Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-07-05

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squeeze through the examination at tn,
end of the freshman year, he came ou
far down toward the foot of his class.
"He wasn't quite contented with him,
self, and thought he'd try to do bettel
the next year. But during the Journey
home, he recovered his usual spirits.
when he walked up the village to-
ward the parsonage farm, he was think
ing that-since he was sophomore
now-heswould buy the knottiest and
biggest-headed cane in Cambridge wher
he should go back there. And what d.
you suppose was the first sight that mel
him at home e?ysrs,s--
at Nxs lhis father out In the field
digging for new potatoes, his coat off,
and his specialized face perspiring!
1.-THE sight struck shame into the boy.
He vaulted the fence, aud running up
with hardly q pause for greeting, cried
"'Oh, father, let me do that I don't
| like to see you at such work.
"Mr. Blake stopped and looked earn
estlY and rather sadly at him.
"lWelI, Sam, think that's about az
good "HoW-do-you-d do ?" as you could
have offered me. There's something
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:
"'W ere's the hired man ?"
"'I've discharged him. can't af-
ford one at present, my son. was the
answer.
"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 astOnished.
"The supper, also, notwithstanding
that it was the first night of the prodi-
gals return, was very meager. Not q
single luxury was on the table, and Sam
observed that his father and mother
took no sugar nor butter. His own ap-
petite began to fail at seeing this, and
his perception was sharpened according
ly. He was now aware that his father
looked very thin, as well as sad. Sud-
denly he laid down his knife, and ex-
claimed to his sister Kitty.
sis, what does all this mean ?-this
going without the hired man, and starv-
ing ourselves"
"His sister looked at him, then glanc-
ed at Mr.. Blake and her mother, and
made no answer.
at thought said Sam, petulantly,
that Williston's money was going to
make it easy for you, father; and here
the pinching is going on five times worse
than ever
".I don't own my friend Williston's
money said the minister, quietly.
"'Of course not. But the five hun
dred dol'- Sam stopped abruptly on
an entreating gesture from his sister.
1.-THE subject was not resumed. But
before he went to bed, Sam obtained an
Interview with his sister alone. He felt,
fsecFetly, that he was responsible for the
depression and trouble which seemed to
fill the household, but that only made
him speak more impetuously. "Now,
sis,' he began, can get two words of
sense out of youT
mot until you ask politely she re-
piled.
"'WelI, then. please tell me what the
mystery is.'
"'It oughtn't to be mystery to you,
Sam, hat you haven't done we'll at col
lege. Papa is terribly disappointed
"'I don't zee why he should commit
suicide, if he is,' Sam retorted. Il
haven't cost him much this year.
Ou YES, yOu u6VOs OO yOu AuOW
he actually sold the new coat z?
"Why,?' Sam frowned.
"'Because he's been trying every way
ports of how you were wasting your
time.'
"What for?' asked Sam, though he
began to suspect.
HsWell, he-how should I know p
Don't you see? He's ashamed to have
had that money from his old classmate,
and he's nearly saved enough, and he's
going to pay 1t all back. There 1 was
to keep it sec. ct, and now I've told you'll;
And his sister burst into tears you've
nearly broken his heart, Sam-poor pa
pap
1.-THE next day Mr.. Blake's son went
off directly after breakfast, and was not
seen again till afternoon.
"C0ming back, he overlook his father
returning from the postoffice.
"'I know all about it = he exclaimed,
in his excitement. Katy told me last
night. wish, though, you'd held on
to the new coat awhile
"'Why p asked Mr.. Blake, imper-
turtably.
Because said Sam, I'm going to
pay my own way now. I've been of
to-day and hired out for the season to
Farmer Hedgeburton. You won't send
that money to Williston, will you, faith.
er?'
"sYou are too late,' was the minister's
answer. I've just mailed the letter to
him.
"In fact, next day the kind merchants
eyes were dimmed as he read these
words:
"'DEAR WIJ.L1sToN.-My boy-it al.
most breaks my heart to say so-has moi
proved worthy of your generosity.
have decided to return the sum which
you sent me for him last year, and you
will find draft enclosed for that
amount. BLAKE"
Here interrupted the narrator.
doesn't this story prove what 1 said
at the beginning ?" asked,
"No; for that isn't the end of it. Sam
went down to Boston in the autumn
with q few dollars of earnings in his
pocket. He had decided to give up col.
lese, and SO applied to Mr.. Williston fol
q clerkship.
HE told him:
ST proved myself unworthy, as my
father said. Now give me chance to
show myself worthy
"W1lllstOn gave him position, and
he worked there two years. Then an
opportunity offered to go West and take
partnership in-what do you think ?
The clothing business! Sam jumped al
1t; and you may believe he sent his
father, next Christmas, the finest coat
that concern could produce.
II am q well-to-do man now, sir"
continued my acquaintance, suddenly
speaking in the first person, land when
we get to Chicago, if you will come to
my establishment, will show you my
father, the minister's old shiny coat
which I preserve because it was the be.
ginning of my fortune, and made man
Of me-"
"Then," exclaimed, taking him by
the hand, ''it is yourself you have beer
talking about all this time! You are
"Sam." concluded my new friend
nodding and smiling George p. La
tkrop, in Youths Companion.
Nearly all the ills that afflIct mankind
can be prevented and cured by keeping
the Q .omach, liver and kidneys in per
feet working order. There is no medi
cine known that will do this as quickly
and surely, without interfering will