News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-01
HADN'T HALF A CHANCE

HADN'T HALF 4 CHANCE
"Ralph, the fifteen-minute bell is ring
ing"
"Not going to school to-day"
His mother said nothing more. How
could she send a boy to school who had
not had half breakfast, and who was out
at elbows and knees and toes. But the
father who, more sober than usual,
lounged around the door, reused himself
at the boys words.
''Not going to school, Ell? How long
since you came to be your own master?
If that's the way you appreciate your
privileges, it's high time you lost them.
Might as well stop school anyway; you
don't learn anything"
"Reckon [ could if 1 had half
chance. said the boy, looking disconso-
lately at his rags.
81 haven't another patch left to mend
your clothes with" said his mother
sadly.
"Oh, it isn't your fault; no one blames
you, mother" said Ralph quickly.
Il suppose that means that I am to
blame for everything that oughtn't to be.
A boy of thirteen ought to be able to
earn himself a suit of clothes, to say
nothing of his bread and butter"
"LOts of good it would do me to earn
anything" muttered Ralph, sullenly.
Usually he would not have dared to say
so much in his fathers presence, but
this morning he hardly cared what he
did or what might follow. Usually, too,
he would have paid dearly for such
speech, but now Mr.. Allen only said:
You're an impudent young rascal,
but seeing I haven't done as well by you
as might, I'll make a bargain with you.
Every cent you can earn you may have,
but not bit to eat nor rag to wear,
besides. Do you understand? Now be
off, and see what you are worth"
"All right" answered Ralph, picking
up his ragged hat.
You won't go out of town ?" said his
mother anxiously, as he passed out
"No, not without letting you know"
he answered from outside the gate.
From simple force of habit, and without
any definite purpose, he took the road
leading to the school house, and found
himself at the door just as the noisy
troop were entering. might as well go
in, too" he said to himself, and he did.
But his books remained unopened, and
when his class was called he sat still in
his seat. His teacher was sure from his
looks that he was sick or in trouble, and
knowing something of his home life,
thought best to pay no attention at the
time. At recess, however, she went and
sat down beside him.
"No lessons to-day, Ralph?' she
asked pleasantly.
''Not coming to school any more"
"Why, how is that?
"Got TO earn my own living"
"Oh, work is it; we'll, that's not bad
excuse for leaving school. What are
you going to do?"
"That's what I've got to find out.
Don't know yet"
"Then the first thing is, what can you
do?"
''Not much of anything; never had
half chance to learn, and he looked en-
viously at Louie Hatten, who was pass
ing throuph the room-a boy of his own
age, well-dressed and weli-fed, well-fur-
nished with all schooIboy could ask
Miss Lee followed the direction of his
glance.
"Why Ralph, she said, ''I think you
have better chance than Louie for max
ing a man of yourself.
Don't see how that can be-
Can you swim?" Ralph looked ND
very much astonished. He was an expert
swimmer, but he did not see how that
would help him in trying to make some
thing of himself.
81 can that" he answered emphati-
eally.
''Did you learn by having some one
hold On to you all the time, keeping YOU
out of deep water?"
Guess a fellow wouldn't learn much
that way Had to go it myself.
"Then why isn't it better to go it
yourself in other things? Haven't
you a better chance than a boy who has
everything done for him, who is always,
as far as possible, kept out of danger
never allowed to make effort enough in
any direction to tire him p
''Never thought of that before, " said
Ralph.
And while he thought of it his teacher
thought of something else.
''Will you carry note to Mr.. Scott
for me?" she asked.
"Yes'm," answered Ralph, promptly.
He had carried notes before and had a
pleasant remembrance of bright nickels
and brighter dimes that found their way
into his pocket on these occasions. So
the note was written and carried, and
while Mr.. Scott read it, Ralph looked
earnestly out of the window at huge
pile of coal on the sidewalk.
young man." said the trustee sud-