The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-06
sHIRLEY'S VACATION.
A Sacrifice That Brought It's Own
Reward

what amuses you, Shirley" asked
the head bookkeeper. rs he looked mp
from his big ledger and saw smile on
the boys face opposite.
I'll Just landed fire-ponnd bass, I"
said shirley. laughing and blushing q
little.
.sUm--ahl Did II pull very hard2f
"Fearfulr' said Shirley.
All through the year Shirley Holmes
had been saving the money for his trip.
lie was assistant bookkceper for Brown
Rros. q Bridges wholesale house on
West Pearl street, where be hitd been
since graduating from the commercial
college, two years before,
Shirley was an orphan The small
means left him by his parents had been
exhausted before his education had
been completed, so that his first year
savings had been used 70 repay money
advanced him BY an uncle to complete
his course,
His savings, this year, he was invest
ing in building stock, with tho exeeps
tion. Of one dollar weekly, which he put
aside for no other purpose than a trir
TO tho bass streams Of the Alleghanies.
He was very fond Of fishing, and had
been reckoned an expert as boy He
had not taken day or since he left
school, and he felt that holiday was
his due.
All through the dark white days. al
he pondered over the long rows Of fig
ures, he paused now and then 10 muse
for q moment Of green mountains
blue skies. clear, rushing " alter. and e
feel in imagination the tug and swish
Of tho trout line and the rapid clicl
Of the running reel Then his eye
would sparkle for moment and HI
was no longer in the dim and dusty Lit
tie Office.
But only for moment for the long
columns Of figures were waiting. and
Shirley had feeling Of friendliness foI
them, knowing that It was through theiI
mute assistance that his dream would
be realized.
All through the spring and early sum
mer he pondered over the big books
and thought of the cool mountains Ii
had asked for his vacation In August,
and his request had been granted. lii
hid calculated that the fifty-two dol
lars would pay his expenses. He hat
figured 1t out over and over, and b,
knew the items by heart
There were excursion rates to tn,
mountains, and his round-trip tickle
would cost him twelve dollars. The1
there was his, board at o farmhouse
which he calculated at twenty dollars
He could get good rod. reel and lin,
for ten dollars. and for general items Ii,
allowed as much more
II think that will cover every thing,
he said TO himself. Il shall begin to &c
my things together to morrow, 6nd. in
week will be on the way
That night, as they closed the books
the head bookkeeper said to him:
shirley, have ron been 70 see Ever
EFT Harris lately2"
NO" said Shirley, guiltily. but
will 30 tonight How Is hep"
Not very well. poor fellowi II
doesn't improve much, I'm afraid TIL
city now is so hot, you know; and TIL
doctor says the dust and smoke arc bal
for him He coughs aq good deal, an
you know what that leads to-
Yes" said Shirley. feeling as if
pressure were on hts own lungs. Z
should think so :
Everett Harris had been their shir
ping elerk. He was tender-hearted
good-natured fellow, whom Shirley hal
always liked for his out-spoken, friend
ly way. He was not very strong, how
ever, and one day during the winter ha.
contracted severe cold, terminating 1
pneumonia. This attack he had over
come, but it had left him very weal
and with a disagreeablc cough.
His mother, q widow with a small
pension had found 1t hard matter I
live without her sons assistance, al
though Everett's employer had gencI
ousiy assumed his drug and sdastor bills
while employees, from time "a TING
sent or carried such books and delica
cies as he could enjoy.
q, Shirley had visited Everett very regu
larry until the last few weeks, durini
which time the prospects and prepare
tions for his outing had occupied hi
evenings Salmost To the exclusion o
everything else, and what with readini
mp on the different streams and fishini
apparatus, he had forgotten poor Ever
EFT almost entirely. Yes he woul
go to see him tonight without fail