Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-09-21

akWa ) Ethe fullest" was the
s!GE.Ns n All liz s.. ,e1e,"'i ;s;
IEpNNp0WfW college students as they
first met at the close of the holiday
vacation, The young men, Wilbur
Grant and John Collins, were typical
students of the period. They were
tolling without means Mt their cum-
mand to gain a college education. Just
as thousands arc doing in all parts of
the land. They would teach for term
or two or work for a while at manual
labor until they would accumulate
fifty or a hundred dollars, and with
this sum they would resume their
studies in college. II at the close of
the term they found themselves with
out money, or, indeed, considerably in
| debt, they were not discouraged
There was only one thing to do. They
must go to work and cRncel tile debt
and accumulate another small sum. so
as to join their classes again or drop
into the one behind. Be it said, to the
honor of thousands of Young men, that
they are not discouraged by the fact
that they have no money. They per
severe until they acquire an education.
even though it costs them the greatest
| seli-denial
Wilbur Grant was vonng man
scarcely out of his teens. His com
| pani0n was one of the oldest men in
the college. He had perhaps reached
his thirticth year. He WAS Il teacher
and Il preacher. and, feeling the need
OF more preparation for his work. he
| had entered college at late daV. The
| two students were not ON intimate
terms ut all. though good friends. \
few wears before John Collins had
| taught the winter school in rural dis
| trict known as Black Jack. \ wear or
two later Wilbur Grant had taught ia
the same place. Thus they had many
friends III common in that community.
i and occasionally, as they met, they in
dulged in "reminiscences of their peda
gogical days.
Where have YOU been this time,
Grant, asked his friend after the
salutations mentioned.
Il have been over to Black Jack.
eating turkey with some of our old
| friends, was the reply. BY they way,
Collins, you have good many friends
In that district and they always ask
about YOU"
How is our old friends Higgins?"
HE begins to show age, was the re.
ply. He must he sixty years old, and
his wife is not much Younger
He has lost nothing Of his religious
zeal, has he?" asked Collins?
"1ou may be sure that he has not -"
was the response. 81 believe that he is
as true Il man in all the relations of life
as ever saw. His piety is no sham
1t takes hold of his very life. and he
shows it in everything he does. He
still goes out to the old log meeting
house, and sits on one of those hard
planks through the service, wholly Oh
livious of everything except the wor-
| ship of God. Nou know that in his
| younger days he was a leader of their
singing, His voice is cracked now, so
that he cannot sing much; but ] doubt
| not his spirit scars aloft and jcins the
| redeemed III singing praises to God"
81 can agree with all you say touch
| ing his manly, Christian character.
said Collins. Il boarded with him one
| term and saw him under almost all
circumstances. saw him at church,
at home, in the field. in the barnyard.
and in the most trying places, and his
religion never failed HIM"
Did | ever tell You how our morn
ing devotlons were once interrupted so
| far as | was concerned by old Tom ?"
| asked Grant
You mean the old cat | suppose?
was the response. You never told me
about it, but am somewhat familiar
with the animals prauks. Let us
hear it.
Come ON. boys, and listen. Grant
is going to tell Il cat story. | suppose
it will Guido Bret Harte's poem" This
remark was made by one Of z Group Of
students standing near VINO had over
heard some OF the previous CONVERSE
ton.
Now, boys, this is hardly fair.
did not intimate that | had story to
tell to the crowd. BESIDES. ! am not
given to painting a story in bright col
ors. was only going to relate an in
cIdent that happened while | was teach
ing school i'll the country
"Of course he will give nothing bat
the bare facts" remarked one of the
bystanders. I'VE can allow our inn
agination to fill ont the rest
"Now, boys, what am going to tel
is strictly true" said Grant. at is
not wonderful, either, bat it WAS q
most trying place for me for few mo.
ments. You see, ! was boarding with
this family that we have been talking
about. Besides the old man and his
wife there was one son about eighteen
years old. ! was then only seventeen.
L found it necessary to maintain n Ger.
tain amount of dignity in order to gov
ern this young man III school For
the most part we were good friends.
but sometimes he would be inclined to
take advantage of me in the school,
room. | did not hesitate to rcbuke
linn. / wanted the school 10 see that
/ Was not partial toward one AFT NV