The Bossier banner., 1892-08-11
FRED MORTON'S PLUCK.
How a Lad Met and Overcame
Adversely.

Few boys would have undertaken
what Fred Morton did at his fathers
DEATH He quietly assumed the man.
sgement of the farm, and the support
Oihk widowed mother and little sister.
The husband and father had gone
forth one March morning in health and
strength and an hour later had been
brought back lifeless. The tree he was
telling had in some way caught and
crushed him beneath its weight.
It was with a sad heart that the
mother returned with her tatherless
children from the grave to the seclusion
Of her modest home. She had no rel
stiyes; there was no one to whom she
could rightfully turn for sympathy and
help. Long after Fred had gone to his
room, and Lettie, the five-year-old pet
Of the household, had lost her childish
sorrow in slumber, she sat before the
stting-room fire thinking that dark as
the present was the future looked still
darker to her.
Ten years before Edwin Morton had
come there with his wife and boy, pay
ing down one thousand dollars towards
lhe farm, and giving mortgage for the
Oalance-a paltry sum, as it seemed to
nm then, of five hundred dollars. He
bad felt sure that three years, or four
almost, would see the farm all his own.
but 1t had been the old story. There
had been sickness; the seasons had not
Always been favorable; unexpected ex-
Fnses had come, and unexpected losses.
Inc neighbors declared that Edwin
norton, though great worker, did not
nave the faculty of getting ahead. And
4Was certain that the ten years had
0ae and gone, and now he had
gone, and mot a dollar of the
mortgage was paid. Moreover, the in
mrest would be due in few weeks, and
AtS horton could think of no way to
Nyh She was confident also that the
'Seount at the village grocery would
Prove TO be against them, and there
nsht De several smaller accounts still
Unsettled. So far as she could estimate,
a9oaid take three hundred dollars to
asel her husbands indebtedness out
.ae ol the mortgage on the farm. Her
s'aheaith was poor, and she could no.
= more than her household duties.
'ea' II was true, though but sixteen
s'ss Old was strong and willing, and
sula earn something. but to the
aOaer, IN that hour of darkness and
aOthing.
no"ever, if the farm could be sold
: s real value, and all the debts
raM there would still be something
saior herself and the children. But
~ e0uid she leave the roof that hac
Siong sheltered her, and had been sc
ssar to her hu sband?
Aeanwhile Fred, who had gone te
l.d vn' had not gone to sleep. He
H. aiways been a quiet, thoughtful
~, WISE IN many things beyond hi
~ s lie sat down by the window
~ =. .nought over the sad events of tn,
.W days. 1t all seemed SO strange
s.a unreal, to him. 1t was so hard t,
-, e That he was fatherless. But a
+. ssa ms thoughts turned from him
ms mother and little sister, an,
na ~ That he must care for them. Ill
s's'ood all about the debt on tn
s...,, lie knew there were other bills
a,ss aaing those incurred by his father
- ~ mat must be paid soon.
ss.,s .er thinking for some minutes h
ssa~ y his bedside and asked God t
a. s MN what to do. When he aros
~, .lspared for bed a new look in hi
il ssul la OF purpose already born il
saa = aeSt morning Fred was up early
tses,n "hen Mrs. Morton entered tn
asses aa the fire was bv rning brightly
u lines Saee was made, and the chores a
were done. The youth gree