The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-15
son of distant relative. of Mrs. T.,

guardian and took him into his fam
lily. The father had expressed the
wish that if Caleb showed an incli-
nation to books he should be sent
to college, then left free to choose
whatever pursuit he might best
like. ea
Perhaps no more of the young
mans patrimony stuck to the fingers
of Mr.. Thurber than the law would
allow; but certain it is, he was sure
to make the most he could out OF
the funds intrusted to his hands, and
the ingenuity of his wife not unfre,
quently aided him in adding some
dollars to the yearly claim.
The next year Caleb went to col,
lege, the farm was let, and the family
removed TO the village, a prosperous
place of wealth and enterprise, and
quite given to aristocratic notions
and ambitions of the city ways and
Istyles.
The first year the farm was let for
two hundred and fifty dollars. The
second wear it had to be let to new
tenant. as the first moved west, con-
tent with having made the most he
could from the place. The second
wear it was rented for one hundred
and seventy-five dollars, SO badly
was everything about the place left
out of repair and at loose ends. The
farm Jared but little better the Sec
ond and third year, and at the end
of that time new tenant had to be
found, who refused to give over one
hundred and fifty dollars year and
put in repair what was left dilapida-
ted By his predecessors, This sum
was not very much more than the
taxes, which had increased while
the rent had decreased.
Alfred had meanwhile greatly
prospered. He had gained the con-
fidence and esteem of his employers
and had been advanced, till he held
a prominent place in the large es-
tablishment with a very good sal
airy.
His mothers brightest visions
were even more than realized. He
had become a city gentleman far, tar
above any luckless, low minded
wight who was content to be farm
er.
He dressed in the highest style,
and his lofty, gentee! ways were the
delight of his mother, and one holi-
day a fine carriage drove mp to Mr..
Thurber's door and Alfred stepped
out and handed out young lady
dressed like. himself, in the very pink
and blossom of fashion. His moth,
er's heart was full. Her ambition
was Just about satisfied as her son
introduced to her Miss Hawkinson'
the daughter of one of his wealthy
employers.
Meanwhile the orphan Caleb had
graduated from college, but what
were college honors compared to the
city triumphs of Alfred? He had
been won't in days past to consider
Caleb as his superior but he now
scarcely deigned to notice him.
Caleb held to his love of those things
which Alfred's mother considered
vulgar.
He had expected to find himself
the possessor of many more hun
dreds than was turned over to him
when he attained his majority,
which was very soon after he grad
uated from college.
He supposed everything Just and
generous had been done, and, in
fact, only what was claimed to be
right-though the sum was large
was allowed to the guardian, whose
account, had it been more carefully
and strictly looked into. would have
been found to have manv charges of
items that it would have been hard
for the guardian to account for sat
isfactorily.
However, Caleb was disposed to
take quietly what was passed over to
him and make the best of it.
His superior scholarship at once
opened to him an excellent oppor-
tunity as teacher, which he at
once accepted though had he been
possessed of the funds he had sup
posed himself entitled to, he design
ed to have given himself to agri-
cultural pursuits at once.
But our disappointments and the
breaking in upon our plans by a
wise Providence, who knows far
better what is most suitable for us
than we ourselves do, prove, if we
accept the way open to US with un-
faltering trust, our highest good.
With this feeling Caleb accepted
the position offered him, and for
three years gave himself to the du-
ties of teacher in a high school.
His salary the first year was moder-
ate; but when his capacity and
ability became known, his compen-
sation was made even generous
greater than he himself had antici-
pated.
With the people of Thornville,
success was the highest virtue. or, if
not virtue, it stood in their minds
as of greater value than what silly
people called virtue, morality or
culture. Alfred Thurber was spoken
of everywhere as model for young
men.
'He was a lucky fellow" in
Thornville parlance, and smiles and
marks of respect were showered up
on him from all whom he deigned
to notice.
The proud heart of his mother
was full to overfiowing. Her ambi-
ton knew no bounds. Her eldest
daughter, Lucy, was soon engaged
to one of the clerks in the same es-
tablishment with Alfred. He was
very much like Alfred, dashy, fine
looking and genteel in his manners
and ways.
Lucy was much like her mother,
ambitious and fond of show and pa
rade, and when her marriage took
place, it was made a very notable
affair-and she went to grace fine
city home.
But the next daughter. Julia, was
a very different girl. Her beauty was