The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-01
eddy called away to be gone for &C.,

eddy called away to be gone for aevor.,
months" ~ several
u see, sir,n said Aleck. ~ u,n
on hand in the morning bricks ~. q
early. Good night, sir As ana
The squire chucsIed to himself =. i,
door closed. i've given him ! ch 4 ne
and if he's the boy I take him u o'l Il 4
Will make the most of it. I shonlSa IT,
have thought of it, though. if baSa,s
liked the way he was winding thar .i %aa. '
He had little idea that every tinJn "a u
long arms of that swift went WINS; w
around they were reaching out into t,si bis
future. -'0 liis
cts q queer bargain, = said Aloon
aloud. to the cutting north wind y 49, l.
went down the hill, .sbut II u ! o.ou ~
place to practice the precept; Not wbs MAJ
or where, but hoW.'''
"1ou can keep an eve on him. y v,ia
Squire Eaton to Margaret. the bon 's,0
keeper, next morning, ''but hardly
think he is the kind Of lad to turn ny
like Percy Stiles; and mind, now. tbas
he never hears Percy's story.n '''
Margaret nodded; and as the mas,a.
went out, John, her husband, said:
''Wasn't he queer one? The sauirs
has never had anything to do with bors
since then; and yet he dotes on bovs )
Il know it, /" said Margaret; "iust to
think how much he set BY Master percy
and what chance the lad threw away
Do You remember how the squire looked
at first, when he really believed there
had been a burglar in the house, and be
said: You are hero, Percy. Yon,
have saved our lives and our prom.
ertyr"
Il remember" said John; .'but that
was nothing to the scene after the mat
ter had been investigated, and he was
convinced that Percy was the rogue. a
well as the hero, when he called ID all
into the library and sent for the poor
lad. He came thinking he was to re-
ceive a reward for his bravery. II il
just like picture in my mind even
now. The squire rising from his arm
chair, with that stern, white face.
Percy with the exultant air and look Of
expectation changing to that of cul-
prit. Do YOU remember how his yOica
sounded when he said; All the bows |
ever read about did something yery
brave and dangerous to win for them
selves fame and gifts and friends, and
wanted to be heron
Eyes" said Margaret, Il remember
it, and the squire's reply: The honest
boy who does his simple duty and
makes the best of every day is the hero
that the world needs but think this
LAD is made of a different kind Of stuff. y
''He's made a busy winter Of it. sir, =
said the old housekeeper when, one
April day, the squire arrived home I'M.
expectedly and asked for Aleck. Hes
not been away one evening nor missed
q day at school the whole term. He:
made the fires, swept the paths, looked
after the hinges of the gates, the latchei
of the barn-doors, and the fastenings d
the blinds. He's petted the dogs ant
cats and birds, watered and trained ths
plants, and cheered up the time fo
John and me as blithely as If we haC
been his own grandparents. He ha
not failed one morning of running "
to the widow Grey's before school-timi
to see how she was getting on. and HI
has never meddled with anything no
been in mischief
"And he has written me letter ever
Saturday. said the squire, tgiving
concise account of MI the happening
| here" Going into the library and look
ing about, he added: HE has filed al
my periodicals and kept everything
ready for me to look over as easily as
had been gone only Tor week. =
swell, Aleck, what have you mad
of your work?" he said, as the lad cam
in flushed with pleasure at seeing him
Il have had q profitable winter
school, sir. / have read good deal Q
history, / have learned a great man
things Of John and Margaret, and ! ca
not tell you, sir, how happy | have beer
! am afraid have done very little
paw for all these privileges, and Aleek
voice tremhled.
g have found boy that / can trust
and that pays me, 7 said the squire, an
his voice grew little husky. mo
we will make new bargain
All that was years ago. Aleck
Squire EatOn's partner now, SUI
cessful man, and, better than that,
good man. He is fond of helping youn
people; he likes to have them improY
their time, and he often says: 1t
not so much consequence what or wher
your work is, as what you make Of It.
-4nnie a. Preston, In Chicago Stafaaaf9