Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-04-07
A S OF LOVE.

A MISSION OF LOVE.
1chn Alden was exceedingly plain
fact, it had been the greatest sorrow
his mothers life that Der first-boru
i was SO sadly deficient in good looks.
was slightly vain in disposition
Is 4 fair, graceful woman, with q
ste for ornamentation, and it filled her
dish heart with %vexation to think how
trrly impossible it was to transform
q little freckle-faced, ill-favored off
ring into q thing of beauty. But the
lid, spite Of this %grievous hindrance to
: mothers happiness, waxed strong
ID robust, while the matter which gave
much misery to the mother did not in
g least interfere with the quiet happi-
IS of The child. He could listen with
e utmost equanimity to his mothers
me%ntations, and his little old face
build bear the impress of u serene
[%ppincss, mistaken by the frivolities of
Is world, Us she Invested him of the
sh and ribbons and other light triles
nich only served to enhance his uoli-
IS.
But when John-for somehow thew
YER called him Johnnie, or any other
name-was six years old another lit
! stranger filled the Alden homestead
(th music and the mothers heart with
\, for, as she came slowly back to
aith and strength, the bless truth
came daily more apparent to her that
Is boy would be all that could be de-
ed, as far as looks were concerned, at
Isl. And as he throve and grew in
Us, weeks and months, she racked
I brain for some name to bestow up
her pet, though the little fellow was
arly Two years old before she fixed
onthe name Lancelot, her little an
!. In after years as he grew to man.
|od, still retaining Ills good looks, the
me became curtailed, and it was
Rnce Alden.
The two boys were totally unlike in
sposition as well as in looks. The
der, thrown upon himself for amuse-
lent, grew up thoughtful and quiet be-
Rnd his years, and early took an inter-
t in farm matters, his father being the
b@ssessor of n of the finest farms in
e Connecticut Valley, the river sweep
g around the meadow.land, its shining
Psom %glimmering through the trees as
dlmpling current swept away to the
uthward.
But Lance never took to work, his
Stes, either from a natural bent or
Fing to his mothers over-indulgent
re, tending toward something higher
Pd more betitting his genteel appear
bee than the humble art of husbandry,
(en when practiced under such favora-
circumstances as prevailed at the
me OF the Aldens, though the head of
e household, Notwithstanding his
Foad expanse of rich meadow and fer
e upland, was not naturally consti-
ted TO make a successful farmer.
ltentlnes an inefficient foreman would
fuse a reckless loss in crops or herds
toash oversight or culpable careless
Fss' and when John was yet scarcely
feAty ne virtually assumed the man
cement of the outdoor work, his
fong arm leading the men, his quick,
persetlc mind controlling affairs in
ch a way that the growing dilapida-
M OF the place disappeared and little
1aac'ai difficulties were wiped away.
~ must not be inferred from this that
Plll -.leen was not appreciated. Far
IN, H. Tor both father and mother,
IN inc self-satisfied gratitude of per-
- VINO like to be carried when some
- l.: Wiling to carry them, gladly re.
'9'lsaed all the business management
a'!s plain, matter-of-fact young man,
W seemed to discern at what kind
crops should be grown and what
seus OF stock should Craze in the
tIlures; Neither was it a thankless
IN lor him, and his strong frame grew
onser and his keen mind keener as
years passed away and his brother
4A's''ot also attained to mans estate.
MuIosnlng the Alden farm was another
a'.lly flne, though in much more pros
aous condition I'D to the date when
h4"aer OF the former yielded control
1a aa son. and here it was that John
rv'l acquired much information, for
III s,naf Jones liked to exchange opinions
; :" sne c'ear-headed young man with
~ "aetleal ideas and wise, homely old
w. ana, as they compared the merits
oo H'lnus crops or different strains of
JnI lttie Milly Jones would creep in
ls sJnh's lap and rest her tangled, curly
81 against his broad breast, for she
mai a's one champion and admirer. He
e. sa Always find for her the ripest Der.
ou anu sweetest apples and pears, and.
ke ssl Shs a n dozen years separated their
ent sne wouldcling to him and strive
|. 'aiIersaln him with her childish pratt
e h. M"ays declaring that her John was
|orld aaosomest and the best mar in the
;%dIl e with the mischievous spirit
Ie IT,, ooyhood and youth, tormented
bu)d i'''Ie barefooted nymph, who
sh discard shoes and stockings
)dss.n e rambled over the sunny
up S' rt but a safe refuge was always
kosen "nen she reached the side of her
thu So the seasons came and went
|dom hoioenish little girl had become