The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-05
ALECK'S MAXIM.

the skein of yarn she was carefully
placing upon the smooth arms OF the
old swift.
The handsome lad hung his worn cap
upon a nail behind the door. held his
fingers a moment over the glowing
cooking-stoye, patted the white cat
asleep on cushion in the warmest cor
ner, then taking the bit of paper upon
which his aged friend was about to
wind the soft, smooth yarn, he said,
coaXingly:
please, auntie, l like to make the
arms of the old swift fly around. They
seem to be ever reaching for something,
but are fulfilling their mission all the
WHILE
The widow was used to the lad mat
ter-of-course way, when he ran in of an
evening, of making pleasure OF shar-
ing whatever work engaged her atten-
ton; so now she only said:
wind it close, remember, Aleck, or
it will not knit even"
"All right, auntie; now for bust
ness and as the old lady settled down
in her rocking-chair and took up her
lnitting-work, he went on:
"Mr. Hyde, at the supper-table to-
night, gave me notice to quit. He
wishes to take a younger boy, one who
will eat less and wear smaller clothes, :"
and Alecll laughed, looking down at
the bottom of his jacket sleeves half
way to his elbows, and then at his
trousers legs half way to his knees.
Il am not surprised, my child" re-
piled Mrs. Grey, deliberately. "You
can come here right away, and stay I'M
til you can find a better place. You
have done well in staying as long as
you could in the home your father found
for you before he died. There is always
enough to do for any one who has the
will, and it does not make so much diff
ference what CT where your work is, as
how you do it. There are always OBJ
portunities, if one is looking for them,
to do good or to do evil, to help others
and to help ourselves"
A sharp rap at the outer door cut
short the old lady's wise speech, and
Esquire Eaton, short, stout, broad
shOuldered man, clustered in.
Il was passing, and called to see if
my socks were done" he said, declin-
lll23 Will d DON. anu wave VI Ills lllnNi
the splnt- armchair Alecll
moved forward. Il am off for Wash
ington in the morning instead of at
night tomorrow, as | expected, and all
the last things have to be done up this
evening""
Il am just toeing them off, SIR said
Mrs Grey. 1.-The white yarn only came
up an hour ago, and Aleck is winding
it for me. "
The squire looked disappointed. 81
shall not have to 90 barefooted if | do
not have Them" he said, but it is a
whim OF mine that to keep off colds it is
well to wear home-knit blue socks with
white toes. We all have our whims,
hey, Aleck?"
Eyes, sir" replied the lad, respect
fully; land one of mine, when a little
fellow, was to learn to knit. My moth
er taught me to knit whole stocking
the winter before she died. So, when
yarn enough is wound, / can pick up
the stitches for Auntie Grey, and help
her about toeing them off. When they
are finished, sir, | will bring them to
your house, and if you are all in bed |
will leave the package in the porch, at
the side door. VIII that do, sir?
"Gocd," said the squire, looking
pleased now ut will do very we'll
indeed, and dropping a bank-note into
the widows lap he hustled away with
her fervent God bless your ringing in
his ears and warming his heart all the
way to town.
1t was eleven O'Clock before Aleck,
after a busy evening, followed by a
brisk walk in the frosty air, opened the
gate leading through deep yard, to
the squire's handsome dwelling. That
gentleman himself opened the side door
as Aleck went lightly up the steps of
the porch.
"All abed but me-" he said. Come
in and will pay you for your trouble. "
''You may pay Auntie Grey for that,
sir"
Come in" repeated the Squire, with
something more than mere polteness
in his voice, and the lad obeyed. A
gust of wind from the open doorway
sent the papers on the library table fly
ing like flock of sea-gulls 60 all parts
OF the room. Aleck removed his cap
and mittens, and picking up the papers
returned them to the table. As the
squire put letter that he had been
writing into its envelope he watched the
lad out OF a corner of his eye.
Going to school this winterP' he
asked.
Il suppose not, sir. l am looking for
something to do.
"What do you wantP
81 can not be over-particular, sir. II
don t matter so much what or where
the work is, rs what | make of it, he
replied, unconsciously repeating Mrs.
Grey's words.
81 will give you work, then, and we
will see what you make Of it. This cal
TO Washington is very unexpected to
me, as you perhaps know. My wife
and daughters are to go with me.
have had time for very few arrange
ments. The housekeeper and her nus
band are to be left in charge, but they
are getting old. You may come here
and stay and go to the high school and
do for your clothes and board whatever
you see needs to be done"
What shall you expect me to do
sir?" asked Aleck, looking puzzled,
"You may get the mail three times g
day. The postmaster has been directed
what is TO be forwarded. If you see any.
thing else that needs to be done you car
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