The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-01-15
AGAINST WIND AND TIDE.
BY ANNA SHIELDS,

i''p'' III 'uy SHi'c always shrugged
'hcir shoulders when Mark Lamson was
mentioned, and usually the expressive
gesture was followed By some deprcca.
ting remark
Comes of bad stock" old Judge Len.
noN would say, in his pompous Dictator
ial manner. "All the Lamsous wer.
worthless, and Mrs. Larnson was n
Hodgc, and everybody knows what they
are"
The house in which Mark was born,
and whore ho scrambled up to manhood,
was large farm house, tumbling to
pieces inside, with n roof always being
patched against leaking, doors without
locks nnl with shaking hinges, windows
that ratified in every wind, ceilings that
dropped plaster whenever heavy foo,
shook the upper rooms and furniture in
the last stage Of shabbincss. Ills father
ana mother were slattcrnly in dress,
shlitlcss in household management, and
the handsome, bright boy was ovc:-in-
dulged and neglected as their own indo-
lencc suggested.
But Mark Lamson inherited none of
tho leading traits Of his parents. Prob.
ably IN some remote ancestor there was a
mixture of energy, resolution and ability
OF which the Maysvilc gossips hal never
heard, and for which they certainly care
Mark no credit. 1t was IN vain that the
Principal of the Maysvillc High School
declared tha; Mark had graduated with
the best record he had ever given in the
school. 1t was useless for the lal han.
self to keep his life free from blame, aud
earnestly cnIcavor to do his duty.
Mnysvillc could not forget that he wa;
n Lamson, and his mother was IIoIsc
-"bad stock"
AS he passed from boyhood to man
hood, Mark began the unequal struggle
against fate and circumstances, that was
dictated only by his own energy. His
father had been able 60 get bread from
the farm by II lazy tilIa%o that gave the
bare necessities for the table; his mother
had very small income that gave the
three clothing; of tic poorest description,
and both were in open. mouthcd wonder
that Mark was not Contcut, ;is they had
been, To dawdlc through life and "make
OUT with what they hi,I.
And Mark, struggling To attain better
things, with only Il VAGUE, undi,ciplincI
longing for Improvement, met no eu-
coura@ cmcnt at home or abroad. lie
tried /" obtain 4 situation, but employers
were shy about giving work to Il Lamson;
he met but cool reception ut the Mays.
vile social gatherings, having no knowl-
edge of how To repair his own linen or
Keep his poor clothing even tidy. Boy
like, he imrEinrl Il new suit and cav
ncckiic were all sufficient for "A party.
and did not heed the fraycl cuffs aud
broken collars ~ which the Maysvillc
bellies turned up their noses.
But, IN spite of his fathers lazy com.
mrnts, his mothers lrctlul rcmon ra ices,
Mark Lamson, finding no employment
outside, determined to see if the farm
would not find him in work.
"ph, yes; dr a| You please" his
father sad. "Bu, there is no money
for new .an%lcd tXinyS, and the land
is about worn out Plenty of ic, to bc
sure, but 'tain't worth Shucks."
So, single. handed, Mark undcrtook the
m"rh oI brnGing up the old f,rm. Early
and late lie toilrd, repairing fences, weed
ing, pcNIn-T stone, roofing out dead
s,umr. nrrn,ripr a J.. I,,l H,;,I,n,,, ,,,,
baud rL nr, h'l., ,;', WV.
toY,,h him, ,,,.,ss Tn,,,,. m,,,
,g,, h;.,,,i,c. o,,,I,,,.,I ''S ''s o''s
f,,.,I :, all ,,, H., ~
REGULAR rn,,irr of l,;r,,,.. T,.',,;,',, ',I
all his ti.,n ami N,rr. ,a,;',,,, 'oIN
mttcH t'
He w,s twcr,r.oror ro,.. a., ,
int, his DIM ,,,,n;,,,n,,'I I;,', ,.,,', =
sti,nulus , L,,. lri,l,, 49,, ,';'; =. "
almost =, h,,rl',s IIc icii j., I,ua, ma
did NOT Walk i, c,u,;,,u.,r .,n,;',.i.; m
stcns ouj wri,ehi,., In, ,.,,',,,., ,,,, ','' -
fclI IN ul,,n, .,Ii.nI, I,,,,I', n"' AZ
Their. hol bcrr = y,r,, Ii.,m,';,, ,,
rho Jud.n.y .,l,,,,,, ;,,,.;,;., Ny 'S,''i ''
,ortv th,, ,, =, a.,,I ~ ~ .''
e;..',tn,,,h hIir,i,l,,lI,.
from hourdin.. school H,t thn No, nr
the huu.e hi !. Will of he, own onl -
Eve-y rcc,,Io,,;, -, ,,,
,nl ,,,,i.', '.I,,..,. ,'''''''''"I
r,,,,l,;'. ,' ''' '"''S''
in ri. 'n.,n,,, a,,i' ,",a'' ,n''H' C'r'!'n'