The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-23


spending many of their evenings
quietly at Will Harmon's home,
where John Martin was boarder.
81 declare" said Will, as the two
walked home, "I'm going to tell Mary
about it and see what she says"
Don't you do it," said John, with
little irritation. "Strong's saying
so don't make it SO"
Il shall" said Will. want to see
whether it makes her mad. She
holds pretty firm by me, Mary does.
Perhaps she'll preach to US little,
but her breaches never hurt"
Perhaps it'll make her laugh"
Mary was Willis sister, a number
of years older than himself, to whom
more than any one else was due such
graces of manner and character as he
might possess. She was not mad,
neither did she laugh as the boys
told their story.
81 guess you think Mr.. Strong's
right" said Will, impatiently, as Mary
sat with look on her face which
showed that she thought the question
whether Mr.. Strong was right or
wrong one worthy of serious consid-
Grafton.
They do say" she began, "that
when boys go out into the business
world to do for themselves is the time
when their real characters develop"
"That means that you agree with
Mr.. Strong" said Will, in little an
ger. "Well, suppose he's got a
right to say what he pleases of US,
but have my opinion of any one
that talks of me behind my back"
"You mustn't look at it that way,
DEAR" said his sister, gently. 1--WE
all know that Mr.. Strong's good
friend of both of you; that he gave
you situations when there were plenty
of others looking for them. And
now"
go on, Mary, if you have any
thing to say" said Will, as she
paused longer than he thought nee
essary.
"Now l am thinking what most
excellent thing it ought to be for
you that, without meaning it, you
CHANGED to overhear Mr.. Strong's
opinion"
II don't see much good in it," said
John. "We know that Mr.. Strong
has poor opinion CT us, and that's
about all there is to it."
"Oh, no." said Mary, earnestly.
"You may make it great deal more
than that"
"How?"
"Mr. Strong has put a new idea
into your heads"
"Yes-a very new one"
els what he said true?"
The boys glanced at each other.
He has right to his opinion of
us" said Will, with don't care man.
ner.
"Mr. Strong is man whose opinion,
as you know, is entitled to respect.
And now, boys, listen, listen and
think. You may make this knowl-
edge of his opinion of you two be-
ginning of better things than have
ever come into your lives"
"Just how, Mary?"
"He thinks there is enough material
between you for one first-class boy.
Now, l should, if l were you, go on
and show that there is the making of
two first-class boys"
AS neither spoke, she went on.
eff Will is careless and insincere,
what is to prevent his taking himself
vigorously in hand and cultivating
painstaking habit, and, far more i'm
portant, perfect honesty of heart and
openness in all dealings with othersi"
"Hit me hard, Mary. You're right,
as you always are. But now it's
Johns turn. Give it to him little"
"If John has only his outside to i'm
prove, he has less to do than you
have" she said with smile. with
good foundation of faithfulness and
candor he will easily be able to Guilt
vate the gentlemanly manner which
is necessary to everybody's well-do-
ing-now that he knows his need of
it,"
"We're both taking a pretty big
contract" said John.
at is really" she said, earnestly,
"very much the same for both of you.
Live up to the very best that is in
you, and Mr.. Strong will be sure to
realize sooner or later that you have
the full makeup of two splendid
boys" -JOurndl and Messenger.
A Dutch WOnderball.