Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-09-11


spite of all he could do, 81 will go lmmedi
ately and see about it."
''Good for you ~ said his companion. 81
will go with you," and the rich merchant
passed his arm through that of his strug-
Cling, poverty-stricken companion, and in
this way they sought the Office of the great
railroad company. A few brief words and
the ugly business was settled. The young
man would take his place the next morning
at six o'clock, with a small but sufficient
salary.
Il have the best works on shorthand
the gentleman told Charles as they were
about to part, sand if you will step around
to the house with me should be happy to
lend you the books. Ny daughter studied
stenography for fun. 1t took her one year
to learn the system by studying little
every day. You ought to be able to beat
girl at the business"
Charles smiled. Application? That was
what his uncle said he needed more than
any other quality. Should he take this mans
books and promise him TO spend his spare
time in the study of stenographyl How
strangely his affairs were being taken out
of his hands. The young man had always
believed that the great business of the uni
verse was taken care of, but this was the
first time he had ever felt that his small af-
fairs were in any way managed or directed.
Now it seemed to him as if his ways were
in some incomprehensible manner being
ordered.
OF course there was neither generosity
nor justice IN the matter, and every thing
was all wrong; still some power outside of
himself was responsible, and he wondered,
as he looked over the strange characters
that evening in the book his new friend
OF arlr
life was like. They all meant something,
and that was one comfort-some letters,
some phrases, but the zigzag character
which stood for him would doubtless be
the one of smallest account. 1t might be an
Interrogation point, he thought; surely no
one asked more questions or received less
answers.
He had had one meal that day. His re-
manning twenty-five cents must be saved
for breakfast the next morning. How he
was to manage for full week without any
money was physical and mathematical
problem which he was not equal to-
.'Suf1cient unto the day. and ''Think not
of the morrow" were the last words on his
lips before going to sleep; and they were
repeated with so much reverence and such
evident desire TO get hold of the faith
which was dimly dawning' upon him, that
his good angel must have felt comforted.
Promptly at six the next morning the
young man took his place on his car. The
first thing to do was to sweep it out.
Charles Barney had never handled a
broom in his life, but he gave his mind to
the work, and succeeded in appearing much
less awkward than he felt. There was a
good deal to learn, indeed, much more than
he supposed, but he listened to the numer-
Gus instructions with attention, and his
new work commenced.
II was not quite as dreadful as he sup
posed. Still, 1t was distasteful enough,
and the poor fellow wondered if he should
ever get used to it At noon, on his return
to the car station, he found a letter from his
now friend with an inclosure of five dollars.
81 had an impression" it said, shat you
were entirely out of money. tried once
when was about your age to live without
eating. 1t didn't work. am sure it won't
work in your case. Come in and see me
some time when you have leisure. Keep
up your courage and stick to your stenog-
raphy."
Only an hour could be given to study in
the first twenty-tour hours of his new life;
but this time was refreshment instead of
drag, and when he put away his book for
the sleep he must have, it was with real re-
luctance.
He had been employed about two months
when one morning Uncle Adonlram stepped
on his car. His first impulse was to pull his
hat down over his eyes and avoid recogni-
ton if possible, but Charles Barney was
learning manlipess as well as application,
and he Immediately thought better of it.
The old man did not look up when his
nephew gave him his change; but Charles
said, softly: "Good morning, uncle" and
then he sprang to his feet.
'Charlesp' he exclaimed, grasping the
conductors band. "Charles, my boy, how
do you dol'
There was abundant love and heartiness
in Uncle Adoniram's voice and manner, and
there was something more that was new to
Charles. He knew now that for the first
time his uncle really respected him, and ont
of this a stronger courage was born.
81 have been very lonely without you,n
the Old man said, as he stood on the back
platform with his nephew, sand 1 have
been worried about you, too. Why have
you not been home, Charlesr'
Because wanted to see If was really
going to keep my position" the young man
answered, land because, uncle, wanted
to rid myself OF ali feeling of humiliation
before saw you again"
Wv mere 90 you SIanQ IN Ine matter nOWs"
Uncle Adoniram inquired, as he brushed
tear from his cheek.
''Almost oR my feet" Charles replied.
''Are you looking for any thing else, my
boyl"
81 am studying stenography with all my
might, uncle, and am getting along finely.
By and by shall have mastered it, and
then can always find employment"
The young man went home the next day,
for he felt that his uncle needed him; but
he still kept his position as CaF,oGpductor
and studied every spare moment. His uncle
read to him, and laughed at the strange
characters he so deity put on paper, and
in this manner year went by. Then
Charles Barney found more congenial eul-
ployment, helped toit by the merchant who
had been his steadfast friend. He had
served an invaluable apprenticeship to the
inexorable taskmaster, necessity, and had
been an apt scholar, not only learning dis
patch and application, utfinding out that a
true man can ennoble the lowliest labor
Eleanor Kirk, in Youths Companion.
Curious Transmittal Of Disease.
In 1916 boy of eight years, the brother