The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-08-06
THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

\ True Tale of Two Lives, by Mark
Twain.
From Atlantic Monthly for August
These two, Edward Mills and George
Benton, were distantly related to
each other-scventh cousins, or some
thing of that sort. While still babies
they became orphans, and were adopted
by the Brants, childless couple, who
quickly grew very fond Of them. The
Brants were always saying, "Be pure.
honest, sober, industrious, and consld-
crate of others, and success in life is as
sured" The children heard this repeat
ed some thousands of times before they
understood it; they could repeat it
themselves long before they could the
Lords Prayer; it was painted over the
nursery door, and was the first thing
they learned to read. 1t was destined to
become the answering rule of Edward
Mills life. Sometimes the Brants
changed the wording a little, and said,
"Be pure, honest, sober, industrious,
considerate, and you will never lack
friends"
Baby Mills was comfort to every
body about him. When he wanted can
dy and could not have il, he listened to
reason, and cOntented himself without it.
When Baby Benton wanted candy, he
cried for it until he got it. Baby Mills
took care of his toys; Baby Benton al
ways destroyed his in IA very brief time,
and then made himself SO insistently
dlsagreeable that, in order to have peace
| in the house, little Edward was persuad-
ed to yield up his playthings to him.
When the children were n little older,
| George became heavy expense in one
respect; he took no care of his clothes
consequently he shOne frequently in new
| ha Ix-ith I'll
| die. The bows grew apace. Eddie was
an increasing comfort, George an in
creasing solicitude. 1t was always suffi-
cient 10 say, in answer TO Eddie's petit
tions, Il would rather you would not do
it,"-meaning swimming, skating, pic
| nicking, berrying, circusiDg, and all sorts
of things which boys delight in. But
no answer was sufficient for Georgia; lac
had to be humorcd in his desires, or he
would carry them with high hand
Naturally, no boy got more swimming
skating, beTry1ng, and so forth, than he
no boy ever had better time The good
Brants did not allow the boys to play out
| after nine in summer evenings; they
were sent to bed ut that hour; Eddie
honorably remained, but George usu-
ally slipped out of the window toward
ten, and enjoyed himself till midnight
1t seemed impossible to break Georgia Of
this bad habit, but the Brants accom-
pIished it at last by hiring him, with ap
Piles and marbles, TO stay in. The good
Branis gave all their time and attention
to vain eDdeavors to regulate George
they said, with grateful tears in theil
eyes, that Eddie needed no efforts o.
theirs, lie was SO good, so considerable
and in all ways so perfect.
BY and by the boys were big enough
to work, so they were appreniiced 10 /
trade; Edward went voluntarily; George
was coaxed and bribed. Edward worked
hard and faithfully, and ceased to be al
expense to the good Brants; they prais
ed him, so did his master; but George
ran away, and it cost Mr.. Brant botl
money and trouble to hunt him up anG
get him back By and by he ran away
again,-more money and more trouble
He ran away a third time,-and stole {
few little things to carry away will
him. Trouble and expense for Mr.
Brant once more; and, besides, it WA
with the greatest difficulty that he sue
ceeded in persuading the master to lie
the youth go unprecedented Tor the theft
Edward worked steadily along, and
| in time became full partner in hi.
) masters business. George did not i'm
. prove; he kept the loving hearts of hi
aged benefactors full of trouble and then
hands full GT inventive dOllpltltS 10 piD
tect him from ruin. Edward, as boy
had interested himself in Sunday
= schools, debating societies, penny mis-
sionary fairs, tobacco organ cations, ant
| profanity associations and all other sucl
things: as man, he was a quiet Blu
4 steady and reliable helper in the church
the temperance societies, and in al
| movements looking to the aiding ans
? unIiftipg of men This excited no re
mark, attracted no attentiOn,-fnr 1t va
his natural "bent."
i Finally, the old people died. Tn
will testified their loving pride in Ec
| ward and left their little property 4
Georee,-because he needed it," where
owing to Soun.iful Pr PF0v Ei;nse
; The property was left to George cond
tionally; he must buy cut Edward
partner with it; else it must go TO q b
a nevolent organization called the Pr
d ouers' Friend Society. The old peopl
left a letter, in which they begged thel
r. dear son Edward to take their place an