Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-03

with pity written all over their faces
the very contrast more than ever dis.
posed him towards charity.
Whats your name?" he asked.
The little chap answered with tears
in his eyes-he always had tears in his
eyes-"Infant Industries, if you please.
sir. My father and mother both are
dead''-here his tears flowed afresh-
"and I want to stay few days some
where till l can find work, as 1 have
to make my own living now"
"Industries? Industries? why that's
a good family" said the farmer. "Ali
the men are good. square-toed men
that came from that stock. If you are
of the family of Industries, I know we'll
have to give you lift! Quit crying,
and come right in, sonny, and make
yourself at home! Well look around
and see II we can't do something for
you-give you some sort of start in
life."
After day or two, q kind of family
council was called, to determine what
should be done with the little stranger.
Farmer Jack was amply able to take
care of the little fellow by himself, but
it was a custom of his, when any i'm
portant matter demanded attention, to
consult his older sons, so that the fa M
lily might always act in harmony, as
families should. Hence the family
council. The boys, after they had
| looked at the youngster, and seen how
friendless and forlorn. and how utterly
misera bic and out of luck heappeared,
| agreed with the old gentleman, their
| father, that it would be an eminently
proper caper to adopt and educate him,
in order that he might become useful
| mem ber of the family. In fact, it was
custom of theirs to adopt all the or
phans and victims of oppression that
| came to them. if in each case good
parentage could be shown; and even
this proviso was not always insisted
upon with strictness. For they were q
large e-hearted, generous people, who
wanted every body to have chance.
So in this case, they readily undertook
the charge of educating and bringing
up the young stranger. -
The first thing that had to be attend
ed, as in all such cases, was the ques-
ton of money. While each one was
willing to chip in his share, their father
thought there ought to be some system
about making the collections. Said he:
"You see, boys, If We don't appoint
some one whose business it shall be to
collect the contributions every year mo-
body will attend to it, and the boy will
be neglected"
None of the boys, however, wanted
to be bothered with the job. There
was considerable friction over the mat
ter, and at one time 1t seemed not un-
likely there would be row about IL,
when one of the younger sous. Who had
not been saying much, but thinking
very hard, said:
Pap, I'll tell you what we can do.
You can look after the little chap, and
be his guardian, and we can put up
box at each ferry, and appoint some
one of the family living near there to
attend to 1t, and, when we bring any
thing across to the island, we can drop
| a few cents into the box-much or lit
tie, according to the amount we bring
overland in that way he can be sup
ported withou: much trouble, and each
of us Will pay according to the way we
live.n Now, as each brought onto the
island about the same amount of goods
each year, the plan was thought to be
excellent. 1t was argued that it was
far better TO pay along, little at
time, than to be compelled to pay
stated sum at stated time. They
could support the young fellow without
feeling it. This plan was readily agreed
to-not, however, without some is
givings on the part of one or two of the
boys, Who felt that, in spite of the in
convenience, it would be better to pay
for his support at the end of the year,
in hard cash, and then they could tell
10 a fraction what he was costing them,
and all would take more abiding in
terest in his growth and prospects;
that the ferry business should be kept
separate from other kinds of business,
and that it was opening IA door by
which q good deal OF money might be
wasted, and no one much the wiser.
But rs the rest OF the family were very
anxious to adopt the plan proposed,
they quickly fell into line, glad to have
the whole business disposed of and off
their minds. Accordingly, an agent
was appointed tor each ferry, and the
collection boxes set up.
The boy was thoroughly washed,
which improved his appearance won-
derfuiIy, though all the water of the
ocean could not have washed the sneak
out of his face, unless it had been
though best to dispense entirely with
that feature, which would have been
all improvement, no doubt; fitted him
out with new suit of clothes, and sent
him off to school with the other
whipsters of the family. At school,
he was never open and square, like
the other boys. If he played game
of marbles for keeps, he would never
tell the truth about how many he had
won. If he got cake he would never
call in the other boys for feast, but
go off to some quiet spot and gubble it
DOWN by himself, He would never di-
vide his pocket money, as was the
custom among the other boys. He
would often hide his dinner Oh his way
to school, and tell the boys, when he