Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-15

That's pretty hard on him."
Nathan murmu. ed. for be felt that
he must say something.
yes" resumed his companion,
''but what he does wouldn't he SO
great credit to him as it is, if he
di0n't do it the way he does. You
saw him to-day; and no one ever saw
him any less cheerful than that.
why, l overlook him on the way
to town. He had started to walk
both ways after hellebore for the cur
rants; he was going to walk five miles
In the hot sun. and then go to work
again, suppose. But he was whist
ling along cheerfully: and that's how
you'll find him always.
'.But he isn't doing what he wants
to do; that's the worst OF it.
''ie wants to be a civil engineer;
as his father was. He's fond of
mathematics. He hasn't had much
schooling, but he's picked it up him.
self, in a way that shows he has a
wonderful turn for it. I've given
him ali my boys old algebras and
geometric:, and he's gone through
them all. When the surveyors were
here putting in the new road, Bert
ram went and helped them, and they
told him he ought to go into the BUSH
ness. Bertram's heart is set on it:
and here he Is hoeing potatoes and
taking care Of the pigs.
Folks say he isn't under obliga-
tions to Hubert. and really owes it
to himself to go away But it's for
his mothet that he does It, He
couldn't bear to DO anything to make
trouble tor her, as that would. HUI
berts strong willed man, and he
considers that Bertran belongs there.
''Then there's his little step.sister;
l don't know what Lucy would ever
do without him. Bertram always
thinks of other people before he does
of himself. and he'll do anything in
the world for Lucy.
This spring Hubert did let him
weed onions for the Longs few days.
What do you think he did with the
money? He walked to town and
bought pair of buttoned shoes that
she wanted very much
''Well, l always like to talk about
him-that's my house. Sometimes I
could cry, thinking how it is, and
then l feel as though there isn't any
thing to cry about. He's doing his
duty and more than his duty, and
anybody that can do that and be
happy doing it isn't to he pitied,
say.
''He'il amount % something yet.
He's made me think more than once
OF some OF the great men, presidents
or what not, who started out poor
boys and came to something by their
own efforts Rertram will come to
something yet. There's something
in him, and it's bound to show. No,
l Oughtn't to worry about him." said
the kind woman, looking at Nathan
with misty eyes.
She drove into her ward without
hating.
wait" she said. "and I'll give
you some supper; it's supper time"
Nathan attended to the horse, and
then sat down, tram ashiOn, on the
doorstep But he looked at the tall
pink hOllyhocks and blue beehives
without seeing them. His chin rested
in his hands, and his foot made deep
marks in the ground.
1t seemed to him a long time be-
fore the woman called him in, so
many were the thoughts which had
passed through his sobered mind
you'll feel more like starting
along when you've had bite" she
said.
II guess l shan't start along" said
Nathan. ~ guess I'll start back"
whats changed your mind:"
"That" said Nathan, slowly
"What you told me. l don't know
that I know how to say it. It's made
me feel mean, though, what you told
mean. I've thought all the
time had about the hardest time
that anybody has; but 1 guess I
don't. j guess that boy would think
my job was easy, anyhow.
"a do work extra time and / don't
have the things the way want them
much. ! say l do, because I'm go
ing back.
ut wasn't right for me to leave
like that. Mr.. Hogan is paying what
he agreed to, and l need what he
pays They need it at home, and /
didn't have any right to stop. May
be I wouldn't get work all summer.
"Pm older than that boy, and my
case isn't so hard. either. l feel like
a shirk compared with him, and I'm
going back"
His thoughts had run still deeper.
He felt as if he were coward, and
in his humility he saw things in Il
clear light To have dwelt ]ealously
on himself, to have stickled for his
small rights and sulked over his
small wrongs-it was unworthy
brave boy.
But to work with willing spirit:
to feel aud to show manly concern
for his employers interests: not dog
gedly to study how little he could do,
but how much, cheerfully to realize
the truth that money truly earned
is more than barely earned: and to
work out a worthy destiny with
strong and ready nands-that would