The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-07-07
FRED NIORTON'S PLUCK.
How q Lad Met and Overcarne
Adversely.

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 ooc March morning In health and
strength and an hour letcr had bccn
brought back lifclcss. The tree he was
telling had In some way caught and
crushed him beneath Its weight
1t was with sad heart that tho
mother returned with her totherless
children from the grave 70 tho seclusion
of her modest homo. She hnd no rel
ativcs; there was no one 10 whom she
could rightfully turn for sympathy and
hclp Long utter Fred had gone to his
room, and Lettie, the five-year-old pot
Of tho household, had lost her childish
sorrow in slumber. she sat before tho
.sitting-room fire thinking that dark ss
the present was tho future looked still
darker to her.
Ten years before Edwin Morton had
como there with his wife and boy, pay
ing down one thousand dollars towards
the farm, and givinga mortgage for the
balance--a paltry sum. as II seemed TO
him then, Of five hundred dollars. he
had felt sure that three yeors, or four
ut 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 greet worker, did not
have tho faculty of getting ahead And
it was certain that the ten yenrs 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 10 way to
pay It. She was confident also that the
account ut the village grocery would
prove to be against them, and there
might be several smaller accounts still
unsettled. So far Us she could estimate.
it 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, 1t 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,, II the farm could be sold
for its real value, and oil 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 50
dear to her husband?
Meanwhile Fred, who he'd gone TO
his room, had not gone to sleep He
had always been o quiet, thoughtful
boy, wise in many things beyond his
years. He sat down by the window
and thought over the sod events OF the
last few days. 1t all seemed 80 strange,
SO unreal, TO him It was 80 hard to
realize that he was fatherless- But at
length his thoughts turned from him.
self to his mother and little sister, and
he felt that he must care for them He
understood oil about the debt on the
farm. Hc knew there were other bills.
including those incurred by his fathers
death, that must be paid soon.
After thinking for some minutes hc
kpclt by his. bedside and aslsed Cod to
show him what to do. When he erosc
and prepared for bed Dew look IN his
eyes told OF o purpose slreody born In
his soul.
The next morning Fred was up ee11y,
and when Mrs. Morton entered the
kitchen the fire was burning brightly,
tho coffee was made, and the chores at
the barn were done. The youth greet
ed his mother tcpderly, and basecned
with quiet determination tn evcry
action to assist her in the morning du-
ties.
A week passed Fred had busted
himself about the farm and going to
the village as orrands required One
day he entered the house and said:
Mother, Mr.. Ford has got home. I
saw him ut the village to-day. He
spoke TO me about fathers death, and
said he would cali here tomorrow"
This Mr.. Ford wns an old friend of
the family, and held the mortgage on
the farm. A few days before Mr. Nor
toms death he had gone to New York
on business trip. II had been Mrs.
Morton's intention TO call upon him as
soon as she learned OF his return, and
consult with him concerning her hus-
bands affairs.
The next day, when Mr. Ford called,
Fred was repairing fenco, 90 Mira
Morton received him alone. She told
him of her hopes and fears, aad then
spoke of the one plan that seemed to be
open to her. He was silent . few min
utes, and then replied.
Certainly, Mrs Morton this can be
done. What docs Fred think about ~"
~ have not mentioned It TO him. yet.
] could not bear to speak TO him about
it, he loves the farm So"
"low old is he?"
''SiXtcen."
II would speak to him nbout It al
once" said the gentleman. thought-
fully. ''Suoh boy can b. greaA help,
IL hc chooses"
Fred was called in. Flo listened as
Mr.. Ford explained his mothers project,
md then said Cuiotlv-