The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-11-28

y cises were the best that the acad-
envy had ever known, and at the re-
union In the evening Hamlin Hail was
crowded with students, old and new.
But It was all over now and the last
10 leave the ball were John Aiming
ton and Alice Raymond They were
somewhat older than the rest of the
class, and it was well known that they
We're engaged. Alice had been the
music teacher at the academy during
the last year of her course, and River
dale was more than proud Of her mu-
steal ability. John had assisted in
teaching some of the younger classes.
The grace and beauty of youth rested
upon them as they stood side by side
They were looking at the class motto
above the stage:
PER ASPERA AID ASTRA.
"Plenty of 'aspera' ahead of us" said
John, but guess we 80 per them to-
gether"
"Oh, but we must remember all the
time there are plenty of 'astra, too"
said Alice, cheerfully.
mo" said John, looking straight
down into her star-like eyes, "only two
'astra' in all the world for me-"
Alice tried to look very grave, but
only succeeded in blushing preltily as
she said, 1T doesn't do a bit of good
to preach to you, John, you always
make some sort of game of it."
Then they ran down the stairs and
out into the bright moonlight Of the
cool May night, none the less happy
because there was an under-current
of anxiety in their thought Of the fu-
ture
The next morning John went to the
station with Alice, and she took the
early train for Boston, where she was
to study music, and as soon as possible
to teach it. When the train had gone,
John went Immediately to Enoch
Rice's general store in the village hung
up his coat put on a linen buster, and
began to sweep out"
There were some who were much as
tonished at Johns action in going into
the store as a clerk.
Il hadn't no idee that John was goin
to stop here" said old Josiah Green
the village uncle" when I heerC
him rattle off that Latin piece to the
graduatin', thought certainly he was
goin' right on to be a perfessOr Of
minister, or sunthin'. OF course, no
havin' no own folks, as you might say
he may be short ont for money to g
ahead, and so he's gone int the store Il
arm little to help him out"
But it soon appeared that John wa
in the store to stay, and it also ap
peared that many changes were taking
place there. Order succeeded chaos
With the reluctant consent of Mr.. Rice
John arranged a sort of ''rummage
sale, and marked old goods at such loy
prices that the Accommodations of twer
ty-fve years were cleared away, an
the store looked as if it had just bee
stocked with new goods.
81 tell We what" said Uncle Josial
Johns a hustler, no mistake. Trade
Just about doubled since he weI
there. Enoch has raised his pay twice
and he's had to hire a new hand a
ready. The way John handles all sort
of customers is a caution Why, he1
the other day he actually sold Mi
Pinchter q new black alpacky afol
she knew it, when she hain't bought
new dress this ten year, with all HI
money" And the old man chucklC
with silent laughter.
Il happened into the store the 9th
day" he continued, when DIV
Rush, that Boston drummer, come j
He hadn't been in the store befo
since John had his sale and cleared {
all the old goods. Rush, he looked {
around the store afore he said a wor
"'Cap'n Rice, he says, what ',
been dom?
"'Oh,' says Enoch, my clerk he
has been hayin' a kind of an aucti
sale of the old goods, and fxin'
things a little
Rush turned quicEer'n lightnin', a
looked John all over, head to fot
but John, he never turned a hair, j.
KEEP right on measurin' off a dress
one of the factory girls. I tell We, S
I see now what Johns game is. Fl
set out to be a millionaire, and hen
II, too. And that drummer, he'll Ia
his finger in the pie, now you mark !
words"
And having once more settled job
future to his own satisfaction, Tn
Josiah shufied home
One morning Mr. Rice came into
store in great excitement John"