The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-26

CnamDer ID lOaQeO. II you make y
wrong move. the pistol and the dog
VII fixye. You can stay here tonight
Lu: remember. you must behave your
SELF
The other murmured his thanks, and
in little while he went to bed. A few
minutes after Mr.. Carter had started
thu kitchen fire, the next morning, the
boy came down and went out ir the
wood-house, and returned with an arm
ful of wood; he filled the wood-box, and
then went and helped Mr.. Carter feed
the stock and do the chores at the barn.
1t was intensely cold, and as the wind
howled, the air was filed with clouds
of snow. After breakfast, the boy fol-
lowed the farmer to the barn, and in .
trembling voice, said:
Mr.. Carter. it's so cold and stormy,
I wish you'd let me stay with you till
tomorrow"
"You can. SIR" was the reply. and
nothing more was said.
The next morning the boy again
spoke to the farmer. saying: IF you've
got any work for me to do. I'd like to
stay few days and work for my
board"
''You can, sir; I've got hop poles to
sharpen, and wood to get out; and you
can stay if you want to-" answered Mr.
Carter.
Mr.. Carter had watched the boy
closely, and he made up his mind that
he was honest and wiling, and conse-
| quently he felt disposed to lend him a
helping hand. One day, after the boy
had been there about two weeks. he
called Mr.. Carter aside and said:
Il lied to you when came here, and
I'm going to own up the truth. Instead
of living in Albany, my father lives at
Falls City, Nebraska, and he's very
rich, owns thousands of acres Il land,
and is banker. managed a part OF
his property, but was very intem-
pera'e, and on one occasion squan-
dered a large sum and he was awfully
put out about it. He gave ME a roll of
bills, and told me to 60 to his stables
and pick out the best horse he had, and
to ride SO far away from him that he
would never see me again. Says he:
Sam. you're drunken good-for-
nothing. and I disown you. Leave me
and never darken my doors again. l
left him, and after awhile my money
was gone, and then I sold nv horse.
and finally 1 became penniless and
commenced the wandering life of .
friendless tramp. l don't know whether
father is living or not, but I have a
brother Joe, older than L Since I left,
I've never heard a word from home,
and I've drifted around begging my
way and sleeping wherever l could find
shelter, until l came to your house two
weeks ago. Imade up my mind I'd
tell you the whole story, so you know
all about me. You've been very kind,
and didn't want you to believe lie. :"
The boy spoke with such candor that
although the story appeared improba-
BILE. Mr.. Carter felt that possibly there
might be some truth in it. 1t was o
good while before he spoke, for he
thought the story all over in his mind,
and thinking that perhaps the other
was trying to fool him, he was very
careful what he said. But finally he
spoke up, saying:
"All right Sam; be good boy and
attend to business, and some day you
can 60 back home, if you want to-
Tears glistened in the others eyes as
he answered: "Thank you, sir"
A better or smarter boy Mr.. Carter
never had on his farm, but after few
days the farmer noticed that he became
moody and silent, and preferred to be
alone. It was evident that something
was on his mind, and one day Mr.. Car
ter said to him:
Sam, what are you thinking about?"
The question came so abruptly that
the other was startled for moment,
and then he answered: Il was thinking
of home, SIR"
"All right, Sam; it's a good thing to
think about, and mebbe you'll see the
mistakes you've made. if you've not
seen 'em already"
"Oh. yes, have" he replied, tear
fully, land whether ever see home
again or not, I'm done forever with
liquor
Mr.. Carter saw that he was in earn
est, and he could not but believe that
the VOW would be sacredly observed. A
few days after this Sam came to him
and said:
Tomorrow, Mr.. Carter, start for
home. have thought it all over, and
can't wait another day"
How'll you 60 homer" asked the
other. in surprise. 'You've no
clothes. and no money, and you'll die
before you cover the first thousand
miles"
"rntry it anyhow, and if I die in the
attempt it will be with my face towards
home''
MIR. Carter reasoned with him, but in
vain; he was homesick, and determined
to make the start. Nothing more was
said to him until the next morning,
when Mr.. Carter said to him: ''Sam,
I'm going to Cobleskill, and you can
ride with me there, and 60 on from
that point"