Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-02-10
HOW I LEARNED MY FATE,
By FrTz LEE CARTER.

L
By FrTz LEE CARTER.
aOtzs.d some Power the gift to gle
To nee ourselves rs ithers sse uss''
There is one specimen of the
1e,sass homo whose usefulness or ca
pacity for mischief has never been
acknowledged in song or story:
That a woman is at the bottom of
every intrigue, has been accepted
as ar axiom; that grey headed and
dignified statesmen control the des-
TIMES of nations is a self evid ent
truth that shrewed, tricky business
men make money markets fuctuate
to the ruin Of honest, working class
es, is a fact that needs no proofs
but the small boy-a restless, keen,
indomitable, energetic medium for
good or evil-acts his part on life's
stage, and after receiving momen-
tarily merited praise or censure is,
to use his own vernacular, laid on
the shelf No epic has chronicled
his wanderings, and they are devi-
GUS; no bard has celebrated his
troubles, and their name is legion
and few story writers have given
him a chance to make his debut
among the ideal existences they
create. In real life, however, he
makes himself felt and heard and
to small boy I owe an everlasting
debt of gratitude.
A year or two after I attained
my majority, fell desperately IN
love with the beautiful young
daughter eff merchant of our viii
lage, who by his labor and business
tact had built quite fortune. My
mother owned a comfortable house
in the suburbs, but it had been
with great difficulty that she gave
me, her only son, an education. l
had Just returned home with a liz
cense to practice law, and without
pausing to reflect that my mother
expected me to establish myself in
the profession | had cho en- and
make her a return for the selt-deni
ais she had undergone for my ben
eft, l had hot hung. out my shingle
a week before l had made up my
mind to make proposals of marriage
to my particular small boys sister,
Miss Josephine Handy. ! thought
| had as much right to old Joshua
Hanby's daughter as any one in the
village. In fact, l thought in spite
Of my poverty and her wealth the
exchange would be about equal, /,
for had the prestige Of a wealthy
ancestry, and although the home
stead was sadly in need OF repairs,
| was thoroughly conscious Of the
fact that l was Beverly Norwood,
Esq, heir to Norwood Place. One
afternoon, In he.latter part Of May,
after several months of devotion on
my part and encouragement, as
thought, on Miss Josle's, I made
myself as presentable as possible,
and proceeded to Mr.. Handy e
house, determined to address the
young lady aud receive the blessing
of mater aud paterJansilias before
| lett. l was admitted by Dick
Handy, bright eyed boy of about
ten years. He was Miss Josie's
youngest brother, at. once the pei
and pest of the household.
is Miss Handy at home 2
asked, nerviously.
No. said Dick, looking admir-
ingly at my new beaver hat, slen
der cane and lavender kids. But
come in, Mr.. Norwood, she will be
in minute. She stepped across
the street to have her frizzes fixed
on Miss Willis curling tongs. Come
in and wait for her. he added
opening the door wider and stick
ing his chubby hands i'll his pockets
as if he was preparing to argue
with me on the inexpediency OF re.
turning through this warm sun dis
appoin'ed. walked into the cool
elegant parlcr, and seated mysel
in one Of the two arm chairs sta
toned in large bay window. Dicl
Iperched himself on the arm of thu
opposite chair. There was mo-
ment's silence, which Dick broke
by asking, Are you Of the kid glow
gentrya
/ The question startled me, and
. Wondered where the boy hae
i heard that expression. I answered
IL don't know what you meal
Dick. Please explain
7 why, just this said Dick, cross
bis legs, and steadying himself oil
: the arm OF the chair. Father toll
{ sis Joe the other night, that if sh
fell in love with one OF the kid
kglove gentry, she might bid fare
{ well to seal.skin cloaks, silk dresse
aud longsfeathsfs.' y sk
4 l hope he would repeat more Q
. the conversation, but could no
: Emake up my mind to cncourag
thes boy to proceed. / replied
then efore, i hope I arm a gentl
: Iinan by birth and education .
!. L thought So said Dick, with I