The Wahpeton times., 1891-06-04
JARED HARPwICK's TASK.

Cdmc W HllH one sep
T. tember afternoon as
~ he sat reading on his
WA vine-shaded porch.
e% He rose promptly,
~ lifted his straw hat
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
trudged; then, turning aside into
narrow by-road that branched off at
the foot of steep hill, he came to a
rude saw-mill. A stalwart man sat
upon 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.
"I've got letter from Joe. "He's
in trouble"
"Just as ! supposed. Bankrupt,
I'll warrant?"
"That's about it,"
"And he has 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"
"1'll not consider it with cool judg-
ment nor any other kind. He'll get
no help from me. Jared"
every well, 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 shelf and proceeding to grease
the saw.
"Well, Gray, it's 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.
'Joe writes that he might have
stood this if a fire hadn't broken out,
and burnt up his two thousand dol.
lars worth Of machines"
He glanced up quickly, and caught q
shade of sympathy upon the sawyer's
face.
The manufacturer is unluckily in q
tight fix himself, and he is pushing the
boy. Joe writes that this will ruin
him and just when his business was
most promising. Itell you, Gray, it's
hard on your boy"
"Well, l don't pity him q blt-not a
bit. He was determined to go to the
city; now let him dig for himself. I
gave him thousand dollars to start
his crazy business, mortgaging our lit
tie place here, and that's enough.
Mother haspinched herself and worked
her fingers almost to the bone, and I
have shaved early and late to pay it
of, and now that it's paid, do you
think I'm going right back into that
struggle againf
"No, Jared, not for q boy that for.
gets his old mother, as Joe has done.
Why, he hasn't written a line-not a
line-to mother or me for q year, and
now, when he wants help, he writes to
you. Jared.
"Does he deserve help7 Just answer
me that; does he deserve it? Idon't
want to hurry you away, but I'm 60
ing to start the saw"
He turned decisively, and pulling
the lever, set the saw rasping again.
every we'll, john" said, Jared,
coming nearer. "f that's your decis.,
ion, T've nothing more to say. shall
have to write to Joe that you refuse.
1t does seem q pity to leave him in his
trouble. He's not g bad boy, but
dear knows where this will drive him.
Good afternoon, John"
At home he sat down upon the
porch again to think it out. he knew
we'll the character Of this father and
son. Since Joe had been old enough
to assert himself there had been anita
gonism between them. The father was
arbitrary inhis ideas of right; the son
obstinate, and inclined to wayward.
ness.
Jared's relation to the family was
almost that Of . son. He was to
have married eallie, the daughter fiye
years before, but she had been taken
III three weeks before the appointed
day, and died ten days later. Her
last request to Jared had been to
watch over Joe as an older brother,
and to help to keep him from evil
ways. s,s 4
sseM, .s.and. Ntevar you hs1 j q chance
81 bring him and Josto ! good un.