Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-01
copyrighted, 1886
CHAPTER my FIRST LESSON.

though the spirit of evil had lurked within
the blow. Mad from disgrace and smart
ing with pain, | sought my mother. Her
quick eye caught the mark, and holding
me in her arms to SOOthe me, she said.
''What is it, my SOM"
Her motEerly sympathy Gained my
wrath and I-wept.
Tell me all, my son." she said, with a
loving accent in her voice, that is still
s0u-ling in my ears.
As soon as | could speak told her what
l had seen and that l had asked father to
help the poor people. She held me still
nearer to her heart, as though to make
amends for fathers cruelty.
'Never mind, my son, she said, 'when
you are man you can try and remedy the
evils you have seen and will continue to
see for many years to come"
80 mother, why are people driven from
home;" I cried, between the sobs that still
shook my frame
They are sent away because they can
not pay the rent"
What is remit"
at is money that men promise to pay for
the use of land"
TIT why do people have to pay for the
land they work."
because a few men own the land and
the many must work it."
Bat they will freeze to DEATH" | said,
mE mind returning to the little children,
b@-cfOOted and almost naked, in the bitter
cold.
We can do nothing to help them" said
NJ. mother Il have often tried, but it al
ways yeXed your father"
WAS the Ull,y son of Lord Waverland,
who owned a large estate in the south
west part If Ireland, near the beautiful
lake Killarney My father was a cold,
proud man, who never loved anyone but
himself. My mother was an heiress when
he married her. He soon gained posses
sion of her wealth, for she was of a loving,
trusting nature, and having made him her
ideal, she was slow to realize that she was
little more to him than the lowest servant
in his house.
] remained at home under the direct in
fluence of my mother until | was sixteen
years of age. She had given to me and my
baby sister all the tender love Of her noble
heart From her / had learned lessons of
temperance and virtue, and holy rever-
ence for the Bible. How pleasant to my
memory are the hours we passed reading
and talking together of the lessons taught
in the sacred Word, or the troubles of our
people. The scenes that first called my at
tentiOn to their Sufferings had become an
every day occurrence, and from my moth
er'S teachings | had learned to feel more
acutely than ever the injuries done them.
Often from my childish purse had l re-
lieved want and suffering, but [ never in
terfered in Lord Wayerlands business
again. His first cruel blow had left life
long impression.
The only way my father had ever cared
for me was in fitting me for country gen
tleman. Under his direction [ had taken
lessons in shooting until | was one of the
best shots for miles around. [ could ride
! as well and fearlessly as any of his noble
guests at the fox hunts. | could swim and
dive in the beautiful Killarney as easily as
| the great white swans that had been my
playmates And l coufd drive four in
hand with the coachman himself For all
these things my father would pat me on
the shoulder and exclaim with pride:
You do credit to the old family of Waiver
landp'
I was nearly six feet tall, with good
share of activity and strength, with blue
eyes, fair, full face and open brow, shad-
ed by dark brown hair. My great delight
was ir riding. The glad free sense that
came with being in the saddle seemed
part of my very nature.
The country around was wild and noun
| famous in some directions, in others we
could see the beautiful lake. often rode
over the moor which spread away in the
distance without house or track, nothing
| but the tufts of purple and black heather,
| till the mountains far away seemed to roll
up toward the sky in folds and peaks lined
| by silvery thread-like cataracts, too dis
| tant to be heard.
My companions were few, for | had
| loved solitude better than society. But
| there was one family with whom we We're
| on very friendly terms. Sir Wren owned
a neighboring estate, and Lady Wren, a
| pure, Sweet-faced woman, was my moth
er's dearest friend while Annie, their
daughter, was my only playmate. She was
happy-hearted child, and would never
willingly veX or annoy any one. She
seemed to guess my moods, and would act
| accordingly. But i tear, as L now look
back, that l was an overbearing, selfish
fellow, who exacted many acts of self
denial from my little friend.
| At the age of sixteen an active life be
| gan. My father had decided that l should
60 to Cambridge University. The years I
spent there were busy ones. With my wild,
rowing nature, it was hard work for me to
! keen pace with my class, but pride and
ambition helped me to form the habit OF
study. Twas too proud to fall behind in
my class. Thanks to my mothers careful
teaching, was never tempted to indulge
in the use of wine or stronger drinks with
my classmates. So. when morning found
them with muddled brains, mine was clear
and ready for work.
In short time 1 gained fair standing in
my class, and carried home good report
at vacation With what a longing heart
looked forward to those happy days. My
home coming was the signal for merry
making. My mother was always kind
and my father was proud of my progress
. My old playmate, Annie Wren, was again
. the companion Of my leisure hours.
One day 1 had been out riding with 6
friend. Coming home we had to pass
, through village of tenant houses. AS We
} came into the town we saw the bailif
: with his detachment of armed police, enter