, 1900-10-25
VOL 10. NO. Is.
Letter No. 2.
Cambridge, O., Oct. l4th, 1900.

your first man was not very pleasant and
/ am sorry he was not man enough to
pay you what he agreed to-but you,
like every other boy. must learn that
bitter lesson, Just as the rest OF us had
to do. Iremember one time / went to
work for a tanner, back in w. Va, at "a
per week and board and washing. That
was big wages for them times and | was
a big, husky boy of nineteen, and /
thought my fortune was made. But
when he come to pay me he would not
allow me but 50 per week and made me
pay so cents for my washing, too, claim
ing that l was under age and could not
collect any more. / could not help my
self, but took the wages and then set
down and wrote home to mother about
it. She wrote me a goad, long letter,
which comforted me very much. but /
never forgot the meanness of that man
and nave always been careful to pay Il
boy every cent-or a little more-than |
agreed to. So, go ahead, and don't let
that little matter discourage you. There
are lots of mean men in the world-but
there are lots of good ones, too, and
don't make the mistake of judging all
mankind by that one measley cur.
Your Uncle George, Aunt Annie and
Cousin Bell were all over from Big
Thompson the rast week. They had
not heard of your going west. You
ought to have seen your Aunt when she
heard the news-"What. Gone away
off out there to live among savages and
wild men. Why the boys crazy" And
Bell wasn't much behind her, though
she didn't say a word. She just shut
her jaws together tight-you know how
she does-and there came a red spot in
ZACH cheek and her eyes got red and
moist Bell is rather partial to you,
Hiram. and / think SHE thinks you
should nave at least said something to
her before pulling out to the other side
of the earth. Trehaps you can smoothe
things over by writing to her.
l was amused at your Uncle. You
know he voted for Bryan four years ago.
Well, he is just as strong for Mckinley
now as he was for Bryan. You know
how hard l tried to keep him in line
last election, for we both wore the blue
from Macks own state, too, but, no sir,
he would vote for Bryan. He heard
Bryan. in Hamilton, on his way over,
and he says he cant see how he can
stand up aud say that we have had no
permanent prosperity since Mckinley
went in l wish you had not lost your
vote this year-but never mind. 1t will
come in handy in after years, for this
battle is one that is never lost, though
never vol
Charley Boy, bless his little black
head. it is right here by my shoulder
now, ~jostling me every minute got your
letter and he has made each one OF US
read it to him over, and over, and over
again. until he knows it by heart. Mary
got IA little out Of patience with him,
but | caught her eye, and then she just
gave up and read it to him again. He
took it to bed with him the first night
and his one ambition now is to learn to
write so he can write to you his very
own self" | know it took a little time
and your fingers were. probably stiff
from handling logs and timber, but you
never did a piece OF work that brought
more real, genuine appreciation than
that half sheet OF note paper.
Your mother is becoming reconciled,
yetishe is quite sure that you will be
scalped, or get killed on one OF them
.-bronchos'' as you call them. | am far
more afraid you will get to chewing, or
pmoking cigaretts, or sucking an old
strong pipe. / am to years old, yet |
never learned te chew or smoke a pipe.
have heard thousands of mel say they
would give anything il they could quit
either, or both, of those filthy habits
but you have heard me say this before
You spoke about Jimmy, the boy who
works with you, kicking about working
after six o'clock. Now let me tell you,
my boy, while | do not want you to do
too IN Ich, or kill yourself trying to get
into the good graces of your employer,
don't you be afraid to york as long as
you ought to If your employer needs
YOU. IL either one Of you two boys are
.'let out as you call 1t. 1t wont be YOU
if you are faithful to that mans inter
est. Your time belongs to him and
hope you will, for your fathers sake do
him good, faithful work. Make your
self SO useful to him that he cant get
along without you and, II yon follow that
course all through life, you'll never be
out OF "a job-no matter il Coxey raises
a Thousand armies.
Your mother says she will write you
soon and Mary has already written you
aud sealed it up without letting the rest
of us SEQ what she said. i think she
must have some news to tell you that
she thinks is a very great secret but
her father is not blind. even though he
may not pretend to let on when he sees