The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-16

would take q shorter incoming, and fill as
many barrels as the men, so that could
have an extra hour for reading. She
willingly gave her consent, and I had
my number of barrels filed, and was
often washed and my, clothes changed,
sitting with my book in hand, as the
clock struck 5.
About that time teacher from a
boarding school in neighboring town,
who was an intimate friend Of Miss
King, came to spend the Sabbath with
her, and not long after her return to
school wrote to her saying that Mr..
Blanchard, the principal Of the school,
would accede to her proposition, and
give me board and tuition for cutting
the wood and taking care of the fires
and the school-room. Miss King told
me that she felt from my fondness for
reading that ought to have an educa-
ton, and she had talked about it with
her friend, and at her suggestion had
written to Mr.. Blanchard. Then she
said, "Now, if you would like to go,
mother and I will keep you in clothes,
as my brother who is in college gets
through with his, and mother will lend
you small sums Of money as you may
need them, and my friend, Miss Jones,
with furnish you with books.
But I fear I am spinning out my
story too long, said Mr.. Graham.
"Not at ALL" said Mr.. and Mrs.
Waters. "We are very much inter
este3 in it, Do not shorten it in the
least.
Well, continued MI. Graham, soon
arranged to go to the school, and I felt,
as I sat down to supper the last even
ing at Mrs. Kings and drank tea poured
from that identical teapot, that I was
leaving another home, they had been SO
kind to me. .t
I remained at the school two years,
and then, through the kindness of
wealthy gentleman, o friend of Mrs.
Kings, [ was sent to Brown University
fully prepared to enter the Freshman
class. Near the close Of my junior year,
Sumter was fired on, and men were
called to arm for the defense Of the
country. I went with many other college
friends, and came back with few injuries,
and health unimpaired. One Of my best
friends in the army was Judge Dillon's
son, and spent several days with him
at his fathers at the close of the war.
There I was urged, and I decided to
study law, and SO it happened that my
home was made here, and that I found
my good wife here in the church of winch
became a member.
And now I will tell you how I came
into possession of the teapot. We went
to the commencement at Brown, last
summer, and one afternoon, while there,
took drive with some friends. I gave
directions to the driver to go down the
turnpike, and then toward the river to the
old King farm, which, although no
longer owned by the family, was still
known by their name.
l stopped there, and went in and
asked permission, as one who had once
lived there, to go through the house. I
went to the little room | had occupied,
which was so small and uninvihng then,
but in which I had spent many happy
hours, and to the sitting room, the
kitchen, and the wood-house, and on
one Of the beams in that great room,
where I had sawed and split cords Of
| wood, while naming over the Kings of
England, and reviewing what I knew of
each one, stood that broken teapot. /
looked at it, took it up and held it in my
hand, and through the mist Of tears the
old pagoda vanished out Of sight. and I
dear old lady, whose pleasant face and
kind voice HAD SO often cheered me, and
l could hear her say, as she lifted up the
quaint teapot, "You've had a hard days
work, Jamie cup Of this hot tea will
rest you, and do you good" I could
see the invalid daughter, with her large
tender eyes, as she talked to me and
helped me over the hard places in my
lessons, and I remembered how CRATE
fully she spoke when / thanked her fol
all her kindness, as / started off fc1
school, saying, 'sThough sick, I am
glad that there are some things even
one disabled like myself can do to make
others happy" AS I stood there, un.
conscious Of all about me, my heart
went out in gratitude to- those who,
years before, had gone to their reward,
and I wondered, as T had done many
times, why it was that they had taken
such an interest in stranger boy!
The teapot was filed with glue. ]
took it into the house and asked one Of
the ladies if I might have it, as il
brought to mind many pleasant recol.
lections, and they gave it to me.
You will not wonder that it has 9
charm for me that nothing else in ou1
cabinet possesses, and if I ever feel like
turning cold shoulder toward young
men seeking employment, or relaxing
my interest in those who are struggling
to make their way in life, I need only
look at the teapot and recall my owl
boyhood and imagine what might have
been had not those kind friends given
me q home and helped me to an educa'
ton. Many have wondered that ]
should give so much to colleges and
seminarles, and help young artists anG
others, but I should be most ungratefu
if 1 did not recognize the wonderful way
in which God has blessed me and lee
me on to prosperity, by giving to and
encouraging others in every way possible
And, among all have tried to help, bu
two or three have ever proved unworthy
Of it.
/ This is, no doubt, much longer stor,
than you expected to hear, but unless
you knew all the facts you could hardly
appreciate how much I value that ole
broken teapot.
mo, we could not" said Mrs. Wa