The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-06-22
CHADD
---- BY William
e ELWA , Zachary
vr, Gladwin.
A Shiftless Boy Becomes an
Energetic Man.

1t was the middle of May, and the
belated last lecture Of the course was
to be given in Wilburg.
Here. Chadd." said old Essex Harm
haw, holding out Il bit of pasteboard.
Here's IA ticket for that there lecture
All about ambition. that lecture is
the right kind of ambition and how to
get it and how to keep il.
The big 17-year-old boy looked in
differently at Mr. Harnhaw, and did
not offer to take the ticket.
Squire Huyick. him they call old
Crusty.' you know, he give it to me
and told me to give il TO the most
wuthless and ambtonless fellow in
town. told him Ia give it to you, but
| had my doubts about your takin it..
Even if you did take 1t, | said, 'twould
be only to tear it to pieces in them big
lazy fingers of yours. Says |, Squire
it isn't no sort of use giyin it to him.
But the squire he just bumped up his
shoulders and went off. Some says
humpin up your shoulders means one
thing, and some says it means another
| took 1t to mean he didn't think much
of you. nohow.'
There was a fash of temper in the
boys eyes. He reached out abruptly
and took the ticket. He did not tear 1t
in pieces, however Instead, he SLOUGH
ed off down the street, holding 1t tight
ly in his hand. Meddlesome old Esek
looked after him. "Now. wouldn't 1t
be a great note if he went to that lee
ture?" he said to himself. 'Twould
mortify me considerable If he did, aft
err me a-prognosticatng to the squire
so positive"
The boy lounged on. Suddenly the
same idea that was agitating old Essex
struck him. Yonder was the church
where the lecture was TO be given,
What If he should go? He paused a
moment and looked down at the tick
eft in his hand. 1t was almost time for
the lecture to begin. Then he raised
his head with decision. 1.-The most
wuthless and ambitionless fellow in
town will go to the lecture" he said
as he entered the church.
Cant never count on nobody In this
world" grumbled old Essex. "Ill feel
pretty foolish tomorrow, | guess
1t was not to be wondered ut that
Chadd had no ambition. From child.
hood he and his twin sister, Fannie
had lived at the edge of town with Il
misery old uncle and aunt who never
had made it of any advantage TO the
children to work. However much they
toiled, they had no reward but scant
food aud patched and frayed clothing
Fannie was still held down to toll by
the miserly aunt. but Chadd had re-
belled He did the most necessary Of
the heaviest work about the place and
the remainder of the time idled about
the town. Time had resting spell,
| guess" he told himself. IF uncle
and aunt had hired anybody else to
work the way they made me work for
nothing twould have cost 'eT some
thing. now. | warrant YOU
Nobody knew of these thoughts that
filled the boys mind. for he was no
talker. And he was misjudged by
those who look only on appearances,
Chadd had never heard II lecture be
fore, but he had enough instructive
sense of the proprieties TO sit up
straight in his seat and give the speak
er his attention. Soon he was lost TO
his surroundings When the lecture
was over, with a sigh Ghadd arose
with the rest of the audience and
passed out of the church I'm do it,
he said. as he stumbled along the i'll
paved street that led TO his home. IN
get me an ambition tomorrow. Set
your mark the lecturer said. And TO
morrow m going to set 1t"
The next morning he rose and me
chanically did the heavy work he had
taken for his snare and then set Off
for the town. All day he loafed and
loitered, to all appearances the same
boy that he had been the day before.