The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-11-06


Riverdale. Everybody had said,
as usual, that the graduating exer-
cises were the best that the academy
had ever known, and at the reunion
in the evening Hamlin hall was
crowded with students, old and new.
But it was all over now, and the
last to leave the hall were John Ar
mington and Alice Raymond. They
were somewhat older than the rest
of the class, and it was well-known
that they were engaged. Alice had
been the music teacher at the acad-
envy during the last year of her
course, and Riverdale was more than
proud of her musical 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 saspera' ahead of U.S.,
said John, 'but guess we can go
per- them together
'Oh,. but we must remember all
the time there are plenty of 'astra,'
too. said Alice, cheerfully.
NO. said John, looking straight
down into her star-like eyes, 'only
two sastra' in all the world for me.''
Alice tried to look very grave, but
only succeeded in blushing prettily as
she said: "It 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 undercurrent
of anxiety in their thought of the
future.
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 Jas
possible to, teach it. When the train
.hadsgone, John went Immediately
to Enoch Rice's general store in the
village. hung up his scoat, put on q
linen buster, and began tp sweep
out. - y ~ "
There were some who were much
astonished at john action insgoing'
into the: store as 3 clerk. OIL ~ . .
"I hadn't no idee that John was
goin,' to stop here" said-sold Josiah
Green, the village "uncle." .When 1
heerd him rattle off that Latin piece
to- the graduatin', thought certain
~ he was goin' right on to be per-
fessor or minister, or sunthin'. OF
course, not havin' no own folks, as
you might say he may be short ont
for money to go ahead, and so he's
gone int the store to arm q little to
help. him OUT - 4.
But it soon appeared. that John
was. in the store to stay, and IL also
appeared that many. changes were
taking place. there. Order succeeded
chaos. With the sreluctant consent
of Mr.. Rice, John arranged u sort of
''rupmage" sale, and marked old
goods at such low prices that the
acc1mulations Of ! IS years were
cleared awaySand the store looked as
ii it had just been stocked with new
goods. 5zSsst17sg Sffgfa
"K,tell ye what said Uncle Josiah,
Johns. q hustler, no mistake.
Trades just about doubled since he
went there. Enoch has raised his
pay twice, and he's had to hire "a
new hand already. The. way John
handles all sorts of customers is a
caution. Why, here the other day
he actually sold Mis- Pincher new
black alpacky afore she knew it,
which she hain't bought new dress
thissten year, with all her money
And the old man chuckled with ST.
lent laughter. is i'a
"Is happened into the store the
other day." he continued, "when
Oliver Rush, that Boston drummer
come in. He hadn't been in the store
before since John had his sele and
cleaped of all the old goods. Rush
he looked all around the store afore
he said word.
'Cap'n Rice,' he says, what YOU
been doin'?' s,1s
Oh says Enoch, my clerk here
has been havin' kind OF an auction
sales of the old goods, and fxin' VI
things a little.'
Rush turned -quicker'n lightnin'
and Slooked John all over, head *
foot; but John, he never turned ;
haire Jest KEEP right on measurin' of
q dress for one Of the factory girls
7 tell ye, sir, I see now what john