The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-19
WHEN he BROUGHT THE BLACK SILK.
Tho Ono Thing In Life For Which Mrs.
Young I.onged Came Too I.ntc.


Young T.onged Game Too Late.
1t was no very exacting ambition that
Robert Young's mother had cherished
all her life. She lived very quietly on
the western prairie farm to which she
and her husband had gone together
when they were both young. She did
not expect to be rich or even think about
it. She was content with the homely
round of her daily life. Sometimes her
husband used to say that if they had
only happened to go here or there, where
some of the friends of his youth had
found copper or silver, or struck oil, they
also might have been worth millions, but
the wife always answered.: 1T want to
he, John;it want to be. And we've done
pretty well, as things go, but should "a
like one good black silk dress"
This was tho only wish that Robert
Young had ever heard his mother ex-
press, and he used to say to himself when
he was boy:
"Bless the dear mother! She shall have
it the very first money earn"
Roberts father, too, planned In his
own mind the same thing, but one year
the harvest turned out badly, and an
other the children had diphtheria, and so
it was that the good black silk had never
been bought.
1t was strange thing that the son of
John and Rachel Young should have
been an artist. But Robert began to
draw before he could write, and at last
he got hold of box of colors through
the kindness of one of his Sunday school
teachers, and then he made pictures that
dazzled the eyes of his prairie neighbours.
AS he grew older he got orders for
portraits from proud parents who were
willing to give s. for a daughters or Il
sons likeness, and he saved these small
sums until by the time he was 10 he had
enough money to take him to Boston,
where he hoped to find good teacher
and to do something really worth while.
His struggle in the city was hard
enough to begin with. Every snowstorm
was friend to him, for wherever he
shoveled off steps and sidewalk they
were sure to want him again, he did his
work so cheerfully and so we'll.
He paid for his lessons by taking care
of the studio of the artist under whom
he studied. He was ready to do any
and at last, even in Boston, people found
out that he had u special talent of his
own and began TO buy his pictures.
There were so many things at first to
do with the money that he earned! He
must have little studio of his own
where people could come, and it would
not answer for the artist who had his
own studio to live like the youth who
used to shovel off sidewalks He did not
forget the good black silk dress or the
mother who was to wear it; he only
waited.
AT last came Il spring when he had
been fairly prosperous. and he planned
to go home for his mothers birthday in
August and to carry the dress with linn.
but just then he received All invitation
that tiattcred him. His former teacher
was going to Ipswich for summer OF
sketching and asked Robert to 90 with
him.
1t seemed an opportunity too good to
be lost. So he went to Ipswich, and the
summer flew by as if OH wings, and Rob
ert did not go home i'll August he only
wrote letter.
1t was October before he started for
the faroff prairie farm. Once on his
way, he hurried forward by night and
day until he reached the little station
that was nearest to his home. He had
written when he should arrive, but he
did not see his father waiting for him as
he had expected He felt momentary
sense of injury. but just then IN old
ncighbOr came up.
II s'pose you might as we'll ride home
long with me" he said. Il told em Id
fetch we, as long rs yer pa couldn't
Couldn't! Why"
'"Waal, l sort er hate to tell We, but
yer mother, she had II shock er palsy
yesterday, and Yer father don't like ter
leave her jest yit."
There was IL strange choking in Robert
Young's throat. The good black silk
dress was i'll his valisc, but he had
brought it too late.-Y outh's Companion.
The Riches of Uninhabitcd Nicaragua.
Mr.. J. Crawford, a well known resi-