The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-06-11
FRED MORTON'S PLUCK.
How a Lad Met and Overcame
Adversity.

AdVerSlty.
Few boys would have undertaken
what Fred Morton did at his fathers
death. He quietly assumed the man
agement of the farm, and the support
of his 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.
1t was with sad heart that the
mother returned with her fatherless
children from the grave to the seclusion
of her modest home. She had no rel
atives; 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 fve-year-old pet
of the household, had lost her childish
sorrow in slumber, she sat before the
sitting-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
the farm, and giving mortgage for the
balance-a paltry sum, as it seemed to
him then, OF five hundred dollars. He
had felt sure that three years, or four
at most would see the farm all his own.
But it had been the old story. There
had been sickness; the seasons had not
always been favorable; unexpected eX-
penses had come. and unexpected losses.
The neighbors declared that Edwin
Morton, though great worker, did not
nave the faculty of getting ahead. And
it was certain that the ten years had
come and gone, and now he had
gone, and not dollar of the
mortgage was paid. Moreover, the in
terest would be due in few weeks, and
Mrs. Morton could think of no way to
pay it. She was confident also that the
account at the village grocery would
prove to be against them, and there
might be several smaller accounts still
unsettled. So far as she could estimate,
it would take three hundred dollars to
meet her husbands indie btedness ont
side of the mortgage on the farm. Her
own health was poor and she could not
do more than her household duties.
Fred, it was true, though but sixteen
years old, was strong and willing, and
could earn something, but to the
mother, in that hour of darkness and
sorrow, that something seemed almost
nothing.
However, if the farm could be sold
for its real value, and all the debts
paid, there would still be something
| left for herself and the children. But
| how could she leave the roof that hao
so long sheltered her, and had been sc
| dear to her hu sband?
Meanwhile Fred, who had gone tc
his room, had not gone to sleep. He
| had always been a quiet, thoughtful
boy, wise in many things beyond his
years. He sat down by the window
| and thought over the sad events of the
last few days. 1t all seemed so strange
SO unreal, to him. 1t was so hard tc
realize that he was fatherless. But a
length his thoughts turned from him
self to his mother and little sister, ant
he felt that he must care for them. He
understood all about the debt on tho
farm He knew there were other bills
including those incurred by his father!
death, that must be paid soon.
After thinking for some minutes hC
lSpelt by his bedside and asked God tC
show him what to do. When he arose
and prepared for bed a new look in hi
eyes told of a purpose already born il
his soul.
The next morning Fred was up early
and when Mrs. Morton entered thu
kitchen the fire was burning brightly
the coffee was made, and the chores a
the barn were done. The youth greet
ed his mother tenderly, and hasteneC
with quiet determination in every
action to assist her in the morning du
ties.
A week passed Fred had busiet
himself about the farm and going I,
the village as errands required. On,
day he entered the house and said
Mother, Mr.. Ford has got home.
saw him at the village to-day. HI
spoke to me about fathers death, an,
said he would call here tomorrow"
This Mr.. Ford was an old friend O
the family, and held the mortgage oi
TIE farm. A few days before Mr.. Mor
tons death he had gone to New Yorl
on business trip. 1t had been Mrs
MVrtons intention to call upon him a
80, as she learned of his return, an
col suit with him concerning her hus
bands affairs.
The next day, when Mr. Ford called
Fred was repairing a fence, so Mrs
Motion received him alone. She tol
hin of her hopes and fears, and the
spoke of the one plan that seemed to b
open TO her. He was silent few mir
utter, and then replied:
'Tertainly, Mrs Morton, this can b
dons. What does Fred think about it?
80 hav0 not mentioned it to him ye
| could rot bear to speak to him abor
", ae lev es the farm So"