The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-05-06
A STORY OF TO-DAY
All of Which is Set Down Exactly as
it Happened.
BY WILLIAM 5. GIDDEY.

It's after 3 O'Clock, Silas What've
We got that light burnin' up there for?'i
The youth to whom these words were
addressed, sturdy, manly-looking lad
of IL, was seated at small table in the
low-eeilineed upper chamber of a Yer
mont farmhouse, with an open book
before him. In one corner ofthe room
was an old-fashioned bed, with round
heavy posts, near the foot of which
stood washstand and small trunk,
while along the side of the room ran a
row of hooks, upon which various arti-
cles of clothing were hung in orderly
array. A small mirror and an extra
chair completed the furniture of the
room.
"Come, young man, dye hear me?
It's high time We were in bed ~ again
shouted the voice from the foot of the
stairs.
''Yes, father, I'm going in a few
minutes answered the youth, pleas
antly.
Few minutes, hey? When / tell
We to 20 to bed / want We to start at
once. I'll soon find out what's keepin'
We upr' and heavy footsteps began
ascending the stairway.
The youth at the table flushed and
glanced uneasily towards the open
doorway. a moment later his father
stood before him with frowing counte-
nance, ard as he caught sight of the
book, the seowl on his face deepened,
and he burst forth:
''Studyin' agin nights, are We, in
spite of my orders3 What's this ye've
got now?'
at is Latin grammar" said the
youth, "and | did not understand that
you had forbidden my studying nights.
You said you would not have me vast
ing time studying when | ought to be
at work, and have no work to do
evenings
81 don't care for that. won't have
We studyin' at night when We orter be
asleep, either. 1t plays ye out so We
amt wuth shucks to work the next
day an I'd like TO know what earthly
use Latin'll ever be to ye, anyhow ?"
"Why, can't get into college with
olt it, father"
Cant help that. / reckon yen be
able to run the farm when I'm through
with it without college education, an
besides | want We to understand I'm
not goin' to pay for any such TOM
foolery as that"
81 won't ask you to pay, father. /
can work my way, if necessary. All
I'll ask of you is your consent to 60, in
a few years when my studies are so far
along that l can pass the examination. y
aye needn't wait till that time TO
find out. can tell ye right off that
amt goin' to put up with any such
nonsense, I need ye here on the place.
If have got little money laid up,
don't intend to throw it away hirin'
help, an have We wastin' yer time goin'
through college. | got along all right
without it, an guess we can do the
same"
''But father"
"None of yer talkin' back to me /
tell We once for all won't have We
wastin' yer time in that way, an to
show We / mean it I'll jest take that
book of yers and throw it into the stove.
Recken that'll settle the matter in a
hurryr'
And picking up the Latin grammar
from the table, lie started for the door
but before he reached it, the boy, now
pale and trembling from excitement,
sprung before him exclaiming:
''Father, give me back that book 1t
is mine bought it with my own
money-the money l earned working
out"
''Stand back out of my way. | tell
We I'm goin' to burn il up"
"If you do, father, II shall leave
home tomorrow"
'Well, go on, the quicker the better,
an don't We ever dare to show yer face
around here agin. I've stood all of
yer impudence an back talk Pm goin'
to. Now, get out of my way an to bed
with We, an in the mornin' We can
clear out soon as yer a mine to. Dye
hear?
And raising his clenched hand, he
struck his son blow on the cheek
which sent him reeling across the floor
and then he strobe angrily from the
room.
Down the stairway and then straight
to the kitchen went Hiram Stone, and
removing one of the stove lids, he
dropped the book on the hot Goals, and
sfoob for N .ttotpanf primlv watching