Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-01-28
TIM JAMES RESOLVE.
A Story Peculiarly Applicable to
Boys Whose Fathers Drink Too
Much.

He said it, and l guess be knew,
muttered little Tim James. He wore
better clothes than any of that crowd. He
said twice over, he did: "a boy isn't the
same as his father, and never need be; a
bright fellow like Tim, here. can be a
first class man if he tries Yes, be said
, it, and am going to try"
Tia's father was drunken lOafer, and
because people treated little Tim with
out any sort of respect or kindness he
had felt that boy was only what his
father was The daY before a man had
said: Tim is no good; be is old James
boy Another man answered: Tim can
be as good as anybody's boy; a boy need
not be what his father is
This day there was a fierce snow =
storm; the house was cold and cheerless,
the little children hungry and his mother
heart-sick.
"I'll go to work." thought Tim. like
tie smartest mans sop l ever heard of !"
and off ne started with an old shovel.
He soon got job 1T cleaning sidewalk.
and be went at it SO vigorously that a
maR across the road, thinking he must
be worth something to work. set him
next at his walk. 1t was early, and be4
fore slower cleaners came along Tim had
aened fifty cents. Then he rushed home
again, only stopping to buy some sau>
sages Tim was So hungry and thought
sausages fit for kings, little coffee and
a big loaf of bread His mothers face
frightened at the sight of the food; the
little boys shouted with satisfaction;
and when they were enjoying their uHu-
sual good breakfast, Tim said: Mother,
l am going to do something, and grow
up to be somebody. l will work, and |
won't leag and drink. Ysu see if l do
Mr.. WILTSHIRE Iich Nr. Wills-said:
Go ahead, Tinr and am going to do as
he said"
His mother had to laugh. Tim looked
so little and yet SO wide awake; but Tim
had will, and be was in earnest.
From that day he shoveled snow, run
errands. sold papers, carried shoe shop
advertisement, blacked boots and clean
ed out Office stoves. The boys nicknam>
ed him 'Goahead Tim,' and people began
to know his rosy face, and funny, busi-
ness-l like way. The next winter he got
a place in grocery and went to night |
school.
One day his Sunday school teacher
asked him why he worked SO much |
harder at everything than did the other
boys. Tim did not like to say that they |
had better fathers than be had, but he
quoted Mr.. Willis and amused her by his
of the gentleman.
Perhaps she told Mr.. Willis of Tim,
but perhaps he only noticed as others
noticed how Tim was trying to be
somebody At any rate, people now
had good word for him, and they were
ready to help him in little ways.
Old Tim really began to get ashamed
when he heard his boy praised for int
1ustry and honesty He was persuaded
10 go into the country and work on a
farm away from temptations to drink.
He was a poor workman and got poor
pay, but he made his living, and his FAM
ly were better off without him.
At f1ftaen Mr. Willis mt Tim in a
carriage manufactory-a place be had
Teen long wishing for; and, as years
went by. Tim, by doing his best became
an intelligent, well-to-do carriage maker.
His mothers cid age was passed in COM
'ort, and his brothers grew up, with his
lelp, sober, hard working men.
If any boy has worthless father let
him remember that a son need not
follow his father in bad ways.-Sunday
School Visitor.