River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-08

She hurried home and read il over.
Theirs it was ia black and white, and
stamped with the company's seal. No
possible mistake.
What must she do? Accept, assur-
eddy! but then what could she want
with all that money. she a solitary
woman. with enough for her simple
needs, and neither chick nor child to
call her own. Should she put it in
the bank. and leave it in her
will to refuge for orphan
children or needy widows? Might
she not see tie benefits of it in her
own lifetime?
''He told us to come back to his old
home, and may be somebody would be
kind to us for his sake The child's
words fingered in her mind. Who
more reason to be kind than she?
Might she moi in some way atone for
the bitterness she had once caused a
trusting friend?
Why not-yes. why not educate those
two bright boys, and crafty their own
ambitions and those of their proud lit
tie mother?
She knew noble college in the
shadow of the foothills. days Jour-
ney from the town. Many youth had
gone from that commencement hall,
equipped for the battle OF life and the
struggle for daily bread. The genial
president and her father had been
comrades in the old red school-hou in
the New Hampshire hills, when tops
and marbles ruled the day.
The intimacy had not been kept up.
on account of time and distance; but
well she remembered visit paid with
her father in the cool. coy reception
room of the Presidents house, and the
hospitality pressed upon them by his
kind-faced wife. just the place to send
two promising boys.
or course. if they went away TO
school, their mother must come
anu live with her. II would be
no small trial to have her privacy
broken in upon. even by so sweet IA
woman as Mrs. Howell, but when the
Blakes saw their duty, they did it, and
never flinched.
She paced the floor until the moon
light threw long. slanting rays through
the narrow windows; she turned her
tea out of her spoon until it was cold;
the supperless cat came and rubbed
against her dress unheeded. and then
walked stiffiy out of the room, with
his back in an indignant arch.
She sat far into the night; but before
she went to rest, two letters in
cramped. old-fashioned hand were
dropped into the post-box on the
cOrner-one to the agents, accepting
their offer, and another to Prof. Ar
lington. asking for information re-
garding fees, entrance examinations,
etc.
And when his satisfactory reply and
the papers of the sale were in her
hands, she went over TO the little
brown cottage. and awkwardly enough
made known her proposition. But
the way it was accepted Poor Mrs.
Howell broke completely down in
burst of thankful tears; and as for the
boys-they danced about, and Rugged
each other. and were so demonstrative
in their delight, that Miss Lydia was
forced to beat hasty retreat. for fear
they would fall upon her bodily.
A month later. two gay young figures
waved goodbye from the platform OF
the train that bore them away to
matriculate; and Mrs Howell came to
take up her abode in the old brick
house.
Being a woman of exceptional good
sense, she sought, by the exercise of
tho greatest tact, to make her pres
ence felt. And it was a pleasant sight
10 see the brisk little figure fitting in
and out of the gloomy rooms. adding
dainty touches here and there; tastefully
arranging the ever-abundant flowers.
In the spring, Miss Lydia had hes
first severe illness; and then was Mrs.
Howell's opportunity. She nursed her
with the most untiring devotion-read-
ing TO her. bearing with her fretfulness,
and seeking every means in her power
to shorten the weary hours. until she
was herself again.
In the meantime, glowing letters
came from the boys; letters trimming
over with college pranks and jollities;
but with an under-current of steadi-
ness and earnestness of purpose that
comiOrted the mothers heart.
But the years flew by. as years will,
and one day the June sun shone holly
down on the roof of the Commence
ment Hall, filled with the portly fathers,
vigorously with their gold
headed canes; the proudly beaming
mothers; the rows of undergraduates;
and the bevies of young girls in sum-
mer dresses.
And here, too, were Miss Lydia and
Mrs. Howell. Many an eye turned
with curiosity on the tall, rigid form.
and stiff gray silk. black china-crepe
shawl and gray straw bonnet, and the
slight figure in widows garb.
Both boys acquitted themselves well,
and graduated with honor; and when
their clear young voices rang out
through the spacious hall in manly,
ambitious sentiments, Miss Lydia was
so visibly affected, that she was
obliged to take violent shifts OF her
bottle, to recover her equilib-
rum.
After the exercises. Prof. Arlington
greeted her warmly; and then turning
to Mrs. Howell, he said: "You may
well be proud of your sons-but'-lay-
ing his hand on Toms shoulder-"this
young man stays with me. / need him
in my preparatory department, and
then at the same time. he can be pour
ing over Coke and Blackstone, as he is
bound to become a lawyer. We have
it all between US, and only
wait your sanction"
So Tom went back. after the holt
days, as tutor and student. The hours
were long and the double duties ardu-
Gus; but, 40 he wrote home to his
mother in one of his characteristic let
tiers: Give n fellow a sound body. a
dash of common-sense. and good edu-
cation to back them both, and il he
hasn't got grit enough to shift for him
self. the sooner he makes way for some
one who has. the better.
Philip went into business in his own