The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-09-03
Seldon's Reward.
BY HELEN uARCoURT.

Just one day in Seldom Roberts life
and yet what a change was wrought il
it for all time, between sun rise and SUI
set! 1t is a sure saying that the true
way to count time is not by hours, bu
by events.
But then, too, if Seldom had been &
different kind of a boy-a bov not
wrapped up in his own pleasures, and
careless as to the welfare and comfort OF
his mother, as too many are, l fear, all
the wonderful things that happened on
that one great day, would never have hap
pened at all.
But | will begin at the beginning, and
tell you all about it, for it is a story as
well worth the telling, as Seldon's ex-
ample of self-denial and bravery is worth
the following.
1t was grand day at Oakwood Acad-
envy, and the boys ran Wild with glee
and excitement, for not only was it the
closing day. that ushered in the long
vacation, but on the next day, there was
to be a grand excursion by the whole
school, down to an island in the beau
tiful bay of San Francisco.
They had been talking about it for the
last two months; it had been the one
absorbing topic of conversations Aor, it
was tliC AioV uiP va WY hItiN " 4TiSf'A -
all the boys. ia'..
And OF all the interested, asorbed,
eager boys, Seldom Roberts stood fore
most-and for weeks he had talked of
nothing else, at home or at school.
But now, as the scholars poured forth
from the Academy, for the last time for
weeks to come, shouting, laughing, dan
cling, Seldom was strangely quiet, and
after standing a moment, to listen to the
eager talk of the mornings excursion,
he suddenly dashed q tear from his
brown eyes, pressed his lips firmly to-
gether, and started away at a run, flee
ing from temptation. For he was not
going; no, he had put that coveted
pleasure behind him, Of his own free
will, that he might try to win for his
beloved mother, something that she
needed to make her life easier.
He had often longed to have a chance
of saving money enough to buy her the
sewing machine that she said would
make her life easier, and also better paid,
and now it had come; only to seize upon
it, Seldom must sacrifice that day of rare
pleasure he long looked forward to.
Seldom was Just fourteen years old,
and from his eighth year, his mother had
toiled to support him and his little sister,
Hers was a sad story, but not an UNI
common one; she was the wife of a sea-
captain, who had invested all his earn
{ ings in the purchase of vessel; he took
his wife and children with him on his
Z first voyage in her, to Japan the trip
Z out had been prosperous, but on the re-
< turn voyage the vessel was caught in q
< typhoon-she lived through it. but was
f. so badly strained, that she foundered
soon afterward. .,.
The captain placed his dear ones il
the first boat that left the ship-himsel
remaining to the last; the first boat was
swept away by the swift-running sea
but not before those on board OF hei
had the unspeakable grief OF seeing the
captains boat capsized, and her crew
tossed into the relentless sea.
After a weeks exposure to wind, ano
sun, and rain, (they had plenty of pro
Visions this shipwrecked party were
picked up by steamer bound to Japan
Then, among the American residents
Mrs. Roberts found a home, and work
to do, by keeping house for a wealthy
merchant. She knew she must work fol
her children somewhere, for though hel
husband had insured his ship, she soor
found that the company had failed, ano
ther claim could not be paid, so she was
thankful to accept so good an offer.
For seven years she remained in ia
ipan, but then her benefactor died, q
bankrupt and in her debt, and she re-
turned to her native land; arriving al
San Francisco, an opening presented it.
self of earning a good living by doing
fine sewing, and so that city had been
\ her home for the last year. She was
doing well, but often said she could dc
better, with less fatigue, had she only q
\ .ea,I-inor machine