Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-05-25
The Good -fOr-NOthing.

Richards main fault is that he's just
sood for nothing" and Josiah Broadbent
tapped the ashes out of his pipe in very
desponding way
81 don't believe that, Josiah, Nature
does Tot put such grand dome over fine
face for nothing Richard has not had a
fair trial, that is all about it."
The subject OF this conversation sat at an
open window at the other end of the long
parlors, and as the two older m.en looked
toward him he raised his eyes from the
book in his hand to follow the upward
flight of wnite-winged flock of pigeons.
Rational, full, deep-set eyes, and a bright
keen face, surrounded by soft, light, curly
hair. Most people would have looked at
such a fsce in man with dim doubts and
foreboding. Richard was stray soul In
stray body in that plain matter-of-fact fam
ily. None Of the Broadbents ind ever been
the least like him. Yeomen, woolstaplers,
SINNERS and weavers, great hard headed
hard listed Yorkshlremen, what kin to them
was this bright, clever youth, who looked
like a knight lst stepped out OF fairy
bookf
Al first Richards love of learning had
rather amused his household Old Josiah
was not averse to seeing his son carry of
aU the honors of his school, and when peo-
nIe smoke of the lads attainments, and OF
the promising career before him, he Thought
of course they meant that Rlchard would
greatly increase the business OF broaupent
lS Sons. and perhaps IN the end gel INTO
Parliament.
Rut Richard showed no disposition for
business. and after a year of frultless and
aqgrayating efforts to find something he
could do in the works, the trial had been
abandoned. HIS elder brothers, Stephen
and Mark. were very fond of this lad, who
was ten wears younger than either OF them,
and whose beauty and bright ways had
been their pride for twenty years. Indeed
Richard's mother dying at his birth, these
ssbig brothers tad adopted little Dlck"
with all their hearts. and when he COM
plained that the smell and noise OF the
works made him i'll, stephen had spoken
very decidedly to lis father about forcing
tie trial 1urther.
There's plenty o. brass Leeds bank to
keen him father, and Mark and can well
fend for oursePs. Let the lad be. He's
none like us
And Josiah, having also tender spot IN
his heart for his youngest son, had slgheu'
and left Richard very much to his own de-
vices. But every now and then he wanted
his grumble about the lads shiftless, good
for.pothing WAYS, and this night he had
il TO his chief friend, the Rev. sam
uel Sorloy. Rector of his parish.
Mr.. Sorley knew Richard better than
either his father or brothers, and he was
glad the subject had been opened.
s.Josiah, y he said, gravely, tell Stephen
and Mark that | want Richard for four
wears. You can give him thousand
pounds or not, just as you trust me, but al
the end of that time l think Ill prove
Richard Broadbent no fool"
s.Wbat wilt do WI HIM, Samuel? Send
him TO Oxfordi'
Thou must ask no questions, JOSIAH,
Pll have the lad entirely at my own dlspo-
SAL"
Then the two men looked toward Rich-
ard AGAIN. but he had left his seat, and was
strolling off toward Saurham Park. They
walked to the window and watched him.
and his father lifted the book ne had
lald down. and with mixture OF contempt
and Indignation threw it aside
AT this moment Stephen Broadbent en-
tered the room and said, angrily:
.Father, Dicks off 10 Saurham WOOD
again: I'm willing enou' to let Dick play
the fool i our house, but dang me II he
shall NEEDLE L t squire's. -,
ssWhat does thou mean, Stephen
al mean that our Dick an Miss Saurham
have gotten some Owe nonsense togetner.
know it. tell lthee how: Jim darkness
going home from works has seen lhem
meet livery night. Now / weent nave
it."
Father and son were both equally angry
and distressed, but this circumstance 50
favored the rector's proposition that IL was
eagerly seconded by Stephen, and was re
garded as settled. Then the rector pu.
himself IN Richards way and met him lust
at dark outside Saurham PARK. de was
man accustomed to look well after his pa
rishioners and their children, both tempo,
rarily and spiritually, and therefore Richard
was neither astonlshed nor onenoeo "nen
he said:
..Wbohave YOU been walking with, Dicki
Tell me the truth, my son."
with Agnes Saurham, sir.
The light of love was still in the young
fellows face, and the rector could not help
noticing how handsome he was lie did
not say to him: ''YoI have no right, hicn-
ard-the young lady is far beyond your
station. You are going to make a zeal OF
trouble" and soon. On the contrary. ne
praised Agnes beauty and worth, ana thyn
cbo rad him how lawf- lly the squire mlgnl
refuse her hand TO any mai until ne nae
done something to prove himself worthy ol
it.
s'What can / do, slrl"
81 will tell you, Richard.
And then the old man took the young
ones arm and talked SO solemnly and SO
earnestly that Richard caught his enthusi'
asm, and whatever Mr.. Soriey's plans were
ne entered heartily into them.
e..You shall have every help that money
CT give you, Richard, only mind, l viii