The morning times., 1895-09-29
DICKS LUCKY FIND.

Hell be a power of trouble an a heap
of expense, Mandy, an he won't be worth
nothin' to u.s."
Yes, that's SO, Hiram, but don't know
what we're to do aboutit. 1t works a great
hardship on us to keep him, but don't jest
see how We kin turn him away. 1t would
make people talk awful If We refused a
home to our own orphan grandchild,
wouldn't it?''
Yes, IL would" Hiram replied, angrily.
people always have to talk bout other
folks business, an mix in things that don't
concern 'em. Is'pose," he went on, with a
sigh, after short pause, that Wen have
to keep him, whether we ought to or not,
though his keepin' is goin' to be big ex-
pence TO u.s."
AN Jest at time when we can't ef-
ford for extra expense, neither" Manda
added. THAT mortgage on the farm is
comm due in year, an wen need to save
every cent W c kin to meet it,
That's So" Hiram observed, as he arose
and stumped thoughtfully back and forth
across the floor. 1T would a crowded us
to pay off that mortgage at best, an with
this added expense, don't see what We kin
do. l don't see what people want of chill
dren when they have to leave 'em to be q
burden on other folks. If this boy wasn't a
cripple, now, he might halfway earn his
liyin', but bein' n cripple as he is, he'll be
plumb dead expense"
II was at the breakfast table in old
Hiram Mastins farmhouse that this conver-
sation took place. The subject OF 1t, little
Dick Mastin. sat al the table listening with
a heavy heart to 1t all. His father had been
dead a long time and his mother had died a
few days ago. and he Had come, penniless,
crippled orphan, seeking home and shelter
under his grandfather's roof. And this was
the reception that had been accorded hinI!
He was not wanted ,>and he was made to
understand that fact quite keenly. He was
a burden that must he tolerated because 1t
could not be avoided.
When Hiram stumped- out of the room
little Dick, unable 10 control his feelings,
broke down and began to weep. Mrs.
Mastin looked at him moment in evident
surprise, then said:
what air you a-cryin' about, I'd like to
known"
"'Cause," Dick sobbed. ~ don't want
to be a BURDEN a
"oh! Well, you air one, anyway, an
cryin' about it don't mend tue matter none.
as kin see s.sf
II wish you an grandpa wouldn't talk
like you do" Dick acSntinued, '''cduse 1
don't want TO be in the way, an wish 1
hadn't come"
well. did ever!'' Mrs. Mastinexclained.
why, child, amt every word we said
true?''
uyas'n, lint don't W, nj -, lao n ~ ayr,nr,ea
TO you an keep you from payiu' off the
mortgage"
"Well, whether you want TO be or not,
you air, just the same. an there's 20 use OF
youbein' so touchy about what wesay about
it. II your father an mother hadn't been
so shiftess you wouldn't need 10 come back
on US for q support They could "a left
you sonethin'."
Fathers been dead a long time an
mothers been sick for years" the boy re-
mcnstrated, meekly.
More shiftless than sick Mrs. Mastin
grumbled. "I know them town folks, an 1
know now scared they air of soilin' their
hands. But there, we won't say no more
about it, for what's the use,of talIin' about
what can't be helped. You're here, an
we've got to take keer of you, no omatter how
uuhandy it comes, nor how much the ex
peDse is, nor If We lose the farm into the bar
gain. which we re most sure to do"
''Til help all l can, gran'ma," Dick said,
between sobs. ''rll work"
You'll do precious lot o. lelpin'," Nv.
MastiD shifted in dtsdain. You can't earn
the salt that goes in your BREAD
Mrs. MastiD began to clear away the
table and Dick left the room and stole out
behind the house, where he threw himself
down on the grass and gave full vent TO his
grief.
He was seDsitive-acutely so-as all per-
sons with physical defects areapt to be. He
felt his inability to be useful and for that
reason the harsh words of his grandparents
cut him deeply. At first he thought of going
away, but when he recalled his well-nigh
helpless condition he dismissed that idea
from his mind. He had had enough expert
eDce with the world to know that he could
scarcely hope to better his condition any
where else.
''Pll have to stay" he said to himself,
"but Eli do all can to help. / won't be
no more of a burden than possible an III
work all cam
Dick adhered to this resolution and in the
days that followed he showed an eagerness
to be of uae, workiBg industriously and at
ways being ready to do;whatever duty was
assigned to him. More than that, he sug-
gested things to dc and watched for op.
portunities to relieve one or the other of his
grandparents of burdens.
He was SO willing to be of service and
tried so hard to earn his living that the old
folks must have felt more kindly toward him
haH bav nf hoan cn oIf ftchp
completely wrapped up, in their own inter
ests. IL
He longed often for "a kind word from
them or word of commendation showing
that his efforts were appreciated, but be
longed in vain. If they took any notice of
what he did at all 1t was only to find fault
with the manner in which it was done or to
chide him for not doing so.
Sixmonths had passed since Dicks advent
into Hiram Mastin's house. The two old
people and the boy were at the breakfast
table one morning when suddenly Mrs.
Nastin said:
81 dreamed last night that we found that
buried money, Hiram. That is three times
have had that same dream in the last two
weeks, an believe it means somethin' z"
81 wish it did mean that we'd find the
Hiram answered. "a thousand
dollars wcNld come mighty handy just now
for besides giving us somethin' to live on
comfortably, 1T would pay off that $500
mortgage. Butdreams don't amount tonoth-
in, and that buried money will never be
found It's been searched for all over the
garden, and II it was there it would "a been
found before this. guess father was mis-
taken where he putit."
Mrs. Mastin sighed, but remained silent.