The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-03
A Literary Success.

II don't care, SO far as I am con-
cerned," said a young man, fresh from
college, addressing his father, Il care
not for myself but for you. That you
have lost your fortune is indeed serious,
but
Eyes, but, Ebert, what will you do?"
The young man smiled. Il shall 60
into literature.
The old man smiled.
II am in earnest, sir. am no
novice. my essays at college were pro-
nounced grand. My valcdictory was
declared to be one of the finest things
in the English language
..Indeed?"
That That. -
And now you propose to profit by
your great accomplishment, ehp"
That's what again"
Il don't know what.1 shall do, my
son. may engage myself to friend
of mine who operates bone mill. -
.'Oh, don't say that; you shock me. !"
THAT may be, the wise parent re-
piled, ''but l warrant you that at the
end of two years [ shall have more
money than you have"
sWhat, in view of all my literary &C
complishmentsp"
Eyes,
Il do not like to strive against an
honored father but l feel constrained
to 90 you one time"
"All right. Are you going to write
for the magazines?"
Eyes. sir"
ssWell, here are twenty dollars, the
half of what money I possess. Go, and
at the end of two years come back"
Farewell. dear father"
$50 long"
The young man. with soul full of
confidence, strobe away. He knew that
his keen literary sickle would reap a
rich harvest. When he had wandered
many miles away-when he reached a
town, to which he had told the maya
zine people to address the letter con-
tanning a check for him, he TREMENDOUSLY
sought the postofficc, Yes, there was
package for him. What large
! check they must have sent Alas! upon
opening the envelope he found his man
uscript, with printed circular telling
him that his contribution might possess
great merit, but that it was not avail
able. Albert did not despair. He had
stout heart. He thought of his father
who crushed the bones of old horses,
and perhaps the bones of old men,
and, bowed over table, he wrote from
memory one of his other essays, q
paper which the professor of Jimgalool
College said was the finest thing he had
ever seen. This wonderful essay came
back, honored by a printed circular OF
rejection; but it is painful to follow
this young man through his literary
ups and his unliterary downs. Nearly
every one knows the precariousness oil
a literary life.
| Letsus-do it, whether you want us tC
or not-return to the old man who work
| ed in the bone mill. BY honesty and
Close attention to business he, after :
while, owned the mill. Two years pass
cd. He had not seen his sons name
quoted in the literary market. The ole
mans heart sank within him. 1t coulC
sink nowhers else. One evening, while
! the father sat in the library congratu
lating himself upon the fact that he was
worth twenty thousand dollars, the sol
burst into the room.
| my dear father!'
my son!''
The two men shook hands warmly
When they had sat down. the old mar
modestly said: Gilbert, own tbs
bone mill and am pretty well heeled
I'm worth twenty thousand dollars. =
The young mans face assumed an ex
preston of disappointment.
lis not that quite enough, my sonP'
sOh, yes, but I was in hopes tina
! youihad prospered.p
! Haven't IP''
mot much"
"How has your literary venture sue
ceededP''
s'Splendidly. attempted the maya
zines but found no appreciation. The
Tried another field. 7
"But haven't seen your name"
No. for / have adopted : nom d
plume. .
"Ah, what is thatp What work
have you writtenp''
s'lhnve made many thousands Of dol
lars Ny nam de plume is Slew Foo
Dan and I have written The Ma
Dogs Tooth, o. the Frown Of the Con
The old man tainted III his som
arms Ark0nsosO Traveller.
81
Those who haxs tried Ii bay they would ratl