Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-24

whrs Jason ssls himself the lord aad
master Of poor. yislzazk aitiy, DC had .
wnalescsas fear II high spirited Janet.
There wa 10 telling when she or hsr
agents 1a..i.- .ss4 al hsE ersIasnsl hGs-
bsnd AID make Eim pay TIE psn4lty Of
bsxany. Ibs ss1.Iy eonscisncs made
him a coward IA wasin constant fear
Of e. pcs1ys zad 1lssrAee.
IL h.7sslsd that Nlily and the chill
drsu were privileged - attend camp
nesting. A seruaoa from the text. I'm
sure yonr ssn vii and you cat" peas-
trsted bar coascisnrs. and she was trans
formed from al apAth-tic alnaev 10 u
naors.d seeker Of religion Her mental
suffering affected her health Shs took
. cold, went into rapid consumption
Aad dad.
After vzrioos removals. Jason drifted
70 Birmingham. Alabama. where iron
foandriss. coAl aud iron mines aad vars-
Gus smllAr enterprises attracted labor
ing men from al over the country.
There hs struggled along. drinking and
working whsa he weald. and gsstsng NE
wages of his minor children for sup
port. Whisky szs stili bis master. keep
ing him poor. III tempered and disaris-
fed.
In the meantime Janet had psospered.
By good forsaAe shs catered wealthy
lady's house Is honsekeeper. She was
recognized Is wsdow--respeesAhie and
capable. BY the tine little Janet was
grown. her neither was able 20 educate
her fairly. Shc Was . handsome girl.
quick 10 learn and also 10 profit by her
opportunities. She married . young
tradesman. who prospered exceedingly
well In his business. He risked some OF
his surplus money with an English syn
dictate. VINO purchased southern coal and
mineral lands as an investment.
In progress Of time an, opportunity
presented itself fer an American trip.
They had no children. and Janet, his
wife, accompanied him to America. Be
fore they decided to return it was pro-
posed that the party should go south
snd see where the mineral property was
situated.
BY strange chain Of happenings. Ia
Their and daughter were thus thrown
into proximity suspecting such
nearnexs or relationship.
Jason's FIRST wife was, IS before said.
q proud. ambitious woman. She loathed
the thought Of lis abandonment and dis
gracsd character. She confded the
facts to her daughter. with perenptory
cautionings to keep this disreputsble
part Of their family history profound
secret. The husband of the younger
Janet believed his father-in-law to have
persisted as sea. Such an impression
prevailed in his mind and gave him no
further concern.
His wife remembered her father wes t
to Wlkesbsrre, Pennsylvania. but his
later movements were unknown to her
or her mother: in fact, the latter resolved
to know nothing Of him by any act Of
her own. The farther apart he kept
himself the better she would be pleased.
She prayed to be delivered from him, or
the thought Of him, forevermore.
The tourists were fortunate in having
a delightfully."- warm and sunny day for
their sightseeing in Birmingham. They
were driven from one point 10 another,
surprised az the wonderful growth and
enterprise Of tho infant city.
During short stay in an iron manu-
factory discussion arose as to the COM
parative comforts of miners and wage
workers in England and America. One
side contended fs- the benefits and bless
ings Of the old country, while the other
drew favorable picture of the advan-
tages In the states. In this southern
country fuel was cheap and plentiful,
winters were short and never severe,
with less expense as to food and shelter,
etc.
It was then proposed that one Of tie
Birmingham workmen should be inter
viewed, to throw additional light on the
subject IL CHANGED that Jason Wilson
was requested to talk for the company
And Jason was always ready To talk.
Poor old fellow. He Was dirty, his hair
unkempt, and his eyes watery and dull.
As he approached the group, one Of the
visiting party said in An undertone 10
Janet. He is not proper witness; he
has been too familiar with the whisky
jug. don't you Think"
After he shambled into their presence,
pulled his grizzled foretop and otherwise
made ready for the questioning. Janet
confessed TO herself he was an unpromis-
inc subject for reliable information, but
the first answer he gave awakened her
interest to painful degree.
Are you . native of America, my
mani"
mo, sir. was born in England. sir,
close 20 Bristol. Ne fayther lived there
and died there miner by trade all his
life. COON to this country twenty-siz
years ago. COON next August
why did you leave her majesty's
service aud cast your lot with these peo-
pie. my good fellow was the next in.
quiry.
ION. for mony reasons. sir; some very
good uns, and some not so good: nav
can say. sor. that hev' done well al
lt, syther. Wages is good 'nough. peo-
pie good 'nough. barrin the nayxers. but
fer all that. IL could put msself back
In old England the same mon as when
left Il. I'd not begrudge . thousand pun
II only had it,
Indeed, that's high praise for Eng
lish ears. my good fellow. The most Of
M were also born and raised on that
side Of the Atlantic. and We hope TO be
ct home within a fortnight"
They acquired new interest in his eyes
Immediately. He measured them care
fully in ms mind. scanning each face in
rapid succession. Perhaps the contrast
betvesn his appearance and theirs made
his thoughts painful and unpleasant.