The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-04-09
CLErl.
BY Percy T. Griffith.

4
lage on the banks of the Hudson, well
termed the Rhine of America" From
many a lowroofed farmhouse came the
welcome sound of the dinner horn.
calling the weary toilcrs in the fields
| TO their midday meal Relieved from
their irksome studies q merry stream
of children trooped forth from the viii
lage fchool, some repairing to their
| homce nearby. others nocliing together
| if gloups. to eat a generous luncheon
| beneath the shade of the great over
hanging oaks.
Their joyous laughter. echoing afar,
| rippled through the closed shutters of
n small cottage not far distant whose
| evident gloom strangely contrasted
with Natures gay. spring glike splen.
dor It reached the ears of a group
| seated in the best room of the little
house--a group composed of three
| persons of varied ages. whose coun
tenances each expressed a different
emotion.
One. a spectacled old gentleman, at
| tired in clerical garb, who listened
| with manifest approval to the matter
of fact tones of strong minded look
| ing woman of perhaps 40, with re-
pressed malice and well simulated
charity struggling for mastery on her
| brow. The last of the trio was a slight
| figured child whose ordinary half
girlish half.boyish face. surrounded by
| golden, curly hair, now seemed won
| drously mature and almost manly in
| it's righteous wrath, while the old cler-
| gyman spoke
MY child. what you suggest is
impossible. You could not live in this
| cottage all alone, now that your moth
er and brother are dead. You are
barely IA years of age and we have dc.
cided it to be for your best interests to
to stay-with Mrs. Anderson.
You mean, sir, that we are bound
out. You might as well say the words
at once. Why should fall from the
status of free citizen to that of a
pauper and a slave? Did not my poor
mother leave all this property which
you benevolent people have just sold
for over $500? And if went into this
bondage, what opportunity should
have for study and improvement? You
know mother always wanted me to go
to college and be teacher or a mu.
sician or an author or something great,
but | don't see what chance | would
have if followed your plan"
What did | tell ye, parson, What
did I tell ye." cried the sharp-visagei
woman with uplifted eyebrows.
That's what comes of sendin a child
to school when it tain't no more than
five years old and a-makin' of it study
all its life to home. What goods
person what's spent their life on
booh-larnin'? Tell me that"
"Oh, Mrs. Anderson" deprecated
the minister, who priJed himself on
his knowledge, education is surely
valuable
Yes, | know all that allus
thought so, too. | wuz Civ a good eddi
cashun myself, but it warn't none of
this new-fangled book,larnin' that this
obstinate child's got. My mother, at
any rate, warn't no fool, which is more
than you can say of some peoples
mothers, even if they be dead an gone
though it tain't for us poor mortals
to say where they're gone. | might
give mighty sure guess where some
peoples mothers is gone. what never
taught them nothin but book-larnin'.
but then, we're all poor, frail human
beins."
Doctor Wesley" here broke in the
child, "if you think I'm going to stand
here and have my mothers spotless
name reviled and desecrated by that
low-livej-'
"Low-lived. you little pauper in.
crate, you!"
"Yes. low-lived, ill-bred, rude, un-
couth!" declared the angry young per
son. "Oh, l know all about you, Mrs
Anderson, and | know why you've got
grudge against her and me. Did you
ever hear the name of Francis Sum-
ner? All! you see | know-I read all
the letters"
we've been spyin', reading pack O.
lies, have ye? Just wait till have the
charge of ye. and I'll larn ye to spy
around things what don't belong to
you"
Il beg your pardon. AS l am the
only heir to my mothers property,
they are now mine. And, doctor, let
me tell you what they said. You know
Francis Sumner and my mother were
engaged to be married and broke it
off. Do you know why7 Because
"Parson, if you don't shet that little
liar up | will"
Gently, gently. Mrs. Anderson"
said he old man. ITS only natural for
Clem to be excited after just losing
two dear relatives, and you must make
allowances. Now, Glen, we'll leave
you to rest after all this worry and
trouble. And tomorrow morning
Squire Morgan and l will come over,
and we'll make all the arrangements
for you to stay with Mrs. Anderson"