The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-02
MATS EDUCATION.


was speaking at intervals as he
worked In the stalls. They were all
about Mats education.
"Your mother and l talked IL over
last night" his father said. "You
| know, son, there amt much money
To do with. "We'd do more II we
could. We never had any education
ourselves, but we know what 1t Is for
young folks nowadays. We decided,
your mother ana /, that you might
have more OF your time TO yourself
for study or TO work for yourself II
you can get the chance. Maybe
there's considerable work for strong
boy to do at the store down 10 the
| Corners You better ask 'em. You
can do what you like, and maybe IL
you're careful and saving you can
get enough together by spring TO pay
for terms schooling at the academy.
Then by fall I'll see what ! can do"
That was all. Corn must be hauled
rom the fields and wood brought for
the winter fires There was little
time 10 stand idle or to talk
1t Is hard TO tell what is in man
or a boy 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 ovcrllowing with
things to be done; never had there
seemed SO little time for the doing OF
them.
lie must study hard TO he ready for
his examinations; that was the most
important OF all And every minute
of the rapidly shortening days must
be economical, for IL 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.
"Whats made ye so keen for
work." he asked. "Want an educa-
tion? Well, now! That's the way
TO talk! There amt many that would
try il by themselves. Well, no, there
mint no work here that | 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
out when Mr.. BelIaire called: Hold
on! Say, Nat, why don't We elk
nuts? There was feller here from
Detroit Yesterday. selling goods, an
he said nuts was scarce down there
this fall. Land % mercy. They are
plenty enough here-beech 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?"
Nat was about To answer when the
old man broke in again: "An' say!
i saw n 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 If you're smart
enough TO kctch'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
otters hid themselves He grudgcd
every minute, too, that must be spent
away from his beloved books.
AS the days slipped away and
brought Christmas near, IL seemed To
Nat that there was but little TO
show for SO much hard work. Seven
weeks had gone since he had begun,
and the small box which served as a
bank held only Sl2, besides few
pennies 1t was almost hopeless now
TO think OF swelling the sum TO $40
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
care or ambition In the world. He
thought nothing OF educating him
self; and yet IL seemed that the
rarest and best OF the skins were
| found in Sammy's traps. The ami
mals seemed to hunt for his traps.
wishing TO bc caught. He had actu-
ally saved sl6, while Nat who
had purpose back OF IL all, had
only twelve.
There were no nuts to gather now.
There were only the skins to depend
upon. and he must study hard. That
was the secret Of IL; Sammy gave all
his time to the traps, for he had
nothing else TO do. 1t was too bad,
thought Nat.
A feeling almost OF despair had
possession OF Nat's mind as he made
the rounds OF his traps one day, with
these thoughts upDermost Why
couldn't he get money. when IL meant