Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-08-22

AI SS the holiday recess to
HHMa 81 1.-THE fullest" was the
HEE1 n kreply.
b H&MZll l&2%H These salutations
&s&aEVpa passed between two
HW1Was7dNHc college students as they
first met at the close Of the holiday
Grant and John Collins, were typical
students of the period. They were
toiling without means at their com
mand to gain college education, just
as thousands are doing i'll all parts of
the land. They would teach for term
or two or work for while at manual
labor until they would accumulate
fifty or a hundred dollars, and with
this sum they would resume their
studies in college If 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 cancel the debt
and accumulate another small sum, sc
as to join their classes again or drol
into the one behind. Be it said, to the
honor of thousands of young men, that
that they have no money. They per
severe until they acquire an education,
even though it costs them the greatest
self-denial.
Wilbur Grant was q young mar
scarcely out of his teens. His com
panion was one of the Oldest men iu
the college. He had perhaps reached
his thirtieth year. He was teacher
and preacher, and, feeling the neei
of more preparation for his work, he
had entered college at O late day. The
two students were not on intimate
terms at all, though good friends. A
few years before John Collins had
taught the winter school in rural dis
trict known as Black Jack. A year OF
two later Wilbur Grant had taught il
the same place. Thus they had many
friends in common in that community,
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.
81 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 be sixty years old, and
his wife is not much younger"
"He has lost nothing OF his religious
h.
"You may be sure that he has not, ?"
was the response. Il believe that he is
as true man in all the relations of life
as l ever saw. His piety is no sham.
It 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,
lvious of everything except the wor-
ship of God. You know that in his
younger days he was leader of their
singing. His voice is cracked now, SO
that he cannot sing much but l doubt
not his spirit scars aloft and joins the
redeemed in singing praises to God"
81 can agree with all you say touch
ing his manly, Christian character, "
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 deyotions were once interrupted sc
far as | was concerned by old Tom p
asked Grant.
"You mean the old cat, I suppose q
was the response. "You never told me
about it, but | am somewhat familiar
with the animals pranks. Let us
hear it."
Come on, boys, and listen. Grant
is going to tell a cat story. l suppose
it will outdo Bret Hartes poem" This
remark was made by one of group OF
students standing near who had over
heard some of the previous conversa-
ton.
Now, boys, this is hardly fair l
did not intimate that L had story to
tell to the crowd. Besides, | am not
given to painting story In bright col
ors. / was only going to relate an in
cidcnt that happened while | was teach
ing school i'll the country"
"Of course he will give nothing but
the bare facts" remarked one OF the
bystanders. "We can allow our i'm
agination to fill out the rest"
"Now, boys, what am going to tell
is strictly true" said Grant. at is
not wonderful, either, but it was
most trying place for me for few mo
ments. You see, | was boarding witt
Al 4 A l..