Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-05

80 atIoukg MAlnuub Ms hObAoAuk At1 yAioe
he fell easily into reading novels when
he ought to have been in the recitation
room. Gymnasium, theater, billiards,
smoking and am afraid must say
little drinking-frittered away his time.
Zone horribly snowy, sleety morning
when he had got up too late for pray
ers, the postman brought him note
from the Faculty-an 'admonition.'
"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 toward the foot of his class.
"He wasn't quite contented with
himself and thought he would try to do
better the next year. But during the
journey home he recovered his usual
spirits
"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 homer
"It was his father out in the field,
digging for new potatoes, his coat off,
and his spectacled face perspiringl
1.-THE sight struck shame into the
boy. He yaulted the fence, and run
ming up with hardly a pause for greet
%'O, father! let me do that! Idon't
like to see you at such work.
mr. Blake stopped and looked earn
estly and rather sadly at him.
a. Well, Sam, 1 think that's about
as good a "How-do-yOu-do" as you
could have offered me. There's some
thing right about you after all
1T hadn't occurred to Sam that there
was any doubt on that point before. He
blushed as he asked
Where's the hired manp
I've discharged him, 1 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.
a The supper, also, notwithstanding
that it was the first night Of the prodl-
gal 5 return, was very meager. Not q
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 ac'
cordingly. He was now aware that his
father looked very thin, as well as sad.
Suddenly he laid down his knife, and
exclaimed to his sister Katy
"Sis, what does all this meanP-
this going without the hired man, and
starving yourselvesP
His sister looked at him, theI
glanced Mt Mr.. Blake and her mother
and made no answer.
"'I thought said Sam, petulantly
that Williston's money was going t.
make II easy for you, father; and herr
the pinching is going on five time
worse than ever
al don't own my friend Williston'
money said the minister, quietly.
"'Of course not. But the five hun
dred doll, Sam stopped abruptly
on an entreating gesture from his sis
ter.
"The subject was not resumed. Blu
before he went to bed, Sam obtained
an interview with his sister alone. II,
felt, secretly, that he was responsible
for the depression and trouble whicl
seemed to fill the household, but tina
only made him speak more impetu
ously. Now, SIS he began, can
get two words of sense out of youp
"Not until you ask politely sh
replied.
Well, then, please tell me wha
the mystery is ..... .-,
:" II oughtn't to be a mystery to you
Sam, that you haven't done well Mt col
ege. Papa is terribly disappointed
: F''I don't see why he should commi
suicide, if he is Sam retorted. :
{ haven't cost him much this year
J "'Oh. yes, you have. Do you KnoN
7 he actually sold the new coatP
"WhyP Sam frowned.
, "'Because he's been trying ever
! way to save money since he began :
get reports of how you were wastini
, your time
/ "'What forP asked Sam, though h
began to suspect.
"Well, he - how should l know
Don't You seep He's ashamed /
J have had that money from his old clas;
. mate, and he's nearly saved enough
: and he's going to pay 1t all bach
5 There, | was to keep Il secret, and nov
. I've told your And his sister bur;
) into tears. You've nearly broken hi
5 heart, Sam--poOr papap
F" The next day Mr.. Blake's son weT
I of directly after breakfast, and was nC
(; seen again till afternoon.
, "Coming back, he overlook his Fl
} ther returning from the post-otfice.
D "'I know all about itr he exclaimed
r In his excitement katy told me la
! night. l wish, though, you'd held O
to the new coat q while
I "WhyP asked Mr.. Blake, impe
5 turbably. @
a. Because, said Sam, I'm going
pay my own way now. I've been O
4 today and hired out for the season I
4 Farmer Hedgeburton. You won't sen
that money TO Wllliston, will you, f
therP'
: "'You are too late, was the mini
5 ter's answer. I've just mailed the lie
5 ter 10 him.
/ "In fact, next day the kind me
Q chants eyes were dimmed rs he rea
4 these words:
$ a. DEAR .wILLnFoN II Ny, boy-it almo
breaks my hoart 20 say sO--has not prov,
/, worthy OF your generoslty. have decided