The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-07-30

taken off his father's shoulders j; bnt his
sense of duty didn't go very far. Rev.
Mr.. Blake bought new coat, and Sam
ente red Harvard that fall aud there
matters stopped for awhile.
"a freshman has great deal to learn,
as yon know but ihink the chief thing
Sam learned that term was the,greatdiffer-
ence there is between Harvard and the lit
tie village of Elmbank. AMI the great diff
ffculty of working and playing at the same
time. Here he had society meetings to
attend, and rooms of his own, with
chum, where good deal oi smoking was
done by himself and his friends. And
then there was base ball, into which it ap-
peared indispensable for the honor of the
class that he should enter actively, Oh ac-
count OF his strong legs, wonderful wind
and ground batting. lie could not refuse
to go to the theater occasionally. with his
richer companions. Sam took natural
interest in the society of young ladies. too.
and had to give some time to its culti-
vation. He also thought n moderate
amount of practice in the gymnasium 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 was not very extensive
This didn't seem to have any bad effect un-
til we'll along In the winter, when the hab-
it OF shirkirg 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-roonl. Gymnasium.
iheater. billiards, sneking-and I am
afraid l must say little drinking-fritter-
ed away his time.
Zone horrible snowy. slcety morning
when he had got up too late for prayers.
the postman brought him note-from the
faculty an 'admonition.' He dropped
the pipe he was just lighting ami boltetl off
to recitation. But he .deaded' immeCli-
ately and that discouraged him. lie soon
began to make light OF the warning. and
did himself no credit in his studies. Though
he managed to squeeze through the examin-
alton at the end of the freshman year, lie
came out far down toward tie foot of his
class. He wasn't quite contented with
himself, aud thought he'd try to do better
next year. But during the journey home
he recovered his usual spirits.
when he walked up TO the village tow
ard the parsonage farm, he was thinking
that-since he was n sophomore now-he
would buy the knotticst. biggest headed
cane in Cambridge when he should go
back there. And what 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 spectaclcd face per-
spring! The sight struck shame into the
poy. He vaulted the fence, and running
mp with hardly pause of greeting. cried
- o. father let me do that. I don't
like to see you at such work
Mr.. Blake stopped and looked earnestly
and rather sadly at him.
"'WelI, Sam, think that's about as
good s. How-do- yoll-dlo as you could have
offered me. There's something right about
you after ALL
1t hadn't occurred to Sam that there was
any doubt on that point before. He blush
ed as he asked
''Where's the hired man ?''
I've discharged him. I can't afford
one at present, my son. was the answer.
'Sam was rather puzzled aud began to
reflect.
''They went into the house, and there.
when the minister reappeared after max
ing his toilet. his son noticed that he wore
the old shabby. shiny coat. At this he
was more than ever astoniShed. The sup
per. also. notwithstanding that it was the
first night of the prodigal's return, was
very meagre. Not single extra luxury
was on the table, and Sam observed that
his mother took 10 sugar nor butter. His
own appetite began to fail at seeing this.
and his perception was sharpeded accord
ingly. He was HOW aware that his father
looked very thin. as well as sad. Sudden
" he laid down his knife, and exclaimed TO
his sister Katy:
'' Sis. what does all this mean s-this
going without the hired man and starv-
ing yourselves p
Ills sister locked 1t him, then glanced
at Mr.. Blake and her mother, and matie
no answer.
- 4 thought" said Sam. petulantly.
''that Williston's money was going to
make it easy for you. father; an1 here
the rinching is going on five times worse
than ever.'
4 don't own my friend wnliston's
money, said the minister, quietly.
- OF course not, but the FIVE hundred
dol
Sam stopped abruptly on an entreat-
ing gesture from his sister.
The subject was not resumed. But
before he went to bed Sam obtained an
interview with t.is sister alone He felt.
secretly, that he was respon sibie for The
depression and trouble which seemed 10
fill the household. but that only made
him speak more impetuously. Now. sis,
he began. can get two words of sense
out of yor?'
Not until you ask politely. she re-
piled.
"'well, then, please tell me what the
mystery is.'
''It oughtn't TO be mystery to you.
Sam, that you haven't done well at col