Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-06-09
i kED MURIUN'o rLuJA.
How a Lad Net and Ovcrceno
Adversely.

rev boys would nave undertaken
y what Fred Morton did ut his father
death. He quietly assumed the Ean
!. 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 a 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
have the faculty of getting ahead. And
it was certain that the ten years had
come and gone, and now he had
gone, and not a dolla- of the
mortgage was paid. Moreover, the in
terest would be due in a 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,
1t would take three hundred dollars to |
meet her husbands Indebtedness out |
side of the mortgage on the farm. Her
own health was poor, and she could no. /
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 had
so long sheltered her, and had been so
dear to her husband?
Meanwhile Fred, who had gone to
his room, had not gone to sleep He
had always been 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, e him. L was SO hard to
realize that he was fatherless But at
length his thoughts turned from him
self TO his mother and little sister, and
be felt that he must care for them He
all about the debt on the
farm. He knew there we're other bills,
those incurred by his fathers
death, that must be paid soon.
After thinking for some minutes he
kDelt by his bedside and asked God TO
show him what to do. When he arose
md prepared for bed new look in his {
yes told of purpose already born in
ais soul.
The next morning Fred was up early,
md when Mrs. Morton entered the {
Kitchen the fire was burning brightly,
he coffee was made. and the chores az {
he barn were done. The youth greet I
d his mother tenderly, and fastened {
With a quiet determination in every
iction to assist he in the morning du- q
les. {
A week passed. Fred had busted
himself about the farm and going to q
he village as errands required. One c
lay he entered the house and said: S
Mother, Mr.. Ford has got home.
aw him at the village to-day. He t
poke to me about fathers death, and V
aid he would call here tomorrow" v
This Mr.. Ford was an old friend of v
he family, and held the mortgage on P
he farm. few days before Mr.. Nor 6
on's death he had gone to New York
n business trip. 1t had been Mrs. e
iorton's intention to call upon him as a
DON as she learned of his return, and a
onsult with him concerning her hus. I,
and's affairs. II
The next day, when Mr.. Ford called, h
red was repairing a fence, so Mrs. b
iorton received him alone. She told h
i'm of her hopes and fears, and then h
poke of the one plan that seemed to be II
pento her. He was silent few min e,
ties, and then replied: h
Certainly, Mrs. Morton. this can be ci
one. What does Fred think about it?' oil
II have not mentioned it to him yet al
could not bear to speak TO him about Il
, he loves the farm So" d;
How old is hep" h;
sixteen" w
81 would speak to him about it at 81
nee" said the gentleman, thought
lllV 'tSuch a hoy can he n erraat bal,, n