Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-26
THE MOUNTAIN SHANTl.

.You are to carry the valise to the
depot, Joe, and have it checkcd-or
no, no, wait until | come: you'll he
sure to make mistake. | wish" and
Walter Duclitf turned from the footman
to his mother: Il wish the time had
come when machines could take the
place Of servants One advantage in a
machine is that YOU know It's capacity;
itdoeSn't make professions Of being il
rational human being, and then fall IT
the critical moment"
Mrs. Ducitf, delicate woman. VINO
was drawn close to the open fire, with
velvet mantle wrapped about her,
head gently, and when the man was
gone, said:
walter, indeed YOU have too little
consideration for your interiors. There
is no need to mortify the man III that
manner"
BLESS your heart, mother YOU know
nothing about that kind of people. Joe
didn't understand, and if he had he
would not have cared. pay him high
wages and there's not II day he does
not have an odd half-dollar, or fall heir
To some of my boots or clothes. That's
MI he needs for happiness.
"Joes feelings at the bottom are the
same as ours, my son"
Il beg your PARDON" flushing hotly
"but that | cannot believe. The lower
classes, black and white, have been
hardened by generations of need and
hard work. Now Your tastes and emo
tons have come to You through many
lives Of ease and culture; they lost them,
if they ever had them, in the light for
daily bread The music Of noble
thoughts that would stir your soul to
its depths, would fall oil from Joe rs 4
drop of water from an aligator's
back.
Walter had fallen into il SORT Of orr
torical twang, which he had brought
with him from college. He was abso
utely sure of his opinion us the girls
and boys of II usually are, and liked
to set them forth iitly i'll plenty of
words.
"YoH are too vain OF Your birth, my
dear, said his mother, quietly "Iou
will feel differently when you are old
or"
Mother, it is possible that YOU
meant to say that the material and
character Of mans life does not de-
pend largely upon his birth? Why, look
up here 10 the faces of my ancestors
they have borne a high honorable part
in the history Of civilization, in politics,
art and literature. ! began every day
feeling their eyes are upon me. am
glad and proud, picking up pen and
tlpt,rts !, ~ h1n III. hcAl. 1tflnt
the name write is the name they
bore; that it is their very blood which
flows in my VEINS What has Joe to
remember beyond two nameless slaves,
who were his father and mother
'All very true, Walter. Yet God
made OF one blood all the people Of
the earth, and some of these days YOU
will recognize your kinsmcn. think
1t is nearly time for the train, isn't it,
DEAR"
ITS quite time CHANGING II his
watch, he drew on his furred overcoat,
and unconsciously passed his fingers
over the waxed ends of his very small
mustache. "Good-by. mother darling.
Iii write from Harrisburg. ! do hope
| may manage the business right and
satisfy father"
No fear Of that, Walty'
She held him for n moment. rs he
stopped to kiss her, with her hands |
holding each side If his face looking
fondly at his delicate features, and
clear, intelligent eyes.
God send YOU safely home. my son.
Youll try and be back by Christmas
There is a ball at your cousins and
you're AL Of my holiday, remember
"Oh, III be back III not fail in that |
whatever comes, and then, with An
other hasty kiss, he was gone. spring |
ing down the stairs and trolling out |
some college catch.
Nature had given him clear tenor
voice. III which he was not i little |
proud Indeed he thought somc-
times Just enough that nature had |
given him her best material, and dat |
il would bc hit own fault If he turned |
out a failnre, instead Of one q the
foremost class Of men.
He had lust left college and had been
taken into his fathers counting room
IL confidential clerk. This was his
first Journey on the business If the |
firm. and he lad 4 shrewd suspicion
that Il WI. 10 test his capacity lie
was quite sire. from the fact that |
Saunder, the cid cahief met him at
the depot ana placed iii hl- land the
sealed papers Of instruction, instead q
sending i by messenger
Don't you neglect any tribe Mr
Walter said the old man. significantly |
Your father requires absolute pfecis-
ton To ti!e east clerk and bel require |
i more n one whom he wishes u be
bill partner.
Waiter nodded ard buttoned UP the
packag" IN nil breast and ina few mo- |