The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-23

MI. BarOer WIS one ci TIC men
who attracts boys. 1t would puzzle
a good many people 10 tell why. II
could hardly be because he iiattered
them, for he often told them some
plain truths.
Still for some reason, they were
quite apt to come to him and talk
over their affairs and SO he was not
at all su prised when Charley White
came an.i leaned on his fence one
day, while he was at work in his
garden. He hoed out his row, and
then paused and asked rather alb
ruptly:
''Well, Charley, whatd do you want
now?n
"Fiye dollars"
Five dollars! Whew! | don't
know as / have it for you"
"And if you had, / shouldn't want
you to give it to me. l haven't come
to that yet. l want to earn it.
''But how do you expect to earn
SO much money, and go to school
too ?"
81 didn't say | expected to earn
it; maybe | don't. But you asked
what wanted"
SHARP boyr' said Mr.. Barber,
smiling.
Perhaps / would make out bet
ter asking what you want of that
five dallars. Do you want a new
doctor for your bruised shoulder p,
"No; my shoulder is doing all
right now, and | guess all it wants
is time and little care. But | did
have an awful time with that shoul-
der for good while; and | tell you
what it is, Mr.. Barber" said Char
lev, leaning farther over the fence /:
"That sister of mine is not ten years
old vet, but you wouldn't believe
what little woman she is. She's
next thing to mother to fix fellow
up and take care of him when he's
sick. I'm afraid | didn't think much
about it at the time; but since I've
been about again, I've thought a
good deal, and I'd like TO make Lou
present. | know where | can find
set of furs, such as some of her
mates have, and they would just de
light her, and the price is five dol
lars"
swell. well,n said Mr.. Barber,
"you might have been thinking of
something worse. ] can tell you one
thing YOU can consider. Mr.. Camp
was driving the cows himself this
morning. You know he pastures
most of the village cows, and takes
them back and forth in the bargain.
He wants boy at a dollar week.
But you must be on hand at the
hour. every morning and night"
THAT is tying fellow down pref
ty close"
Just so it would hang ona long
while; so perhaps you had better
60 and tell your sister how much
you appreciate her kindness, and
YOU would do something TO show it,
iif it did not cost anything"
"You think my talk is only talk,
| see. But | don't believe l did
much even of that, in the time when
lit might have done some good. I'm
afraid / grumbled and complained
when everything didn't just suit, and
when it did, said nothing about it. :"
You're bound to make man
yet. Those are some of the sure
symptoms"
well, well see. Good day, sir, >
said Charley.
"Good day." replied Mr.. Barber.
Thenext morning Mr.. Barber nod
ded and smiled to see Charley pass
ling with the cows, and the season
came when the COWS were no longer
to go to the pasture, and Charley felt
rich with his five dollars in his pock-
ct, and more besides.
Soon after came the day he had
been planning for. When Lou open
ed her door that morning, she found
hanging to the outer knob a set OF
furs, with a card attached, on which
she read: "For Louis birthday, with
brother Charley's love"
Meeting Charley, she threw her
arms around his neck and gave him
a hearty kiss, exclaiming: "Oh, you
darling how did you know Just
what | wanted and how did Won
manage it?"
"Drove cows" said Charley, feel
ing quite as happy as his sister.
About year later, Charley was
again leaning over Mr.. Barber's
| fence.
swell, Charley" said Mr.. b."
''how did that investment pay we
were talking of a year ago."
"Fi,st rate" said Charley 1T was
pretty hard work to stick right to it
sometimes, but when | saw how
pleased Lou was, | was glad | did
not back out She often said they did
her so much good"
"And when you had once made
an effort to please her, it was easier
afterwards to plan your plays so she
could share in your good times ?"
shouldn't wonder"
Certainly, it is SO: just as after
You have once gone to the barn and
back through the drifted snow, you
can go easier next time in the same
track"
Il believe it is all So" said Char
ley.
"Well, l want to tell you two
things you can take home to think
of. One thing, the work was worth
as much to you as the money you
got for it; the other is, you have
had a better time yourself for the
practice you have had in thinking
and caring for Others. ."-Ne,o York
Observer.