Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-06-07

to smoke, although cruelty urged to
do so by the pangs Ct appetite.
Does seem as if luck was on Jacobs
side" commented Mr.. Ravens. Here's
Sammie smoked up his quarters worth,
and now there won't be any for awhile
for Sammie to get hold Of"
Meanwhile Jacob Monasmith found
the peace and happiness of his life
broken in upon. Although temperate
himself, he knew the strength OF appe-
tite, for Miss Ravens was mistaken
when she said he had no powers of OBJ
servation. He had very great powers
of observation and a great sympathy
for the tempted. And he was not long
in discovering the identity of the
thief.
"'Twas Janeway giving him that
quarter that started it," he unused.
"Sammie hadn't had any for quite
spell, and when the quarters worth
was gone he got desperate and stole"
And Jacob sighed as he put on his hat
and went to seek his stepson.
He found him, after some search, be-
hind the barn, sitting listlessly on an
old, overturned wagon-bed. Taking a
seat beside him, Jacob said: where
have you hid them, Sammie?'
The boy started up in terror, but his
stepfather laid a OBTAINING hand on
his arm. "Sit still" he said, kindly
but firmly. There was silence mo-
ment, during which the strength OF
will that lay behind that OBTAINING
hand was making itself felt all through
Sammie's deranged nervous system.
And when the question was repeated:
"Where have you hid them, Sammie ?"
the answer came in whisper: up in
the loft"
For some time Jacob deliberated.
Then he said do you love your moth
err, Sammie?"
Eyes, I dol" came the answer, and
the boy burst into tears.
81 love her, too" said Jacob. Nov
We'll see what can be done. We don't
want her to find out about this, Sam
mie."
The boy listened with bated breath.
do you love her we'll enough to
promise me never to steal any more?
That is what I'm asking you, Sammie.
Do you love your mother well enough
to promise me, because you love her,
never to steal any more?"
J eyes, sir" he answered, respectfully.
Then" said Jacob, removing his
hand from the boys arm and rising,
81 love her well enough to get you
out of this scrape. But there's one
thing more I'd like to ask YOU OF
course you don't love me, but do you
respect me enough to promise me to
quit smoking those things?"
II dol" said Sammie, solemnly.
I'm not wanting to ask too much
of you," said Jacob, "but any time you
should feel it in your heart to call me
pa I'll be proud to hear you, son."
And then Jacob walked away.
Nobody stood by to see the tumult
in Sammie's small nature that day, and
nobody saw his spirit burst its bonds
and stand ready to begin a larger
growth. For Jacob had gone to right
things with the burglarized store
keeper, who was firm friend of his.
you can keep your mouth shut, I
know" began Jacob, when the two
were alone. "Now I've found out who
took those cigarettes, and I'm ready
to pay for them. Least said, SOON
est mended. How much were they
worth to you?"
The storekeeper named sum and
Jacob promptly paid it. 81 could have
brought them back to you," he re-
marked, "but 1 didn't do it because
1 didn't want them to be here tempt
ing boys"
For a moment his friend, the store
keeper, looked at him. Jacob" he
said, with admiration, 'you were cut
out for father if ever a man was"
Jacob blushed all over his homely
visage. 81 kind of thought 1 was when
1 married Sammie and the three girls"
he answered, modestly. "The children
have lots of good in them, II oooy
knows where to find it,"
And as months passed the town OF
Ganabrant began to see dimly what the
stepfather had all along seen through
his large vision.
Years went by and Sammie was out
in the world for himself-doing well,
too, although Jacob thought, with
sigh, that he had never said pa"
Then Jacob fell sick. The mother,
frightened and distracted at the
thought of losing him, was of little
use. But Sammie, in the full plenitude
of his small powers, stepped to the
front. Straight as a grenadier he
marched into Jacobs sick-room and,
taking his stepfather's hand cordially
in his, he said: Don't you worry, pa.
I'm right here, and I'm going to stay"
Mr.. Monasmith smiled and said,
family: 81 knew you would be, son."
81 never see the beat!" declared Miss