The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-06-21
MATS EDUCATION.

Nat was sitting on the low sill o.
the barn door, listening eagerly to
few gentle, earnest words his father
was speaking at intervals as ne
worked in the stalls. They were all
about Mats education.
"Your mother and j talked IL over
last night, his father said. ''iou
know, son, there amt much money
to do with. WED do more If we
could. We never had any education
ourselves, but we know what it is for
young folks nowadays. We decided,
your mother ana l, that you might
have more of your time to yourself
for study, or to work for yourself If
you can get the chance. Maybe
there's considerable work for a strong
boy to do at the store down to the
Corners. You better ask 'em. You
"a DO what you like, and maybe il
you're careful and saving you can
get enough together by spring to pay
for a terms schooling at the academy.
Then by fall I'll see what l can do"
That was all. Corn must be hauled
rom the fields and wood brought for
the winter fires. There was little
time TO stand idle or to talk.
1t is nard to tell what is in a man
or a 10y until some earnest purpose
takes him in hand and makes him
show what he can do. 1t was so
with Nat, Never before in the four
teen years of his life had the days
seemed SO full to overlooking with
things TO be done; never had there
seemed SO little time for the doing of
them.
He must study hard to be ready for
his examinations: that was the most
important Of all. And every minute
of the rapidly shortening days must
be economical, for it was the day
light which must be used to bring
him his coveted dollars.
Old Mr.. Bellaire, who owned the
small store at the Corners, had
listened with sharp curiosity when
Nat spoke of work at the store.
"What's made yc so keen for
work." he asked. want an cduca-
tion? Well, now. That's the way
to talk! There amt many that would
try it by themselves. Well, no. there
amt no work here that l know of.
Ben an | do it all, an have time to
rest. Sorry. If there is anything,
OF course I'll let you know"
Nat thanked him, and was going
u when Mr.. Bellairc called: Hold
on. Say, Nat, why don't We pick
nuts? There was a teller here from
Detroit yesterday, selling goods, an
he said nuts vas scarce down there
this fall. Land O mercy They are
plenty enough lIere-Deech an wal.
nuts. too. You might do we'll pick
in 'cm, an the next time a traveller
comes in here I'll tell him you've some
to sell. See?:"
old man broke in again: can say.
! saw a mink down toward Scanlon's
Creek yesterday. Muskrats an rab-
bits an squirrels are right plenty,
too, an there's some otter left up to-
ward the timber. il you're smart
enough to ketch'em. Mighty scarce,
though"
Nat had heard enough to bring
Up his hope and courage. With en-.
thusiasm in his heart. he bent his
small back willingly through the
hours OF daylight in gathering nuts.
He knew where they grew largest
and best.
Then there were traps to be made
and set, and he must pass hours in
discovering where the muskrats and
4otters hid themselves. He grudged
every minute, too. that must be spent
away from his beloved books.
As the days Slipped away and
brought Christmas near, it seemed to
Nat that there was but little TO
show for so much hard work. Seven
weeks had gone since he had begun,
aud the small box which served as a
bank held only $12, besides d few
pennies. 1t was almost hopeless now
to think of swelling the sun to S1O
by March. but $40 at least, he must
have to carry him through the term
There was Sammy, now; l2-year.
old. ruddy, light-hearted brother
Sammy. He seemed to have hardly
a care or ambition In the world. lie
thought nothing Of educating him
self; and yet it seemed that the
rarest and best Of the skins were
found in Sammy's traps. The AMI
mails seemed to hunt for his traps,
wishing to be caught. He had actu'