The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-03-30
THE VALUE OF A SACRIFICE.

James Brady is mechanic. He
had a satisfactory position as foreman
of a machine shop, and easily sup
ported his wife and two boys. The
boys were twelve and fourteen years
old, and went to school.
One day Mr.. Brady completed an in
vention that he thought would bring
him great wealth. 1t was patented
He interested friends in it. Money
was borrowed to bring it to the notice
of the public He gave up the fore
manship of the machine shop, and
like hundreds of men before him who
have had the inventors mania-lost
all. The failure was complete; so
complete that it extinguished the in
ventor's ambition and left him weak
and incapable of work.
At that time-for this is true story
the family would have starved had
not the boys nobly given themselves to
it's support. They took an extended
newspaper route and divided it be-
tween them. How much did they
earn Just seven dollars week. On
that pittance the four persons lived
and paid house rent.
The elder of the boys, a fine, manly
fellow, showed SO much pluck and
good sense that he attracted the at
tention of a wealthy lady, who thought
she saw in him the promise of an I'M
usual manhood.
what would you like to do? % she
asked him one evening, as he left the
paper at her door.
Il would like to go to the Tech
some time" he replied wistfully.
THE Tech p repeated the lady.
The boy explained that he meant
the Institute of Technology. She was
not prepared for SO large an eXpendi-
ture as this would involve, and made
but little reply, but she did not forget
the lads commendable wish.
As the times grew worse the struggle
for existence in the Brady family was
intensified The lads were incessant
in their endeavors to find more lucra-
tive work, in order to support the
father and mother. One day just
then came great news. Preparation
for a scholarship at the Tech was
offered to George, the elder boy.
II am sure you will do credit to it"
and friend Then, like so many bene-
factors, inconsiderate yet kind, she
thought no more about him.
tious, grateful and industrious to a
pitiful degree. He could not give up
his paper route, for on that the family
lived so he sat up until twelve o'clock
at night studying rose usually at four,
and took his meals where he could.
He was only fifteen years old and over
grown.
For three months he went to school.
One day he came home late from dis
tributing his evening papers. Though
unusually cheerful, he said he was
very tired He tried to study, then
fell asleep in his chair, and soon went
to bed.
When his brother tried to wake him
the next morning, the lad made no an
swer. A physician was called. He
examined the poor, wornout body and
said there was no disease but eXhaus-
ton. The boy was dead from over
work.
In the lads pocket was found a lit
tie book, 1t was a small-print New
Testament. In it several blank leaves
had been pasted, and upon these were
the pathetic accounts of the daily ex-
penditure of money, by the poor boy,
written in the most precise manner.
Now, for the first time, the family
learned that he had been living at the
rate of four cents meal that being
his highest allowance. The wonder is
how he lived as long as he did.
And now when it was too late, pity
ing friends sprang up on all sides-as
is often the case. Too late? What
a waste of life % they said The shock
from the death of his son reused the
father from his long stupor. He was
fortunate enough to be taken back
to his old position. The remaining
boy was well taken care of, and we'll
repaid the care that he received.
The fortunes of the family turned
and from the date of their great grief
theirpower to help themselves was aus
sured, and the will of others to help
them was wiser in its purpose.
The dead lads sacrifice wrought for
those he loved the very blessings which
he would have chosen for them had |
he lived.
Must necessarily such suffering and
such a death be called a waste? Sac
rifice seems to be essential to the de-
velopment of all that is noblest and
best iii men. Our dull moral percep-
tions do sometimes clearly see that
whose 'loseth his life' unselfishly
finds it again.