Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-24

tame back with his daughter he shook his
head gravely, fearing that his help was too
late He could do nothing, however. but
wait till his son should come up with the
neighbors. for whom he had sent. And
when they had carried him 10 the Bascom
farmhouse and the village doctor had
come and examined him and set his bones
they found that they would have him 70
care for for several weeks.
1T seems kind o. hard IL should be So,
Maria, bein as you've got about all 10 do
T you can stand, said Mr.. Bascom TO his
wife "but don't see as 'twould be decent
not 10 care for him.
"Why, we've just got 10, John" said
Mrs. Bascom. And dear SUI knows we
can't grudgc him nothin. II 1t hadn't
"a been for him Ella might "a been kill
ed"
But IL the Bascom household was poor
IN worldly goods, as II certainly was, ard
II 1t was "A serious tax on the family purse
to provide the medicines the sufferer need
ed and drain on the strength OF the
mother and daughter TO nurse him as as
siduously as they did, no hint Of these
facts appeared. The professor was not al
lowed To want for anything that could be
had, nor did he see any but n cheerful
countenance In the house. He was not
blind, however, nor was he backward
about asking questions when he recovered
sufficiently 10 talk.
He went straight 20 the point with a
directness that would have seemed grossly
impertinent In a neighbor but which ap-
peared childlike simplicity in this queer
foreigner who spoke such twisted English.
what for do you stay where the land so
poor isi" he asked one day. You are a
farmer. Why do you not sell and to the
west GO. There you will do better rs here,
where your fields are all tipped on one side
up and rock full. ="
"Well, I've had n sort o. hankcrin to go
west for long spell, said Mr.. Bascom,
"but 'tain't 50 easy to sell when there
amt anybody seekin 10 buy. I stay here
because the farms mine, an there amt
nothin else that Is. / never could get fore
handed enough 10 make start, and it's all
can do to make liyin here"
"But the boy" said the professor, "will
he all his life stay here also and be poor"
"Nor exclaimed the father almost an
grily Not II I'm spared long enough TO
care for his mother till he gets start.
He's bent on schoolin, and his mother and
are goin to sect he gets it. He'll have To
work his own way, though" added the
old man, with little sigh. "Wo can't
help him much.
.Yes, that is good" said the professor.
at Is better as boy his own education
get"
And after that he talked with young
John The boy was shy at first, but un.
der the professors blunt questioning he
soon warmed up enough to talk of his am
bition. He wanted to be q civil engineer,
he said and the professor found that he
had laid good foundation for an educa-
tion In the village academy and had bought
and mastered few good books
Moreover, he was observant. One day
when the professor was almost well he was
looking over the specimens In his KNAPP
sack when John came and looked on.
"There's good deal OF that kind Of rock
on the cast side Of the farm" he said,
pointing to one OF the chips
The professor started little, but no
spoke as deliberately as usual. "You shall
show to me that east side" he said, when
! can climb those hills some day."
~ guess you can get there now" said
the lad. 1T isn't much of climb, and
there's smooth path"
So they went out together, and the pro-
fessors eyes CLEANED when he saw the
ledge John pointed out. He said very lit
tie, though, and after he had taken some
measurements and collected few speci-
mems they went back to the house.
Next day he said he was going away,
and be asked Mr. and Mrs. Bascom how
much he owed them for his board and his
incidence
"Land akes, professor, " said Mra Bas-
com, "you don't s'poee we could take your