The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-05-01

the lantern, with only such tools n:
his father had left, for he dare moi
borrow Of a ncighbor.
At last the cur was finished, ant
no eye had seen ii, save those o
| the COW and two sheep, who hHt
watched him wonderingly between
mouthfuls, or while they peacefully
chcwcd the cud.
The barn was only fcw step'
from the railroad, and John got
his car upon the track without
difficulty.
It crcakcd alarmingly as lie sci
OF, but a little lard quietcd thnt.
Everything went we'll for II few
days, and every day he extended
his line Of traps, and almost every
day lo found a mink i'll ono or
another Of them.
The skins brought 4 good price,
and John was laying up money
for, American sallc (as the fur Of
the mink is calIcd) was very fasll-
ionab!e.
We left John turning his crank
desperately 10 outrun tic cur Of
the section-men.
Three miles were passed, and
still lie had not gained III the least
upon his pursuers. His arms were
aching, and his breath came fast,
but there was not a'inomcnt Tor
rest.
The axlo of his car began to
creak again, but the loud ringing
Of the iron wheels behind him, and
tic frosty echoes from the woods
and hill-sides drowned all other
sounds in the ears of his pursuers.
But this availcd little; for they
were now sensibly gaining upon
in spite of all he could do. His
car seemed to partHke of his excite
ment, and bounded and swayed
along the the track and on round
ing a curve, it fairly lcaped from
the rail, and camct to a hnlt, pitch
ing John out into the snow.
Hc had been running away on
wheels before; there was no way
now but 10 run with his feet, and run
he did.
When the section-mcn reached
the wrecked car, its owner was out
ofsightin the woods. They did
not think best 10 pursue him; but
they placed his car on the track
again, and took itinto the station,
wGercitwas privately cxhibited=as=
4 wonder for several5wecks.
John tlifl=not think best TO re-
sume=his=visits=to ozhis=traps=for.
some days; but the men examined
The track and the traps and=fron
there made up their minds who
was the owner Of the wooden car.
One ,lay the superintendent of
the roud was ut the station, and
was shown this car, and heard the
story.
lie at once sent on officer 10 the
school-house for John. The Offend
er was brought before him, and was
asked about the cur, his trapping,
school and ENnily-morc questions
than he ever had to answer in 4
scllool-cxaminatiOn in all his life.
lie answered honestly and man
fully, but with secret dread and
scarcely-hiddcn terror.
But the questions which troubled
him more than any other were
those hc asked himself: "Whal
if they should disgrace me anil
mother by sending me to iail?" and
"Whut would mother do without
mc?"
Greatly to his relief, he was dis.
missed with q rcprinland, and the
advice: "Never do anything which
you are in doubt oil your right TO
do.
A few days later his mother re-
ceivcd II letter from 4 gentleman
who was n stranger to her, offering
to take John rs an apprentice in the
macline.sllop Of the railroud com"
nuuv. ou terms that the widow
found very favorable.
The gentleman proved to be the
superintendent, whose acquaint-
ance John had made in such M I'LL
pleasant way. lie lIal inquired
concerning John, and being pleas
cd with his honesty, intelligence,
ingenuity, and his diligence in
both study and work, kindly gave
him an entrance in Il desirable bus
iness.
By continuing in those virtues,
John has recently come 10 be him
self II superintendent over the same
road; and the scetion.men who
pursued him so relcntIcssly are
still section-men, and take theit
orders from John.
Farm Notes.