The Princeton union., 1891-06-04

lifted MS straw naC
from the floor and put it on, and
walked through the front gate to the
pike.
Through the long village street and
"a half-mile along the dusty pike he
7trudged; then, turning aside into a
marrow by-road that branched off at
the foot OF a steep hill, he came to a
rude saw-mill. A stalwart man sat
upon a large moving log, from which a.
perpendicular saw was rasping a
board.
"Good afternoon, Neighbor Gray"
said Jared.
Gray eyed him keenly from under
his shaggy brows; then rising, he walk
ed to a lever, pulled it aside, and stop
ped the saw.
"Sit down on the log, Jared" he
said. 'We can't hear each other when
the saws going. Isee by your face
that something has happened.
ave got a letter from Joe. "He's
in trouble"
ssJust as I supposed. Bankrupt,
I'll warrant?'
i'That's about it,
"And hehas written to you to get
me to help him?"
''That' true; but, John, don't be
angry This matter must be consid-
cred with our coolest Judgment"
"Pll not consider it with cool iudg-
ment nor any other kind. He'll get
no help from me. Jared"
every we'll, John, very we'll; but
you'll hear what the trouble is, won't
.you?'
ooh, I suppose can listen," replied
the father, taking a. piece OF bacon
, from a shelf and proceeding to grease
the saw.
''Well, Gray, it's a bad embarass-
ment. A customer bought a thous-
and dollars worth of Joe's patent
machines, promising to order twice
as many more soon. Joe supposed
he was perfectly good for it, and on
the strength of this ordered two
thousand dollars worth from the
man that manufactures them. Well,
the customer turned out bad; he
didn't pay the thousand dollars, nor
order more. Joe lost the machines,
and owes the manufacturer two thous.
and dollars, which he is unable to
pay;
stood this if a fire hadn't broken out
and burnt up his two thousand dol
lars worth Of machines" 49,,
He glanced up quickly, and caught 8
shade OF sympathy upon the sawyer's
face. 49,.
"The manufacturer is unluckily in E
tight fix himself, and he is pushing thu
boy. Joe writes that this will ruiz
him and just when his business was
most promising tell you, Gray, it's
hard on your boy"
"Well, don't pity him a b1t-not {
bit. He was determined to go to tn,
city; now let him dig for himself.
gave him thousand dollars to star
his crazy business, mortgaging our lit
tie place here, and that's enough
Mother has pinched herself and worked
her fingers almost to the bone, and
have shaved early and late to paw i
off, and now that it's paid, do yo,
think Pm going right back into tina
struggle again?
''No, Jared, not for boy that for
gets his old mother, as Joe has done
Why, he hasn't written a line-not
aine-to mother or me for a year, an
now, when he wants help, he writes t.
you, Jared.
4 "Does he deserve help? Just answe
me that; does he deserve it? Idon'
want to hurry you away, but I'm &C
ang to start the saw"
He turned decisively, and pullin
the lever, set the saw rasping again.
every WE'LL john" said, Jared
coming nearer. elf that's your decis
ion, I've nothing more to say. sha
have to write to Joe that you refuse
1t does seem pity to leave him in hi
trouble He's not q bad boy, bu
dear knows where this will drive hin
Good afternoon, John"
At home he sat down upon th
porch again to think it out. He kney
well the character OF this father an
son. Since Joe had been old enoug
TO assert himself there had been ants