The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-11-27
Probate Office 4janS3

tears rose to my eyes, and L felt my
heart soften, and my conscience braced,
when [ read this moving and moral
tale. [ rose from my seat, and, with
streaming cheeks, extended my arms
and said, Tommy be thou my guide
through the paths Of virtue to pros
perity."
My dear father overstated the truth,
of course unconsciously, when he as
sured me that he left me nothing. |
found that he left me less than moth
ing. He died in embarrassed circum-
stances; and if he had not died when
he did, I really cannot see how he
could have lived. [ found that he was
greatly in debt, and the bills came in
after the funeral. | behaved with
honor. in the spirit Of Tommy" I
had little money Of my own, that
came to me from my mother, which
my father could not touch. With this
discharged all my fathers liabilities.
His creditors were paid twenty shil-
lings in the pound. To do this I had
to sacrifice not only my own little
property, but to sell every stick of
furniture the house contained, and
the books, down to Tommy" But
that mattered little. | had Tommy
craven on my heart; and the prinei-
pies which actuated Tommy filled my
bosom, and were certain to carry me
into prosperity. The creditors con-
frmed me in this opinion. They shook
me by the hand and said, Nothing
could be more honorable than the way
you have behaved in this business, and
there is a bright future in store for
you, MIR. Robert Flopjnhn. Virtue is
its own reward
| was now left without anything
except my principles and my educa-
ton.
My dear father, acting on copy-book
advice, had insisted that education
was the best gift that could be given
a child, and he had taken care that |
should be well instructed in Greek,
Latin, mathematics, and French, to
which [ added some free-hand and
perspective drawing.
My father believed that sound
grammar-school education was the
best equipment for start in life. I
did not, however, find it so. [ found
the market drugged with education.
If he had apprenticed me to a trade, I
could at once have found work as
joiner. mason, or plumber; but as |
was cultured, I had to look out for a
tutorship, and | found that there were
five hundred applicants for each va
cant post. A sawyer can make his
thirty shillings week by merely
working his arms up and down, but /
could not earn thirty pence with all
my education.
At length, however, through the
recommendations Of the solicitor who
had wound up my fathers affairs,
did get q. situation in the house Of a
country gentleman. My manners are
gentlemanly, my appearance is agree
able, and my principles are. as you
know. those Of Tommy. l was re-
ceived with kindness, and soon placed
myself on an easy footing in the house.
The only son of the master was del
icate boy, and his father regarded him
with the tenderest solicitude, as the
heir to his name, and to an estate of
fourteen thousand a-year. There was
a daughter, older, very sweet, beau
tiful girl, with golden hair, and eyes
of the sunniest blue. [ gave her les
sons in French and drawing Then
she took fancy to learn Greek, and
| got her well on to the paradigms.
As for the poor boy, his hours of work
were few. He was allowed to do pref
ty much what he liked, and to be out
of doors as much as the weather per-
mitted, riding or walking. I accom-
panied him, and not unfrequently his
sister joined our party. The park
was very beautiful, and there were
numerous objects Of interest in the
neighborhood. Maud took advantage
of these excursions to get on with her
drawing, with which she made such
progress that she began to venture on
water-colors.
The natural result followed. I fell
desperately in love with beautiful
Maud, and she reciprocated my attach
ment. I was far too honorable to
give utterance to my sentiments
What was What my position, that
[ should aspire to the hand of the
daughter Of a De VAUDEVILLE? My
family was Of yesterday; hers dated
from before the Conquest. I was worth
nothing pecuniarily; she had nice
property Of her mothers. | had no
position in the world, and the De
Vaudvilles were the first family in the
county next to those that were titled
| was not blind to the affection |
had inspired; the father had no sus-
picions. He would have thought it
impossible for his daughter to stoop
so low. Besides, in the event Of the
death Of her sickly brother. Maud
would be an heiress-a match to be
desired by every young squire in the
county.
| was conscious Of struggle in my
heart; but l thought over my fathers
dying words, and the example of
Tommy, and | conquered. Neither by
word nor sign did [ show dear Maud
how dear she was to me. [ had to ex-
ercise the utmost control over myself,
and the effort cost me much pain. l
hesitated whether had not better re-
sign my tutorship, whep my charge
fell i'll.
His sickness became serious-dan-
gerous. Then [ volunteered to sit with
him and nurse him night and day. |
knew what was necessary. He must
be fed with beef-tea every twenty
minutes. Everything depended on
this; and the nurses could not be re-
lied on. For three weeks | was with
the poor child Ii he had been my
own I could not have done more for
him. | saved his life. The doctor
said so. No sooner was he out of
danger than [ broke down. l had
overstrained myself, and was attacked
with nervous fever 1t was thought
advisable to move me to the keepers
cottage. My illness, following so
closely. on that of the young master.