The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-02-20

the boys were sent for berries, and
listened attentively to all that passed.
He was present, too, when Tom re-
turned in about half an hour, with the |
bottom of his pail scarcely covered with
berries.
when his mother asked him what
he was home so soon for, he said he
had seen an awful black snake under
the bush where he was picking, and
he didn't dare to stay there another
minute. His mother asked him why
Willie didn't come, too, and he hardly
knew what to reply; but he mumbled
something to the effect that if Willie
wanted to stay and pick berries in q
pasture full of snakes he could.
Tom thought there was something
queer about his mothers manner, and
the first of the week he found out the
reason. Willie, who had come home
on Saturday with his pail heaped with
the most beautiful blueberries, went to
New York with Mr.. Ames, and the
next day sailed with him for Europe.
He had no family of his own, and had
kindly offered to take one of his
friends sons to Europe with him on
his first arrival, and the question which
it should be had been hard one to de-
eide.
Finally Mr.. Ames, who was a
shrewd man, had hit upon this plan.
Give the boys some work to do, he
said, and I'll take the one who does it
according to my mind
$50 the plan was tried, and Willie
went to Europe. Mr.. Ames, who was
a quizzical, though kindly, man, gave
Tom a little lecture before starting.
why, there would be no sense in TAX
ing you, my boy said he. If we
wanted to 90 to England and see West
minister Abbey we couldn't, because
you might see a snake. And if we
wanted to go to Switzerland and see
the Alps, l don't see how we could, for
you would be very likely to come
across a black snake on the road, and
then back we should have to 90. This
other boy won't see anything worse
than butterflies
when Willie had come home on
that Saturday and they asked him what
he had seen in the berry pasture, he
had stared, and then said he hadn't
seen anything but perfect swarms of
beautiful butterflies. Never saw so
many handsome ones together he
said.
No snake?' asked Mr.. Ames.
"Willie laughed. i told Tom there
wasn't any, he said. 4 went right
over and looked in the bush, and there
wasn't sign of any. most filled my
pail there .
tom was terribly disappointed and
mortified, but he was not cured. He
lived to be man, and an old man, but
he found many a snake under his
bushes, which kept him away from
good things.
"Willie's journey to Europe with Mr..
Ames proved to be the key to fortune
for his whole life. His hopeful, willing
t disposition won the old gentleman
more and more; he did a great deal for
| him while he lived, and left him his
: immense fortune at his death"
Uncle Ezra had been telling the story
/ in precise way. now he spoke out
t earnestly. II tell you what" said he,
"when / think of what l have missed,
during my whole life, by this miserable
habit of hesitating and seeing obstacles
: to duties which knew ought to be
} done, feel as if l couldn't do enough
l to save George from it. could tell
: YOU of failure on failure, and disappoint-
ment on disappointment, which could
l trace directly to it. I'm going to help
9 George to kill the snakes under his
S bushes, if | can. bought him little
| bank, and Iputin adollarfor every snake
. he kills, and take one out whenever he
4 is scared away from anything he ought
to do. You saw how quickly he went,
l when l said there were three snakes.
? He knew that meant losing three dol
lars, and when there are dollars enough,
he is going to have pony. He has set
n his heart on pony but he'll have to
. work pretty hard for it, Some of the
e dollars have gone out, poor little chap,
but he has done a good deal better on
o the whole. Here he is now"
e George came in all rosy and painting.
:. He had been running.
l. SWELL" said Uncle Ezra, Gears
frozen, George?"
y George laughed and blushed, but he
c turned his handsome eyes frankly to-
d ward his uncle. mo, sir"
d Didn't get very badly bitten by the
e dangerous dog?" .tt
"No, sir. "
Got over your lamenessP"
|. Eyes, SIR"
h Uncle Ezra counted some silvel
y pieces out from his pocket-book
It "Well, here's the bounty money for thu
Is three snakes he said.
d And George took it and thanked him
e and iingled it proudly into his bank
st Mary q. WiltinS, in CORgregatIOnatiSt
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is