The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-18

vel, over the nobility Of such a life.
halo of self sacrifice and the sweet
spirit OF uncomplaining effort which
can never be dmmed.
have in mind a young man, a resi-
dent of this city. who In early child
hood entertained shining nspirati tion
which unfolded IN his heart like Il
flower. His one hope and thought was
to enter certain profession when he
became a man, and to that end every
childish energy was bent Suddenly
his father, who had been engaged In
professional life in another direction.
died. leaving "A large family OF which
this son was the eldest Then it was
the little lad. he was only eleven years
old. found that thus early he had
come to an end OF the purpose of his
heart. The path had been very brief
and led but to a blank wall over which
lie could never climb.
He was now the head OF the house
and the slender little fellow went out
into the world to earn not only his own
livelihood but to aid in the support OF
the mother and children.
II didn't occur to him to send them
all to the Home for the F'riendless or
scatter them among relatives. He
did all sorts of things--sold papers. ran
errands worked in store and toiled
early and late for the pitiful sum
which was so much needed. There
could be no possible hope OF continuing
his studies in his chosen profession.
SO the dear dream was iesoutely put
aside forever. He was a tall lad, with
a handsome face. and as the years
passed. the earnestness Of that face
and the Enthusiastically high principle
expressed thereon won friends and
good positions. but always with hard
work. long toilsoma hours. ana little
enough pay.
He sent his sisters to school-there
were several Of them-ltllc girls with
bright eyes and dark hair like their
brother. His young brother was also
given the best advantage possible and
was kept in school until he was we'll
equipped for the work he afterward
took up. The mother. who had become
an invalid, was cared for with all the
tenderness the devoted eldest son could
bcstow, and thus the family was kept
together.
Tho years have gone and now the
boy in his twenty-flfth year, still
living Il la bOrious existence. can look
with pride upon the result of his work.
His sisters have been graduated Al
the high school. some are ready for
teaching. His brother has a good po-
sition in a mercantile house. and the
mothers declining years are made
comfortable not less with the fruits Of
her sons toll than the presence Of the
children. all of whom are now grown
and are fine young men and women
with culture. refinement. and best OF
all. are beautiful in character.
The big brother snatches hours from
his resting time to study and better
fit himself for advancement in his vo-
COTTON. The ambition of his life has
never been satisfied and of course can
not be. Vet in looking back over the
few years and seeing what the little
lad accomplished in keeping the family
together. in bringing UP the children
to a superb maturity, who can say
that his sacrifice has been in vaino He
has denied himself the career for which
he was undoubtedly gifted by nature:
sphere and one which may keep him
long obscure and poor. but in looking
upon the quiet. beautiful religion which
he is daily living. and upon the ex-
ample which he is leading for those
who look up to him as the one perfect
being on earth. there is a lesson to the
restless. selfish ones who Shirk re-
sponsibiity and bemoan the unfriendli-
ness Of fate.
Saucy Bess