Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-12
SQUIRE RATON'S PARTNER.

benefit this evening, auntle.'
"Very well, Aleck, what is it3"
Placid-faced widow Grey spoke kindly
bu& without raising her eyes from the skein
ST yarn she was carefully placing upon the
smoath arms OF the old swift.
The handsome lad hung his worn cap
MOON nail behind the door, held his
fingers moment over the glowing cooking
stove, paLted the white cat asleep on a
cushion IN the warlnest corner, then taking
ho bit Of paper upon which his aged friend
yes about to wind the soft, smooth yarn,
10 said, eoaxingly:
"PIaase, auntiG like TO make the arms
OF The old swift lily around. They seem To
I've ever reaching for something, but are full
sizing their mission all the while"
The widow was used to the lads matter
sfo01r3e way when he ran in Of an even
ing, OF making pleasure OF sharing what
ever ~ rk engaged her attention. 80 now
ore only said:
Wind it close, remember, Aieob, or It
viii not knit even"
All right aun6e, now for business
anG as the Old lady settled down IN her
rockiH5-Ghair, and took up her knitting
work, he went on:
@r Hyde, at the supper table to night,
gave me notice to quit. lie wishes to take
younger boy, one who will eat less and
wear smaller clothes, and Aieck laughed,
lSoiled down at the bottom Of bis jacket
sleeves half way 10 his elbows, and then
At his trousers legs half way to his knees.
" an not surprised, my child" replied
Mrs Grey, deliberately. You can como
here right away, and stay until YOU can
Sad better place You have done we'll
in atayinga as long as you could in the home
yeur father found for you before he died
There Is always enough to do for any one
who has the will, and 1t does not make 30
mach difference what or where your work
~, Hs now yOu DO it. There are always OPP
PortuniGes, if one is looking for them, 70 do
good or io do evil, 90 help others and 10
help ourselves"
sharp rsp at the outer door cut short the
old lsly's wise speech, and Esquire Eaton,
a shor-, stout broad-ahouldered man, blns-
SEed in
was passing, and called to see if my
soclls we're done" be said, declining wits d
bow and wave Of his hand, the splint-bo
taned armchair AleclS moved forward. II
AM OF tor Washington in the morning in
stead Of at night tomorrow, 40 | expected,
ADd all he last things haVo to be done up
Shs evening
81 an lust toeing them off, sir" said
Mrs Grey. q" The white yarn only came
sp ar hour ago, and Aleck is winding it for
me"
The squire looked disappointed. Il
shall not have to go barefo0ted if ! do not
have them, he said; but it is a Wllim Of
mine that to keep of colds il IS we'll to
wear homc-knit blue socks with white
sees We all have our whims hey Aleck2 ?"
Yes, sir," replied the lad, respectfully,
and me Of mine when a very little fellow
was ~ learn to knit My mother taught
me 10 knit a whole stocking the winter be
foTo she died. So when yarn enough is
wound ! can pick up the stitches for
Arntie Grey, and help her about toeing
them of When obey are finished, sir.
gill bring them TO your house and If you
are ali an bed l viii leave the package in
The porch at the side door. VIII that DO,
ar2'
Good" said the squire, looking pleased
now. 1t viii do very well, indeed, ana,
dropping bank note into the widows lap,
he busted away with her fervent God
ble5a YOU !" ringing in his ears and warm
ing his heart all the way to town.
II was IL o'clock before Aleck, after a
busy evening, followed by brisk walk in
thc frosty air, opened the gate leading
through a deep yard, to the sources hand
some dwelling. That gentleman himself
opened the side door Is Aleck went lightly
up the steps Of the porch.
"All abod but me, ne said. Come in
a}d will pay you for yOur trouble"
You may pay Aunhc Grey for that,
sir"
Como in" repeated the squire, with
something more than mere pOliteDeS8 in
his voice, and the lad o5eycd. gust OF
wind from the open doorway sent the pa
pers on the library table flying like flock
Of sea-gulls to all parts of the room.
EIeck removed his cap and mittens, and,
picking up the papers. returned them TO
the table. AS the squire put letter that
be had been writing into its envelope, he
watched the lad out of o corner Of has eye
Going to school this winter2" heasked'
" suppose not. sir. ! am looking fog
something TO do
What do you WantY'
81 cannot be Oycr-parEcnlar, sir. It
don't mater 50 much what OF where the
work is. as what make of it." he replied
uuc0uscjOnsly repeating Mira. Gray 5 words
" ] viii give you work, then, and VIC viii
acc what you make OF it. This call &c
WaghingtOn Is very unexpected to me, rs
YOU perhaps know. Ny wife and daughter:
are 70 20 with me. | have had time io'
very lew arrangements. The housekeepei
and her husband are TO be left in charge
hut they are getting old. You may come
here and stay and 90 70 the high schoo
ind 30 fer your board and ciOthes what
ever You see needs to be done"
What shall you expect me to do, sirY'
asked AicCS. looking puzzled.
YuI may ger tue mail three tunes
dav. The Postmaster has been directed
what IS % be forwarded II you see any
thtul else that needs 81 be done you car
DO IL If yOu feel disposed, just as You Wouit
were his your father ana mothers hom
and they bad been unexpectedly caile'
away 10 be gone f,r several months
sac, sir said Aleck. will be OF
hand in the morning bright and carly
Coos morning. sir"
The squire chacklca TO himself as tn
door closed. I've givcn him chance
sul Il hes The boy ! lako him % be he vii
make the most of l. / shouldn't nav
thou ht Of 1t, though, il / hadn't liked In
way he was winding that yarn. He ha
little idea that every umc the long arms {
that swift went whizlinz around they woT
reaching out into his future"
MS q queer bargain" SAID Aleck alouC
20 the cutting north wind as nc went dow
The hill, a" but il is a good place to practio
She prcccpt, Not what or where, bu
how
You can keep an eye on him." sal
'snhe Eaton 70 Margaret, the h0us
keeper. next morning, as but hardly thin
nc is the kind of lad 20 turn out lik
Percy Stiles; ana mind, now, that he ney'
hears Percy story.
Margaret nodded, and az the master wei
out. John, her husband, said
Wasn't he q queer one2 The SOUL
has never had anything 70 do with DO.
since then; and yet he dotcs on boys
II know it, said Margaret Just
think how much he set by Master Perc
and what a chance the lad threw ava
Do YOU remember how the squire look
ct first, when he really believed there b