The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-05
Published by permission of Tie Congyega
FIVE YEARS AFTER.


He who cannot learn the life and
character of an Individual from few
chapters, carefully selected and
slightly elaborated, need not waste
his time in reading these pages; for
such a one will be too stupid to I'M
derstand the moral which underlies
the story, and too stolid to under
stand the motive with which it is
written. Hence l pass over another
five years of my history, and give
you glance at my life in the sem
mary, while preparing for college, by
copying an old letter written to my
mother. I omit date and location,
since time and place form no part of
my object in writing
NV Dear Mother: The sun, look
ing red and angry, has hid his face
below the horizon; my Chum has
gone out to spend the evening with
friend, and all is still. My thoughts
are of home. This is the fifth ami
versary of your marriage to my
father Five years ago tonight |
found my new mother. And what a
mother you have been to me. had
been petted, INDUCED, spoiled; you
came into the family, and have made
me what I am You have been
dear, good mother to me. But will
not trouble you by repeating the
same story.
We are reciting in Geometry,
Caesar and Anabasis. We have three
lessons day, five days week, be-
sides rhetorical exercises. 1t is hard
work, but 1 like study and enjoy
school life. A little more than
wear and a term, and | shall be fitted
for college.
More than half my preparatory
course is ended. How short it seems
to look back upon, how long to look
forward to. Please say to father that
[ shall need a little more money be-
fore the term closes.
I did not expect to call on him
again, but think he will not censure
me when he knows the circumstances.
| will explain Connected with the
seminary, and member of our class,
is young man by the name of Bran
don. He was mechanic of Consid-
cradle skill, and with an education
sufficient to teach district school.
When quite young he married a
girl no older than himself, refined,
intelligent, beautiful; and they lived
happily together. He earned good
wages, and they, open-hearted and
generous, spent most of it as they
went along, leaving the future to take
care of itself.
At length there was great revl-
val, and both were converted. This
made revolution in their lives.
Soon he felt it his duty to preach.
After a long time they concluded to
make the attempt to pay their way
through a course Of study.
They came here at the same time
[ came, hired a small tenement, and
he entered the class to prepare for
college with only a few dollars in
money, and three small children to
be clothed and fed. He has preach
ed. worked and studied His wife
has done the cooking, washing,
mending and making for the children
and her husband, and taken in sew
ing to help buy bread and clothing.
And she has done all these things
cheerfully in order that her husband
may preach the Gospel. She has
more courage than most women. At
first he kept up with his class, but
gradually he fell below the average.
This was not for the lack of ability
or effort. But the care of his family
and his constant preaching necessl-
rily drew his mind away from his
studies.
He is a good man, and we all like
him; but as he has family, and is
much older than the other members
of the class we have not known
much concerning his affairs. Last
evening the Professor came in and
said: ''Mr. Brandon is quite sick, can
you two young gentlemen go down
and watch with him to-night?'
Certainly" said my cAum, speak
ing for both, as usual. "What time
shall we go?"
at might be we'll to go before
long, for Mrs, Brandon looks as
though she might be almost ex-
hausted.
We put on our overcoats and went
out. We went to the house of the
sick man, knocked, told Mrs Bran
don that we had come to watch with
her husband, were invited into the
sick room and were seated. But, oh
mother, I wish you could have seen
that room. 1t was neat and clean,
but devoid of every comfort, and too
cold for any one to live in. The
woman had evidently been crying,