Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-30
Not to be EnVied.

"How those three little chaps do
enjoy playing together" said John
Evans to his wife one day, as he
stood watching his Ned play ball
with Charley Willard and Edgar
Perry.
"Yes," returned Mrs. Evans, So
berly. ''ten or fifteen years from now
how will it be? Then Charley Viii
lard will be worth his thousands and
our Ned will be his shoemaker,
maybe"
''Ifhe is, hope he will make the
best boots in the market"
"Think Of that little fellow being
heir to quarter OF a Million" con-
tnned Ned's mother, gazing at
Charley wistful,y.
"Mary, | am honestly glad for
Ned's sake that | am poor man. |
would not have my boy, while a
boy, heir expectant to any such
amount for all his future is worth.
Nonsense, JOhn.
''Well, Mary, if we can live, you
remember what | say, and ten or
fifteen years from now see if | am
right. | believe the poor mans boy
has a better chance than rich
mans son."
"Chance of what
"a chance to achieve real success,
through industry, economy, and self
control; better chance to keep q
sound body, good brain and honest
heart-better chance, in short to Sc
cure true manliness.
"You talk like an old fogy, John.
The next week Ned wanted ball
of his own, and began to tell how
Charley Willard bought everything
he wished just when he wanted it.
Earn it for yourself, my boy,
then you will have strength to throw
it higher than if it had dropped into
your hand,' said the father. And
that was always the way after that.
What Ned had he must work for;
what Charley wanted he had for the
asking. Soon it was a question OF
costlier things than balls. Both
boys wanted pony and new school
books. Ned could not have the
pony, SC he took the books and stud
led them we'll. Charley could have
both. but the pony was the most en-
tartoining 60 he let the books alone.
When the boys were eighteen one
was very popular, and naturally It
was the one whose pocket-book
alwa, held enough 70 treat a crowd
to whatever fun was soing. Ned
had friends, but their sports had to
be inexpensive. They skated instead
of dri. ing fast horses; they spent
their evenings in one anOthers
homes. or at lectures, while Charley's
comrades could afford theatres and
saloons. Of course, it came to be
prime pie, and there was time when
Ned. with twice Charley's money,
would not have had Charley's tastes;
but after all, ia the beginning money
made the difference. Ned from a
little boy knew he must earn his
place in the big crowded world if
ever he had any place worth having.
Charley grew each day to realize
that he possessed everything that
gold could buy, or the means to &C.
ouire it. Ned did not like shoemak-
inc. so he studied law. Charley
serec r it, too, but frs: he Travelled
around The world and saw what there
was "to be seen.
The Evanses forgot his existence,
until one day Ned-who was now
man of wealth and infuence-saldto to
his mother, ''Poor Charley Willard,
do you remember him y =, :
"Why, of course | do! What Of
him ?"
s'He d;cd to-day Of apoplexy,
brought on by fast living and hard
drinking. Poor fellow, he had too
much money everything came to
him without work, and lie was all
play to him"
Eyes if he had fought his way up
as YOU had to fight yours, Ned, he
would not have wasted his strength
and his manhood" said Ned's moth
er, forgetting entirely that night,
wears before, whom she had thought
Charley very fortunate. The Tenn
perance Banner.