South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-02-06
FAT HFULNEss.

and the two houses were the eighth
OF Lille a art. The farm ON which
Ralph lived was large and rich Que.
but Ralph was uot rich. lie was o..
" poor orphan boy. who worked tor
Mr.. Harris, the owner Of the farm.
Joe Curtis was an orphan. too. The
:arm ON which be worked was owned
by Mrs. Douglas, a widow lady. 1t
Was a small one, so small that some-
times this boy WAS all the help she had.
One night Ralph asked dr Harris
Il he might go I'D the river with Joe.
Have you done all the chores p
asked the farmer.
Eyes, SIR
Nos Mr. Harris knew that if Ralph
sa'd SO 1t was so, and he gsantea lis
request at o .ce.
Raj. h fo nj Joe bringing in the
wood for tie mex: morning.
Joe, he said, sciil you ask Mrs.
Douglas IT you can go 10 the river
with rue p
Joe gave a very re adv assent. lie
ASA red Mrs. Douglas tina, the chores
wer all done aud received her per-
nlisslon Ia go with Ralph.
Knowing something of Joe's hab
lis. Ralph said. just as they reached
the gate. Are you sure the chores
are all done p
'Y,s, believe So was Joe's care
less answer.
The barn doors are open Doesn't
Mrs. Douglas expect you TO shut them
AZ night 2
III doesn't make bit of difference,
and she WON'T see them, for they a.e
out oi sight frou the house
Il should shut them if I were in
your place. said Raj. h; and then,
he barn reminding him of eggs, he
asked: 'Have you brought IN the
egg, to-day p
No. forgot to look. But the hens
don't lay every day. SD Mrs Douglas
won't think anything about it,
Let's see If we can lind any, be
tore we go 10 the river said Ralph.
4 like to hunt tor eggs
They went, and soon found seve-
raj. Ralph, not sstir fed with this,
continued to look around, aud soon
discovered a nest viii. ten eggs OF
which Joe had no knowledge.
Only think! we have found sin
teen J! said Ralph. ex.ltinglv. after
counting them. Worth looking for,
/ ann sure.'
Two years passed, and each of the
boys went on his own way, Joe neg
leciing his duties with little or no
compnnction. if he felt sure his un
faithlulness would not be discovered.
and Ralph performing every duty
carefully, and yet, during tnis time,
the difference between the two boys
seemed of little account. Raiph SCI
dom got even word of appreciation
from Mr.. Harris, and Joe usually con.
trived 10 escape ceDsure.
AT the end of the two years Mr.
Harris received visit from an old
friend, " no was IA very busy man when
at home. and ii was a great treat TO
him TO spend wht lie week in quiet
country farm-house He was close
observer. and one thing which did not
escape his notice was the faiihtulheSs
with which Ralph did all hi, tasks
He spoke of it to Mr.. Harris.
Yes. Ralph is II pretty good boy
said Mr.. Harris, rather C re!essly, as
1t IL were matter of course.
q wond-r it you know how few
boys there are az faithful IA he ia p
was bis friends reply.
Il want good. honest, faithful
boy SAID q friend e this gentleman,
about two weeks after his return home
did you chance To find such an arti.
Gle while yon were in the country p
The gcn'leman's thoughts turned
AT ono to Ralph. and he answered
Il did see such boy. never saw
one more faithful aud trustv orth,
And then he told him all about Ralph.
DO YOU think / could get him?'
'Very likely YOU may, IT ,ou try
He did tty and tho res II was that
Ralph ionud an excellent situation,
which proved To- he the first s'eplmg-
stone to IA successful career ia the bu-
sines, world.
IL has oien been said that the rogue
or wrOng-doer IL sure to- he ionnd ont
at last: but II - jut as true that tue
faithful, industrious boy is sure to he
found DOT IN the long run lie may
think that Ge one observes him. but
people around bun have ewes and. by
and-by, there will be a place where
such boy IS wanted. and some one,
who has been silently watching him,
will bring the place aud The boy To-.
gether.-COng:egationaiist.
Boswell Grant, farmer, sged rs
years. died at lis home, at ST a bans,
recently. lie was the last o. fami-
~ Of eight children all of whom Ilved
to an old age. lie was an uncle of
General u. ). Gran aud was born
=