The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-08
IN SPITE OF LUCK.


unlucky people tho Armstrong; had been
what old Mrs. Ordway called "tho beat
amost." 1t had been n gradual come
down so far as the oldct inhabitant
knew, and old Mrs. Lyons. nigh onto a
hundred" as she said. could well remcm-
Der the neutrality-suspicious. Of the
late Nathan. who was well 10 do man
and 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
townspcople, being the old Squires only
son, enjoyed a sort Of FREQ and easy life,
and having what the exact and prim
housewives called "shiftlcss wife," as
the years went on developed into n seedy
looking old man who liked his pipe and
his ease too well for a determined effort
in any direction. Ills sons, as the vii
layers said. did not amount to much and
tho time came when the only descendant
left was Nathan, grandson. Nathan's
physiognomy showed TO the close obscr-
yer what effect might be expected from
such "A down hill process. Fortunately
he wasn't vicious. he drank neither CT
der nor whisky, was honest and good ma
turcd and easy. His wife. poor girl,
who had little education but a good
heart, must have seen something 10 adj
miro. else she would not have shaved
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 md mercifully,
too. removed Nathan only few days
later.
The clergyman who ofliciated at the
obsc9uics called it "an inscrutablc dis
pensation Of Providence but in the
opinion Of the village doctor it was a
"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 n suggestive way the min
ister's wife, who had a large heart for
the heather in Umsilla's kingdom, said
TO Mrs Graham, lit might be necessary
10 borrow trousers and jacket for the
boy to wear to the funeral, since it was
10 be in the vcstry.'
Tommy's long hair and sallow skin did
not make him specially attractive, though
the mOurnfu black eyes. full of unshcd
tears. in well fed and well dressed boy
who had not lived in The malarious val
lev that had been his home, might have
found foster parents whose hearts would
have gone out 10 him. Instead, poor
boy. Deacon Allen. ovcrseer of the poor,
wondered if Seth Grattan did not want
n boy TO help him on his farm; the au-
,horities would "bind him out probably
for a term Of years and get him off their
hands.
"None Of that shiftlcss tribe for me"
said Mr. Grattan when interviewed.
But" said Deacon Allen, who with a
little opposition was always ready with
an argument, "you don't know noUhin'
agin the boy, and in ten years time you
can git a heapo' work out Of him-be a
good investment"
"Humph. / tell We, | believe in hercd-
ity, and don't want any such lazy ne'er-
do-wclls about"
"His mother wasn't lazy" said the
deacon.
"Now, don't tell me she was smart,
living there as she did"
"Well. but what's 10 he done with the
boy"
There's the poor house"
"No, no, Mr. Grattan, don't send the
little fellow there" and Hamil Brown
wiped away tear, rough man that he
was, for while listening TO the above con
Versation his heart was filed with tender
pity. He was one of a gang Of men who,
with guns and axes, were going into a
forest some twenty miles away 10 spend
the winter. "Let him come TO the camp
with me, I'm going up tomorrow
"Well, well, If YOU will take him of
our hands" said the good deacon, "it
will be a great relief. don't know that
there is anything he can do on the town
farm TO earn his board this winter; he
would only be an expense and taxes are
high enough now
iJlONn iDVhti az Aii' A'tl'BAi a.
if he could hardly reprcss an oath, and
the Lord who looks into the heart might
have had one TO forgive lie shut his
teeth for moment and then proceeded
10 make arrangements for taking the
boy along. provided he is willing" said
the man.
Willing or not, he'll have TO 60" was
the answer.
Hamil Brown found him sitting for
lornly on the wooden steps of the little
house that had been his home.
Poor little chap, you here alone;
Where are the women of this town, !
wonder"
He sat down beside him in such n
friendly way, the boy suddenly burst
into tears and cried as never before.
The dazed condition that had cnveloped
him had washed away and he was a
little sorrowing boy, as full of grief as
any other who had lost his all. Mr..
Brown let him cry, till he sobbed, "Will
not somebody put me in the grave with
themg" Then, with one arm AROUND
MN, ne ltlhtu anu Ntthtb uhtiA tbI o'H''
came out
In the spring, when the men came
down from camp, a red checked, Black
eyed and handsome lad came with them.
Wholesome, hearty food, life in the
keen, clear air Of the hiily forest had
worked miracle. 1t had vitalized the
whole system. Body ard brain had alike
received an impetus. Hamil Brown said
20 Seth Grattan, who exclaimed over
the vigorows looking boy; yes, it has
been good thing for him, | think, and
know it has for me and the other men.
for what think YOU of a boy who says
his prayers every night and Is always
obliging and pleasant, and who is brave
enough to shame Us alp Yes, | believe
in hcredity, too. and know whose son
lam, and whose grandson. but / know.
too. that, with all my opportunities and
education, have been disgrace to
them. Since was expelled from col
lege. mope than six years ago, I've roved
and wandered, to be brought to my