and the great difficulty of work
ing and playing at the same time.
Here he had society meetings to at
tend, and rooms of his own, with a
chum, where good deal of smoking
was done by himself and his friends.
And then there was base ball, into
which it appeared Indispensable for the
honor of the class that he should enter
actively. on account of his strong legs,
wonderful wind and ground batting:
He could not refuse to go to the
theater occasionally, with his richer
companions. Sam took a natural in
terest in the society of young ladies,
too, and had to give up some time to its
cultivation. He also thought mod
crate amount of practice in the gym
nasium was desirable, to prevent his
health breaking down under the
confinement of study. So, on the
whole, the actual work that he did in
the college course was not very extern
sive.
"This didn't seem to have any bad
effect till well along in the winter,
when the habit of Sinking 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 1 am
afraid l 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 a
note from the Faculty-an 'admoni-
tion.'
"He dropped the pipe he was just
lighting, and bolted off to recitation.
But he beaded Immediately, and that
discouraged him.
"He soon began to make light of the
warning, and did himself no credit in
his studies. Though he managed to
squeeze 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-
it's.
"When he walked up the village
towards the parsonage farm, he was
thinking that-since he was a 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 home?
1t was his father out in the field,
digging for new potatoes, his coat off
and his specialized face perspiring!
"The sight struck shame into the
boy. He vaulted the fence, and rum
ming up with hardly pause for greet
ing, cried:
"' o father, let me do that! 1 don't
like to see you at such work
Mr.. Blake stopped and looked ear
nestly and rather sadlyat him.
Well, Sam, think that about as
good "How-do-you-do?" as you
could have offered me. There's some
thing right about you, after all
alt hadn't occurred to Sam that
there was any doubt on that point be-
fore. He blushed as he asked:
Where's the hired man?"
"'Pve discharged him, l can't afford
one at present, my son. was the an
swer.
"Sam was rather puzzled and began
to reflect.
"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 a
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 we'll as
sad. Suddenly he laid down his knife,
and exclaimed to his sister Katy:
"' Sis, what does all this mean-this
going without the hired man, and
starving yourselves ?"
His sister looked at him, then
glanced at Mr.. Blake and her mother,
made no answer.
Go 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"
"'I don't own my friend Williston's
money said the minister, quietly.
"'Of course not. But the five hun
dred dol Sam stopped abruptly
on an entreating gesture from his sister.
1.-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 made him speak more impetuous-
ly. Now, SIS he began, 'can l get
two words of sense out of youP'
"' Not until you ask politely he res
Piled.
"'Well, then, please tell me what
the mystery is
GO 1t oughtn't to be mystery to you,
| Sam, that you haven't done we'll at COL