The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-09

nasinm was desirable, to prevent his
health from breaking down under the
confinement of study. So, on the
whole, the amount of work done IN col
lege was not very extensive. This did
not seem to have any bad effect till we'll
along in the winter, when the habit OF
Sinking work had grown so strong with
out his noticing it, that he fell easily into
reading novels when he should have been
in the recitation room. Gymnasium,
theatre, billiards, smoking l am
afraid must say little drlnklng-frlt-
tered away his time.
Zone horribly snowy, sleety morning,
when he had got up too late for prayers,
the postman brought him q note from
the faculty-an admonition. He
dropped the pipe he was just lighting,
and boltel off to recitation. But he
beaded immediatelv, and that discour-
aged him. He soon began to make light
of tho warming, and did himself no credit
in his studies Though he managed to
squeeze through the examination at the
end of the freshmen year, he came out
far down towards the foot of his class.
He WASH quite contented with himself,
and thought he'd try to do better the
| ucAU NcAI. )ut oNiihS wiz JoNAA>S A,O--N~
he recovered his usual spirits.
"When he liked up the village
towards the pa onage farm, he was
thinking that zee he was sophomore
now-he would buy the knottiest and
biggest headed cane in Cambridge when
he should get back. And what do you
suppose was the first thing that met
him at home? 1t was his father out in
the field digging for new potatoes, his
coat off and his specialized face perspir-
ing. The sight struck shame in the
bow. He vaulted the fence, and run
ming ND with hardly q pause for greet
ing, cried: ,.,
$50 father, let me do that; don't like
to see you at such work
''Mr. Blake stopped and looked earn
estly and rather sadly at him.
"Well. Sam, l think that's about as
good a How do-you-do? as you could
have offered me. There's something
right abo 1T you after all
.sIt had not occrrred to Sam that there
was an doubt on that pc # before. Ee
blushed as he a" ed:
"'Where t hired Man,?
"'I'ye d;s>,harged h n. l can't ford
one ct present, my son, was the an
swer.
Sam was rather puzzled, and began
to reflect.
.sThey went into ne house, and there,
when the minister ref ppea ell after max
ing his toilet, his .on rorced that he
wore the { d shabby, shiny coat. AT
this he was more than ever astolished.
The supper, ESQ, Notwithstanding that
, it was the st nigh. Of the prodlgal
, return, was very ner Ter Not single
extra luxury was on the table, ard Sam
noticed that his 1.-THE. ard mother tooi
no sugar nor bu .er. His own appe.l'
began to fail at seeing this, end his per
ception was sharpered accordingly. dc
, was now aware that his father looked
very thin as we'll as sad. Suddenly ne
, laid down his knife and exclaimed to hl'
t sister Katy:
: isis, what does all this mean ? this
going without the hired man and starv
> ing yourselves
His sister locked at him, then glanced
at Mr.. Blake and her mother, and made
no answer.
II thought" said Sam, petulantly
r "that Williston's money was going tt
make it easy for you, father; and here
: the pinching is going on worse thai
: ever"
II don't own my friend Williston'
' N -" sad the minister, quietly.
:. course not; but the five hundret
{ d"
: Sam stopped abruptly on An entreat
a ing gesture rom his sister.
q The subj ect was not resumed. Blu
!. before he went to bed, Sam obtained al
interview with his sister alone. He felt
q secretly, that he was responsible for tn
e depression and trouble which seemed t
T. fill the household, but that only mad
a him speak more impetuously. Now, sis
q he began, can l get two words Of sens
8 GU. of you?'
"'Not until You ask politely she re
d Piled. -,
/. "'wsll. then, please tell me what tn
10 mystery is?
d "'It oughn't to be mystery to yo'
a Sau-that YOU haven't done we'll
n college. Papa is terribly disal
in pointed
az don't see why he should comm
st suicide if he is. Sam retorted. haven
{? cost him much this year.
os "'Oh, yes, you have. Do you kno
he actually sold his new coat?
ne "'Why 2 sam frowned.
Va "'Because he's been trying every VS.
m to save money since he began to 6
j. reports Of now you were wasting yo,
to time
ar What for?' asked Sam, though
is began to suspect.
v. "'Well, he-how should l know