Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-10-20
Rob's Opportunity.

Rob Dayton was putting himself in
side the overcoat which, as his mother
saw with some concern, was daily
growing too small for him. Perhaps
il would be more correct 10 say that
Rob was growing too large for it Ger
tainly his legs and arms were pushing
their way in the world vigorously, ana
the boy gave promise of becoming a
tail fellow, rs his father had been;
strong too and able TO hold his own.
You'll never get your moneys
worth out of that coat Robert" said
Mrs. Dayton, signing as she held her
hat-iren near her cheek to test the de.
gree of heat before pressing it on the
dainty baby's dress which lay upon
her skirt board.
La, me, motherr' exclaimed Rob's
sister Kate, looking up from her sew
ing with merry laugh, show You do
borrow trouble, to be sure Rob NAV
come into fortune before next winter
comes; and this cold snap has no bust
ness here. now that spring has fairly
begun. Who ever heard of a hard
frost anywhere else SO late in the sea-
SOM But the cold hangs on in Dako.
ia 1 almost wish we were back in
Vermont again. But here or there. /
Believe that Rob is bound to win"
Her blue eyes snapped. She threw
down her work. and stepping impul-
siVely to the big boy, who now had on
his wooden muller and his mittens. and
cap in hand, was preparing to pick up
his basket and trudge off to his day 8
work, she gave him hearty kiss.
Kate Dayton was perfect sunbeam,
as fond of laughing and hoping as her
mother. poor soul, was of predicting
evil and shedding tears. But her
mother, as she often said, had seen a
great deal of trouble. and had fallen
into the habit of being rather doleIul.
To think, she said tearfully as she
hung the dainty baby gown on the
.clothes-horse, that here am, at fiye-
and-forty, doing fine laundry work for
a living, while my daughter wears
herself out for pittance over plain
sewing. and my son sells apples and
sandwiches on train. It's no won
der am discouraged. And your father
was a DOCTOR and had such bright
prospects,"
For my part. mother" answered
Kate, sturdily u sec a good deal more
reason to be thankful than discouraged.
Rob's sandwiches are the best sand
witches ever sold on train; and | NAV
say SO boldly. for make them myself |
Your ironing is SIMPLY superb, and |
Mrs. Mainwaring's little folk look |
three times as pretty as they would if |
anybody else attended to washing their |
clothes. As for my sewing. it is good |
enough TO take prize at the county |
ifairi and so, in my opinion. We are
three worthy members of society," |
Father would approve of US all"
But Mrs. Dayton refused to smile.
She was what some learned people call
IA pessimist; and pessimists are
fond of looking on the dark
side. Indeed, they do this so
constantly that SO far as the bright
side 10 concerned, they become color.
blind. and can not see that it exists at
all.
Rob. for his part was neither a pes
.simist like his mother. nor an optimist
which is a person who takes rosy
views of life-like his sister. He was
iust Rob; a big, good natured, honest
lad, strong for his age. rather silent,
and afraid Of nothing under the sun,
IS he knew he was doing his duty. Dogs
and little children liked Rob Dayton,
and ladies always had a kind word for
him. He was the sort of boy you
would be glad to meet If you were go
ing down lonesome road when night
was coming on.
He had been trainboy for two years
on the branch railway between c.