The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-28
IN SPITE OF LUCK.

In spite OF Ill luck, mean, for of all
unlucky people the Armstrong; had been
what old Mrs. Ordway called "the beat
amost." 1t had been gradual come
down 80 far as the oldest inhabitant
knew, and old Mrs. Lyons, "nigh onto
hundred" as she said, could well remem-
Der the great-great-grandfather of the
late Nathan, who was a well to do man
end represented the town at the general
court, and out Of courtesy was always
called Squire.
The grandfather of Nathan, though
standing high In the estimation of the
townspeople, being the old Squire's only
son, enjoyed sort of free and easy life,
and having what the exact and prim
housewives called "shiftless wife" as
the years went ON developed into seedy
booking old man who liked his pipe and
his ease too we'll for determined effort
IN any direction. His sons, as the viii
layers said, did not amount to much and
the time came when the only descendant
left was Nathan, grandson. Nathan's
physiognomy showed to the close obser-
yer what effect might be expected from
ench down hill process. Fortunately
he wasn't vicious; he drank neither ci-
der nor whisky, was honest and good ma
tured and easy. His wife, poor girl,
who had little education but a good
heart, must have seen something to ad-
mire. else she would not have slaved
twelve long years to keep the larder half
filed. She would doubtless have gone
ON shaving many more had not the good
Lord taken her up higher and mercifully
too. removed Nathan only few days
later.
The clergyman who offlciated at the
obsequies called it IAN inscrutable dis
pensation Of Providence" but in the
opinion of the village doctor it was q
"want of drainage" Little Tommy
their only child, was then about 10 years
old, long and lank with i'll fitting clothes
from which his wrists and ankles pro
truded in such suggestive way the min
tster's wife, who had a large heart foi
the heathen in Umzilla's kingdom, sale
TO Mrs. Graham, ''it might be necessary
TO borrow trousers and jacket for tn,
boy TO wear to the funeral, since it wa
TO be In the vestry."
Tommy's long hair and sallow skin die
not make him specially attractive, though
the mournful black eyes, full of unsheC
tears, In well fed and well dressed boz
who had not lived In the malarious val
ley that had been his home, might hav,
found foster parents whose hearts woult
have gone out to him. Instead, poo
boy, Deacon Allen, overseer of the poor
wondered II Seth Grattan did not wan
boy TO help him on his farm; the au
thorities would "bind him out" probabl,
for term Of years and get him off thei
o.. hands.
"None of that shiftless tribe for me,
said Mr.. Grattan when interviewed.
"But," said Deacon Allen, who with
little opposition was always ready wit
en- argument, ''you don't know nothiI
agin the boy, and in ten years time yo
can git heap o work out of him-be
good investment"
"Humph, tell ye, believe in herec
ny, and don't want any such lazy ne'el
do-wells about"
"His mother wasn't lazy" said til
deacon.
"Now, don't tell me she was smar
Hving there as she did"
well, but what's TO be done with tn
boyT"
There's the poor house."
''No, no, Mr.. Grattan, don't send tn
little fellow there" and Hamil Brow
wiped away q tear, rough man that /
was, for while listening TO the above col
variation his heart was dlled with tend