Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-06

on. In TINS condition he struck ranch be-
longing to an old granger, who, taking pity on
the poor busted Prod, gave him job of herd
ing hogs. The granger wasn't bad old sam
pie in IA general way. but he inclined to be
kinder mean on the feed. and so it came that
often the Prod got SO frightfully sharp-set for
meal he had to go whacks in the hog-trough.
You bet the kid who in his flush times had
been boozng round among the best Of every
thing like silver king big railway monop-
olist, had now plenty OF time on his hands for
doing tall lot Of thinking and one dav he
said to himself: 'fll Just ding this business.
Why. even the meanest help in my old govern
or's hired service are living square grub.
and plenty OF IT, while I'm worrying along
here on a shook lunch. | know what I'll do
I'll just skip back home to the old man and ask
for a new deal" So away he went, but he
had hard time reaching the old ranch, and
don't YOU forget IT, When you have plenty Of
coin, my friends. everybody's pleasant but
when you're on the borrow you don't find il so
good. Finally he did strike the familiar trail
leading down to the old home and while crossing
some open lots the old man, as the book puts
il. saw him a-coming afar off. Yes. that ole
mans eyes We're very dim, but he did not fail
TO spot his boy afar of.
And what dye suppose that Prod's father
did: Did he whistle the dogs up to chase him
off the ranch? You bet he didn't. Did he 20
and take down his shotgun and wait till he got
a good drop on him. You bet he didn't. No.
but I'll tell you what he did. He Just walked
right out OF the gate To meet him. and froZe to
that poor scarc-crow right on the spot, aud fell
to kissing OF him and weeping over him and
calling him his poor, long-lost boy until the
Prod got all broke up and like sluicc dam
when the SHOW comes down of Pixies Peak
under July sun. The old man then took him
right away TO a clothing store and rugged him
out in the nobbiest suit TO be had for coin and
put elegant ring on his finger, ordered the
latest steer on the ranch 10 be slaughtered,
invited all the neighbors in and had the biggest
blowout that camp had ever seen.
Now II appears the Prod's elder brother was
out at work with the teams, and when h. came
in he asked some Of the help what wa, the
meaning OF the picnic they were having inside.
and when he was told the reason he lust got
real mad The old man hearing Of this weut
out to him and said: Come in lad; Your
brothers come back and were having regular
old-fashioned jubilee; now you come right
along. like good fellow. and take share in
the breakdown" But the brother wouldn't
bulge. and said: Look here, dad, | have
stuck TO the ranch and have never tran>are,s-
ed YOUR orders, but il never struck YOU to
have picnic Of this kind until YOU give it in
honor Of loafcr who has diSgrarcd our
name" But. my friends, YOU make YOUR bets
on il that old man had level head and wasn't
TO be easily bluffed. He says; My son. YOU
but are YOU quite sure that's tell You
that YOU have gricyously transgressed my com
mandments now by your unbrotherly
and unchartable behavior. Learn that
II the heart is not in accord You may count
that your service is according TO the letter Of
the law, but | tell you it don't fill the hushcl
worth cent so far as the spirit is concerned.
that leads TO narrow mindedness to bigotry, 10
intolerance and to fooling round and burning
folks because they don't fix up their formal OBJ
servances just exactly as you have arranged
and as you assert must be right" And now.
friends, it is TO the credit OF the brother that
he took his old fathers square talk in good
part, and YOU bet that old man was a real
thoroughbred don't you forget it.