The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-27
CHRISTMAS At WRERTONS.

"GoOd-by. mother" said Arthur Wher-
ton, as he was about to cross the TIRES
hold of his old home perhaps for the
last time so far as ne knew. He paused
a moment to look again at the small.
emaciated features of his little sister,
who lay on her couch sick of a fever.
and to kiss the parched lips and smooth
back the ringlets from her pallid brow
She did not even open her eyes as he
did this. and how his breast heaved
with emotions. but with stout heart he
bid his mother an affectionate good-by.
saying, trust to the future, mother,
live in hopes. and ali will be wen''
SmOthering a sob that was fast raising
he FASTENED away leaving behind a
fond mother and true sister. He
wended his way to the depot and not
many minutes elapsed ere he was
aboard a west-bound train to lands I'M
known by him.
Why Arthur WheIton departed from
home just at this time leaving his sis
ter in such a critical state physically I
will here relate. Mrs. Wherton was left
a widow some several years before the
time the story commences. and was left
in very good circumstances. having two
neat houses in a pleasant village in In
diana. Arthur. at the time of his
fathers death, was near five years old,
while his sister, Alice, was but a few
months old. In about a year from the
fathers death some evil disposed men,
by unjust means. managed to assume
ownership OVe- her property. leaving to
her in lieu only a mere excuse Of a house
In which TO live. Mrs. WhertOn managed
by close living TO keep her children in
school most al the time. Many times
while Arthur was growing up did he
Erumble at his hard lot and as many
times did he resolve TO assist his mother
and make for her a comfortable home
that she may enjoy her old age. and at
the time our story commences was the
time at which Arthur resolved to COM
mence his research for means Of sup
port. He had labOred diligently through
the summer season and now with scant
means he had resolved to go to work in
earnest and accordingly set out for
western land. where he thought there
was a greater opening for labor than
elsewhere, leaving his sister in this
feeble condition. He knew If re was alb
sent there were many kind friends with
helping hands near her constantly, for
Alice was a great favorite of all who
knew her and at no time would she lack
attention
The first account we have our hero
after his departure was IN the far West
count of being slight of form, but at
last found work after much delay. He
was beset on all sides by difficulties and
trials. more than he had ever before
experience. Though he was becoming
stronger physically all the while. many
times did he have poor health. and at
such times were his wages taken from
him at a faster rate than he had ac-
quired them. He was alone in the world
and the employers knew it. They i'm
posed upon him because he was willing
TO work Money did not accumulate in
his pockets as fast as he had expected
so he concluded to change his scene Of
action. and accordingly went a little
further west. He inquired for work for
some time, but no WORK was to be had,
and again he Travelled west Before he
became employed again his means were
all gone, AID he was thrown upon the
mercies Of the world. He worked some
DAYS at time, but owing to his in
ability TO perform in all degrees he was
unemployed most OF the time.
Arthur had now been trying the
western sphere Of action for quite a
year and a half and had not yet re-
ceived much encouragement. But still
he toiIed on. His mother did not know
OF his hardships. for ne kept them
from her, and nothing did he reveal Of
his trials He seemed to be beset on
all sides by individuals whose greed Of
Inammon' possessed them and whose
conscience we're merely matters OF ex-
istence, and not of power. for in the
natter-of-fact and practical day such
business men are common, and IL was
into the hands. Of such men as these
young Arthur CHANGED TO fall The
tolls and trials that he had withstood
during his first two years Of absence
were known only to him and expert
enced by only few.
Arthur was growing into an idea Of
the world. and no doubt that idea, for