South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-11-13
A Hard Winter.

The question was. should Di K re.
main NJ school?
I'm sfrail you'll have to give it
up, Dick, my boy. fn sorry, old
fellow. but there doesn't seem To he a
way on, /; andmsmma and nyse have
talked it over aud over until we are
exhausted. II breaks my heart to
disappoint you. Dick. 1t WIS papa
who sp Ike rather sorrnwfully.
Dick Hanford was standing beside
Lis father. With an arm thrown low.
ingly over he Ia,ters shoulder. Mr..
fIanford was very pale and thin. aud
had a languid appearance. He was,
in fact. recovering from long siege
Of rheumatic fever, which hail drain
ed the little family of its savings and
owing TO which Mr.. Hanford had los
his po,ition. 1t would bs many
weeks before he could undertake an.
other p ace. even il one c,ud essii y
Dc found which was doubtful.
In The meantime Mrs. Hsnford
and Eva we're supporting the family.
Eva p.iDt, d scarfs. Vases, cups end
saucers, screens and other decorative
articles, aid had market for them
in the city, where dealer in brio
brac KEEP, her suppiiei with orders,
In the Intervals OF nursing her hue.
band Mrs Hanford srote stores nd
sketches, which were sometimes &C.
cepted and paid for, and some.
n. ntu,,.,I urf,l h.
tween tue two they had kept the pot
boiling, AMI had gotten through the
fathers long illness ~ithou, debt. but
as fof continuing Dick at the acaie-
my it was not to he thou hit Of. Mt
honestly, at least, said the mother /;
and in this lutte home there was a
horror Of disb1ne.y. Either, said the
Hanfords. we will pay our way, or
We will 10 with nut what We want, no
matter how much we want it.
s, when Mr.. Hantord, KNOWN
that Dick understood the situation
perfectly, explained that the acsde-
my bills cou d no longer Do met, ID ok
setting his lips together anil bravcly
keeping back the tears which came
near starting, notwii hstanding his
fourteen years. made the best Of IL.
You coud rot ask mamma or els-
ter to work any harder than they do
Dick, ssid the father. And it will
be some time beEre L can hope 10
take my share Of the load, but | can
Garry you on with your stuiies.
But Dick understood better than his
father that the preparation for cole x
could GO on with greater ease aud ra
pidity in classes OF boys like himself
all study ing heartily. and under thC
care OF masters who were fam / al
with the latest methods, than at home
with dear papa. whose scholarship
vas thorough enough, no doubt. We
whose very pronunciation Of LATIN
was old fashioned, according to mod
ern vi We. He went 10 his own DEF
in the attic. and dill little think ny
Presently he came down. anil appear
Ell 10 the sitting room with overcoa
and rubbers on, cap in hand.
I suppose, papa AMI mamma, b.
said, that fellow can keep on a
school il he can pay bis own bills
I've been tbinging that perhaps Cal
earn the money myself.
Mamma looked up brightly. Ths
speech has the true ring, ny boy
You have my consent to do anything
honorable.
Papa held ont his hand. wisI
you success, Dick but don't be too
ssnguine.
Evs. looking np from a Lowell,
spray Of apple blossoms which, undo
her deft touches. was growing on tbt
corner OF picture trans. exclaimed
Please don't apprentice yourself 4
the livery. stable man, or become 9
news.boy, Dick; you would no
make enough TO pay for the hart
work and the 1isagreeable associa
tions.
1 sm thinking Of applying for {
position Ia which the work is hart
enough, but which will pay me verJ
we'll. / am going to Deacon Dule's
TO inquire whether the First Cburct
has yet found a sexton.
And shutting the door gently the
boy was off, lifting his esp TO the
trio, 81 be shot like an arrow pasI
the WiudoW where Eva bent over bet
dsin.t palette, With brush poised in
the air and = wondering expression
on ber face.
Poor Dick They'll never accep'
hin for that work il needs a strong
man, was mammss cOmmen'. And
| could hardly consent TO IL If they
should she added.
A bali hour passed, and darkness
was settling over The pretty room.
The girlpul up her paints, and male