National Republican., 1884-08-02

OtEhu 10 uOuDb mlnB.
"At last ho said to me, Il know thore
isn't better judge Of stuff in the rough
than you, although you are young man,
but wait till you come to my years and
maybe you'll fancy your own opinion
less
Perhaps may said ]; but so far as I
have gono l have never made bad guess
yet
AYE, aye, ayo-youth is ever over
bold. When | was your age maybe l too
thought couldn't be taken in. But tits
wonderful how we lose courage as we grow
old. You givoa an opinion as twice readily
as l who have had five times your cxpo-
riencc. Tell me- ho cried with sudden
animation, were you ever downright
beaten by log yetP
Never / answered, with laugh. Il
daresay have not been long enough at
the business
"'Would you like to bo bcaten2' ho
said, getting up and infusing what was
for him II great deal of animation into his
movements.
"'lf you've got anything in stock you
think will beat me- / said, let me SEQ it.
"Como' he said defantly, and with.
out another word ho led tho way to q
remote corner Of the yard where had
never been before
~ followed in silence. In couple of
minutes wo stood opposite piece of
mahogany.
"'Eightoon feot by three feet by three
feea' he said. What do you make of ii. ;
81 looked long and narrowly. There
was absolutely no indication Of promise
In tho wood, and yet felt an uneasy de-
sire to come by that log in some way or
another. Not only was there no appear
an,o of promise, but 1t looked uncouth,
| ungaiGly, and certainly n superficial
Elauco would induce any average buyer
to paas it over. However it was, tho
longer looked tho less liked to leave
1t there. Something drew INC toward it,,
but whether 1t was tho fascination of
attraction or tho fascination of rcpulsion
which chained me to the spot, could OF
decide.
"'Do you know the prico they are ask
ing for it2' said.
"'Thrce hundred he answered lacon.
ically.
"'I'll go and see Mr.. Watkins about it, ;
"'Ges,' he said in n Jealous tone. But
what do you think of it?'
"'I really don't know said in per-
plexity.
"'Ha, ha, har he laughed in triumph.
Il told you I'd show you something be-
yond you. Why that log has been in
stock these six years, aud no one will
look at it,
"Ill bring Mr.. Watkins this very day.
l answered, and in few minutes was out
of the yard.
THAT afternoon the manager of Mars
ton 81 Co., and went back to Fraser.
"'Wcll,' said the manager, 'Bayliss, /
thought you had some gumption until
now. Why, 1T wouldn't pay for the saw.
1 wouldn't take gift Of it. / wouldn't
pay the carriage of it to our place. It's a
regular weed
~ own l was greatly discouraged, but 1
was moro disturbed than discouraged.
could not get out of my mind that there
was some secret hidden in that log. lay
awake half the night thinking of it.
When slept screamed that Marston Il
Co. bought it on my recommendation that
it turned out badly, aud that my old em-
ployers told mo that they would have
nothing further to do with me, and bade
me goodbye forever Next morning, when
/ awoke, 1 was still more unsettled in my
mind than had been the previous teven-
ing. / need not say that l attached no
Importance to my dream. But still my
dream helped me to one determination.
l resolved not to urge the purchase of the
mahogany upon Marston Il Co. Then,
after long and careful thought, made up
my mind as to the course ] should adopt.
went to the city and sought my old en-
ployer. l said to him:
"'When l was leaving you, sir, more
than year ago. you were kind enough to
say you would lend me one or two hun
dred pounds if l wanted it, to start me
in business If you have the same con-
fidence IN me now as you had then, L
would feel very much obliged to you
indeed for loan of tho money
"The old man pushed his spectacles up
on his forehead, and looked at mo for q
moment in silonce. 'Bayliss, have just
the same confidence in you rs over. You
can have the money, with pleasure Then
read listing his spectacles, he continued ::
To show how much l trust you, and be-
| lieve in you, would not even ask you
what you intend doing with the money
Wait moment He took out check
book. filled O check up for f200, and
handed it to me.
my eyes filled with tears of gratitude
at the kindly act of this good old man,
and for moment or two i could not
trust myself to speak. AS soon as was
somewhat sure of the steadiness Of my
voice l said, Il cannot thank you suiii-
!
may never be sorry for this, and hope
you may never be ashamed Of mo-
"'I am sure shall not, my dear Bay
liss / am sure L shall not he said, with
generous good nature.
"It is only fair. sir, that should now
tell you,' said, that want this money
for my first speculation. ! intend buying
q log with it and some of my own saw
ings.', =,
"'Ahp he laughed, 4 told you it would
come to your rivaling US in tho end. Now
| that you have told me so much, tell me q
little more. Why are not we to buy this
logY
Because, sir, 1t is tho only one in my
experience was ever doubtful about, and
/ could not think of allowing you, after
all your kindness to me, to run any risk.
And now, sir, havo to ask you for an
additional favor. Win you allow that log
to be cut for me in your yardP
"Mr. Marston said he would be happy
to do 30, and Invent away with sense of
heavy responsibility and gratitude too
deep for words.
That day bought tho unpromising
piece of timber for two hundred and
sixty five pounds, and tho next day it
was in Marston's yard, in front of the
great circular eighteen-foot saw.
watkins could scarcely restrain his
laughter. and 1 really believe that, but
for the sake OF old friendship, he would
have treated mo with open scorn. But at
the bottom of his rough nature there was
good deal Of kindlinoss which he took
great care to conceal. So that after tho
first surprise at my purchase, ho tried
rather to encourage than dcpross me, and
said that perhaps tho log would not prove
so badly as no had supposed. And you
know he said, in any caso wo shall be
able TO let you have at least half your
money for the stuff when it is cut up.
However queer it may turn out, we can
either work it up ourselves or sell IT,
"At last the great saw was started. and
Watkins and / stood by to watch tho ro-
suit. The first and second leaf came oil,
/ lt, L,,t IL,