Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-16
IN THE MIDDLE WEST,
a Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALVA MILTON KERR.
CoP7RIGHT, 1856, BY THE A. N. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER COMPANY
CHAPTER v.-CoNrrNuEp.

CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUEp
That the hearty Joel took account of it
was scarcely probable, and the easy
natured Harry, since any discrimina-
ton In ones own favor is seldom pain
fully vivid. only now and then mildly
protested against his mothers too
obvious unfairness. But beyond this
John Earring had no kinder friend or
one more loved than Harry Whitney.
Every thing that they possessed
was shared in common, though
this division, with an eve to its
perpetuity. was much guarded from
the ferret-like eyes of Mrs. Whitney.
That lady, in the presence of the mas
ter of the house. was ever patronizing-
ly pleasant to their youthful pensioner,
but lest John Earring should pass her
idol on the path of life, or out of selfish
hatred that this hapless child should
live upon their substance, she laid upon
him many grievous rules. One per-
haps more keenly like lash than any
other. since John Earnings thirst for
reading seemed boundless from the
first, was that he should not share his
comrades books beyond the common
lesson of the day. This deprivation,
too, was doubled by the fact that Mrs.
Whitney purchased for her son books
in season and out of season, books
suited to his years and books beyond
his comprehension. books that he liked
and books he would not read. which, in
the end, swerved from her evident
ambition to fatten her own son
mentally while leaving his COM
rade lean; for the generous Harry
would not have it SO. and in this one
regard, feeling so acutely its injustice,
John Earling accepted them at his in
sistence, and fed upon their contents
while others slept, or in the wood
land under some protecting tree had
many an enchanted hour. But how
ever little others took cognizance OF
this condition of affairs, AbsalOm and
Ether were not so numbed of love and
its absorbing dreams as to be obliv.
ious. Very much alive they were
softly directing Mrs. Whitney's mar
rowness of action to her own confu
sion oft, and sedulously offsetting hei
MIG gardliness by secret kindness tt
John Earling. Yet as the seasons
passed the lad flinched more and more
under the thorny burden of his depend
ence; often casting about i'll his mine
for some feasible means of shifting it
But turn which way he would his honor
would not let him be ungrateful to hi
benefactor. Thus it TRANSFERRED that a
the age of twelve John Earling wen
one day to Joel Whitney's Office anc
told him gravely that he wished to g
to work.
s.Pshawr' said that blunt person
al sab al
No returned John Earling. ear
nestly, Il want to earn my living, sir
can study in the evenings.
Joel turned his large person abou
upon his revolving stool and looked a
jerked sort of laughing chuck: ''Why
what's the matter? Don't 1 furnis
YOU enough to eat? Think you coul'
earn more, eh?'
s.No. sir; that is not It," said the boy
looking down. Il only want TO pa
YOU for your kindness, sill"
Joel looked at him curiously a me
ment, and with another chuck deepe
down in his great neck he murmured
ats got the sand! true chip; l eA
pected it, Then regarding the DO
q little longer with misty sort of star
he aroused himself Come in whe
YOU come from school this afternoon,
he said; .1'll think it over
When John Earling entered tha
afternoon he had all his schOol-book
in a package under his arm. Jo'
noticed this and laughed: ''Wel
spunk," he said, you're bound to d
it, eh9''
II want to, SIR" said the boy with
smile.
..WeIl. I've concluded to compr'
mise with you,' said Joel. with twinl
LING ewes. You keep on with yor
school until you're fifteen, then yo
can work i'm the store. How will tn;
suit you?"
The boy turned little and stood b.
side the window looking obliquely int
the street, but evidently seeing nothin!
Joel sat with his back against his dies
and watched the boy with quizzic
look. Gould pay you by workln
five years?'' said the lad without turf
ing his eyes. o,.
s.Pay me for what?"
For what you have done for m
sir :
..Pshaw. l have done no more Il
YOU than should, boy. Ii you ever
TO work for me l shall pay you tt
same as any one else.
Rut this to John Earring did n
seem to cancel his obligation in III
sense. for without seeming to notice
be said: Il would rather begin nov
but if you bid me. sir, l will wait UNI
am fifteen. Then if l commence
fifteen and work until / am twent
and YOU will give me what books
need and my clothing, L would work
out.
80. bother! you don't owe me
bawbee, boy!' ;,
Eyes. / do. sir, and shall pay it. y
..Well. well, when you are fifte
ron can 90 to work We will fix
Some wav.'' and Joel turned to
desk. After the lad had gone he turn
his head and watched him pass up
street. not ambling like many boys
HE wears. or running little way al
stopping to loiter like Others put WI
a clear and resolute step. When
nassed out of sight Joel gave ht'
nod and murmured again: Yes
sandr' and at the end OF the page he
writing, when he laid the biottef on
wet ink and dropped his huge hst up
it, he said again: cts sano'
Openstone during these years h
materially expanded. 1t tapped do'
very prettily on either side OF the sc
ly beYeled hill, and spread north a
south along its level spine. Many
the homes were quite pretentlo'
mixed with neat cottages, and lac
from end to end with flowers, $