The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-31

is, Townsend has a very bad contract.
He will meet with q heavy loss. But I
don't see how ! can help it."
Cant you release him from it ?" Mark
tremblingly suggested.
"That wouldn't be business" said his
father. "Then the loss would fall on
me-"
Excuse me, father-but are not you
better able to bear it than lie ISL"
Perhaps. A good many of my
friends have met with losses which no
doubt I might bear better then they ;but
it doesn't follow that / should say to
Smith, Jones, or Brown, Here's my
check TIC make up that loss to you've
more morey than your Would that be
business-like? There are a great many
men" said Mr.. Kingdom. and now he
smiled again, "who would like to do
business with me in just that way"
"But isn't this different?" said
Mark. "You've had nothing to do with
their speculations; you're gained moth
ing by them"
"And you're mistaken" replied his
father, "if you think / drove a hard
bargain with Townsend. Iagreed to
give him for building the block all 1
believed it would be worth to me. He
took all risks. If the times had been
favorable, he would have made
thing. AS it is, he loses. That's all
there is about it,"
Mark was staggered for a moment.
Then he exclaimed earnestly, :
"Oh no, father; that Isn't
all. If there had been any or
binary gain orloss, what you say might
be Just. But he is building a block of
houses for you; and / am sure you
won't insist on his doing it for what he
agreed, if it will ruin him-make his
family poor! I could never bear the
thought of that!"
MI. Kingdom answered, after q pause,
in q quiet but firm voice.
you've a kind heart, my son-Tm
glad of that-but you don't know any
thing about business. And it isn't for
you to tell me what ] ought to do.
You may be sure that I shall do only
what seems to me to he right"
He adjusted his glasses and took up
his paper. Mark was not satisfied, but
there seemed to be nothing more for
him to say.
He hoped that his father would re-
lease Mr.. Townsend from the %ruinous
contract. And when the final crash
came, and it was known that the Town
sends had actually lost everything,
Mark felt even worse about it, 1 am
bound to say, than Rhoda did.
The Tow nsend family were obliged
To mpua into n eD,,11,r lor, -l...
living wasless expensive; and Mark lost
sight of them. But the great wrong
they had suffered ranked in his heart.
Often when his parents made him a
costly present, he would say to him-
SELF
II wonder if this was bought with
some of the money wrung out of poor
Townsend!"
Nh. Townsend began business again,
and worked hard to support and
educate his family. But circum-
stances seemed always to be against
HIM. He couldn't get ahead. He con-
tinued the struggle manfully for a few
years, then lost health and hope, and
died a poor man.
He had had his life insured for a mod
crate sum; and that was all that was
left to his family. A widow with six
children, and only the interest on three
thousand dollars to provide for their
wants! That was Mrs. Townsend's sit
uation.
But since the change in their fortunes
Rhoda had proved herself a"glorious
girl" as everybody said who knew
them. She had given up the Injuries
of life, and the pleasures of society, to
devote herself to the family. House
work, n~eedlework, teaching her sisters
the piano, trimming or drass-
making-whatever the task. she brought
to it a willing heart and skillful hands.
Il don't know what / should have
DONE" Mrs. Townsend used to say,
IF it ha~dn'tbeen for Rhoda; her tact for
keeping us all looking respectable on
nothing. is just wonderful! And she
makes us all happy by her good spir-
it's"
But now, after her fathers death,
something besides even Rhoda's helpful
hands were needed to keep the family
along. The interest on his life insur-
ance money was only about two hundred
dollars a year. That would not paw
house-rent where they were.
One evening Mrs. Townsend and Rho
da sat talking over their prospects.
II thought We were poor before"
said the widow, with a thoroughly dis
couraged air. "But our poverty was
nothing to this. What shall We dol,
Rhoda was now liz her twentieth year.
and a wise little head she had for q girl
Of her age. She had thought the mat
ter over.
IT can answer for myself first" she
said. IT shall take in dress making.
will order a little sign painted to-mor-
row. l can certainly bring some money
into the family that way"
"But it will be n long time before
you can earn much!" said the disheart-
ened widow.
I'm the meantime, Rhoda went on,
''others must help. Maria is good at
figures; she must find q place in q
store. Lucy must give up her music
for the present, and assist you. Til omas
will have to leave school-that's the
hardest thing to decide upon-for he
ought to go to college; we ALWAYS
meant that he should. But he must be
earning some money, if We are to keep
the family together. James and Julia
must continue in school. at any rate;
they are not old enough for anything
else." 2
"But. can we get along, if we do sll
this?" poor Mrs. Townsend inquired.
"Yes, but there is still another thing.
We must pinch-pinch-pinch," said
Rhoda.
"Oh!haven't we pincheda all we could,
for years?n
"oh, dear, no, mother! We can pinch
q great deal more"