Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-05-27
,,ysr A LITTLE TOO LATE.
a Tai. with a Moral for Wanderers fro"
Home.

a TaIe with q Moral Tor Wanoercrs ho'
Home.
r. was no very exacting ambition
that Robert Young's mother had
cherished all her life. She lived very
quietly on the Western prairie farm
10 which she and her husband had
gone together when they were Doth
young. She did not expect to De rlch,
or even think about it. She was con-
tent with the homely round of her
daily life. Sometimes her husband
used to say that if they had only hap
nened to go here or there, where
come of the friends of his youth had |
found copper or silver, or struck oil,
thew also might have been worth
millions; but the wife always an
swered, at WANT to be, John, 1T
want to be. And we've done pretty
we'll. as things go; but | should a
liked one good black silk dress"
This was the only wish that KIDD.
ert Young had ever heard his mother
express, and he used to say to hlmsel1
when boy:
BLESS the dear mother! She shall
have 1t the very first money | earn"
Roberts father, too, planned In MS
own mind the same thing; but one
wear the harvest turned out badly,
and another the children had dlph-
liberia, aml so 1t 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 be-
gan to draw before he could write,
and at last he got hold OF a box OF
eolors through. the kindness OF. one OF
mis- Sunday-school teachers, and then
ne made pictures that dazzled the
eyes of his prairie neighbors.
AS he grew older he got orders Tor
PORTRAITS from proud parents VINO
uere willing to give five dollars for a
daughters or a sons likeness; and ne
saved these small sums until, by the
time he was eighteen, he had enough
money to take him to Boston, where
he hoped to find a good teacher, anc
TO do something really worth while
His struggle in the city was hare
enough, to begin with. Every snow
storm was friend to him, for wher
ever he shoveled off steps and SIDE
walks they were sure to want hin
again, he did his work SO cheerfull
and so we'll.
He paid for his lessons by takln
care of the studio Of the artist unde
whom he studied. He was ready I
do any honest thing to earn an nor
est penny, and at last, even IN Bo'
ton people found out that he mad
special talent of his own, and bega
60 buy his pictures.
There were so many things at 1rs
TO do with the money he earned! II
must have little studio of his ow
where people Guild come, and
would not answer for the artist WI
had his own studio to live like Il
youth who used to shovel off sid
walks. He did not forget the go'
black silk dress, or the mother WI
was to wear it: he only waited.
At last came spring when he hi
been fairly prosperous, and he pla
ned to go home Tor his mothers Dirt
day In August. and to carry the DIRE
with him. But Just then he receiy
an invitation that tlattered hi
His former teacher was going to IL
wich for a summer of sketching, a
asked Robert to go with him.
1t seemed an opportunity t0o &c
70 he lost. So he went to lpswi(
and the summer flew by as If
wings and Robert did not go no
in August; he only wrote a letter.
1t was October before he star
FOR the far-off prairie farm. Once
his way, he hurried forward by ni9
and day until he reached the lit
station that was nearest to his hoI
He had written when he should
rive. but he did not see his fat
waiting for him as he had expect
He felt mOmentary sense OF init
but Just then an old neighbor ca
up.
II s'pose you might as we'll !
home long with me-" he said. Il
'em I'D fetch We, as long as vel
couldn't"
Couldn't! Why?"
WAL, / sort 'er hate to tell we,
yer mother she had shock er p
yesterday and yer father don't
ter leave her jest yit."
There was strange choking
Robert Young's throat. The
black silk dress was in his valise,
he had brought 1t too late.
ON FIRE IN A CYCLONE