Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-03-29
"HlS son DAy'L."

Lok down into a cove divided up into
half Il dozen farms, ! heard loud voices
Oh the ruad ahead. and presently saw
two persons seated ON n rock While
yet ten rcNls away, | heard the voice of
MI Of them. saying:
Now, Dunl. | cant and ! won't stand
II no NOR
The other made no reply. and when /
advanced | found the pair to bc father
and son-the latter a boy of 10. The
usual salutations were passed, and as ]
sat down beside them | soon found the
boy to be unusually intelligent and keen
We talked about general matters for a
few minutes. and then Danl turned 20
his father and said.
Might ask him, POI reckon he
knows"
Il war calkerlatin' to. Dan1-yes, /
was. I'm glad him cum along, I am.
Will you abide by what him saysT'
Il will. 90 ahead. pop"
Stranger. I" said the old man. as he
put a finger on my knee. I've bin fus.
sin with Danl fur two years back. He's
hin wuss on me nor the itch. and he's
nigh killed his mann. | brung him out
yere to hev "a talk and settle it. nnd it
seems rs if the Lord had sent you this
way jist in time. Be you what is called
an dedicated mani"
Yes, more or less"
you've bin around a right SMART"
Yes"
You know about arithmetic. geog-
Taphy. grammar, writin' and spellin'T'
Yes"
Thank the Lord that you hev cum!
Now, Dan1, he'un will down you in two
minits. and you hev agreed TO abide"
so will, pop. Just ask he'un to
talk"
We'll. stranger, it's this: Dan1 hain't
got no sense. lie wants to leave hum
. and go fur hisseif. de wants to know
mo and hev better clothes and mo
lnUney than his father"
"WpllY'
Wall. l say I've shouldn't adoo It. It's
TOO Eighty. It can't be did. He's bin
fOolin hisself."
what do you'want to leave home
forYi ! asked Of the boy.
That 1 may go to school and get an
education" he replied. We've had a
school here. and | can read and write
and spell and figure. but ! want to go
higher"
Look at the cheek Of It'll" shouted the
father. HE knows mo now than ! do.
and yit he want to go higher
What plans have you got for the fu-
turey' | queried OF Danl.
II want To go TO some good school for
two or three years. and then | want to
study for II profession"
Il purfeshun!' howled the father. as
be- sprang up. "Whoopl a son of ole
Jim Nevins cryin' fur a purfeshunl If
anybody had tOled me I'd live to see this
day, Id hev Token his scalp!'
81 want To go into law OF medicine If
can, said Danl.
"WhOOp! That's the last hair what
breaks the cambel's backl" roared the
old man. I'm powerfully minded to
take the ~Ongrateful cub and wiring his
neckl Why don't you go fur him,
stranger? Why don't you turn to and
use him upF
Are you opposed to educationi"
II be and | been'tl When a man kin
read and write and hgger he's got 'nuf7.
That's all | ever had, and I've got along
right smart. If Danl does as well he
may be thankful"
How well have you done9 How old
are your
Fifty"
How much are you WORTH"
"More'n u thousand dollars, sir"
That is, you've worked thirty years
or more to accumulate a thousand oil
twelve hundred dollars worth Of land
and a mule or twoT'
Yes"
After Danl has been educated he car
earn as much in six months"
"W-what!"
Did you ever have q law suitr'
"Onct."
"How much did you pay your lawyer
Cost me S25."
How much time did he put imp
mot more'n two hours, dog gone
himr'
Then why shouldn't Dan1 earn 81
In two hOursf'
Hes got you stuck, papl" laughed
che son.
How much was your doctor bill las
year,
Thirty dollars"
"And the doctor was not In your hous'
over half a day, all told. Why shouldn't
Danl earn $50 the same way2 That doc
tor earned SEQ where you earn ST."
"WhOopl The stTangur Is also agiI
meg' shouted the old as he crackeC
his heels together.
80 | am. Let Dan'l educate himself
and he can buy and sell you inside of
year.. DO you know what income
good lawyer in Knoxville or Chattanooga
can count onY"
II never thought"
well, it's enough in n year to buy
NA1 y AgA0 VI NAA8 WV aA1 WI -
and hog and mule within ten miles Of II
It's the same with the DOCTORS"
He actually turned pale as he looke'
from Dan1 to me and back again, ant
up and down the road. By and by b
asked;
Stranger, hev you a pur pur
feshunY'
II have
"And win you allow that you hav
made as high as-as So a dayr'
ayes, FIVE times that"
He stared at me with open mouth, I'm
able 70 say a word.
you don't know much about tn
world outside" / said, as / pulled hin
down and offered him a cigar. "Yol
work hard on your farm and you &c
ahead slowly You can hire a negro +