Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
How It Happened.
By A. d. WALKER.


Farmer Franklin determined to procure
boy from some charitable institution to
do the farm chores through the winter. A
boy could cut wood. milk cows, feed poul-
try, and make himself so generally useful
that a man help could be dispensed with,
and that would be economy.
Accordingly Farmer Franklin went to the
great city to find such boy. Failing to
find a lad old enough and strong enough in
any institution, the good man turned his
face homeward, feeling thoroughly disap-
pointed He sat down in the station to
await his train, having paper to read just
to beguile his time.
The train was long in coming, and pres
emily Farmer Franklin yawned, looked
about him. and then arose and began to
pace the floor. Now he began to study the
faces in the station. There were an anxious
looking mother with a young, fair-faced
child an old gentleman all impatience be-
cause he had been waiting so long; three
young ladies sparkling and beaming with
youth and beauty and an old lady resigned
ly viewing her "hatbox, handbook and bun
Ole" But away off in corner was what
fixed the farmers attention. Here was a
boy Of about fifteen, clean and patched, but
SO sad and detected in expression that the
boy-seeker resolved to find out something
about him. If possible. Accordingly he de-
liberately sat down beside the lad. "Son-
n.y." he commenced "do you know where
could find a boy who would be willing to
work on farm In the winter season."
Jack frightened up little. Jack was
the boys name)
What would you want boy to do?" he
asked. anxiously. -
The farmer explained.
IT wish you could take me; do want a
place so bad" 81
why are you anxious for placer
asked the good farmer, amusingly. He was
wondering how it would do to pick up a
strange lad and take him home. What
would his wife say?1She was mighty par
ticuar Now Jack burst out with his story
Ia poor widow, five children, and he the
eldest. No means, and the mother too deli
cate in health to work hard. Jack had
meant to earn a Thanksgiving dinner, but
now 1t wanted only two weeks to the day."
The farmer now looked hard at the boy,
thought of his wife, and mentally ex-
claimed, She'll scold If do 1t, but be-
lieve I will, so here goes. And turning to
Jack, he said, briskly, SO home. boy, and
get your mothers consent to go home with
me. Tell her i will do well by you If you
prove honest and worthy. Make haste to
return, for the train IS like time and tide,
it waits for no man. Jack looked for a
moment bewildered, and then recollecting
himself, started away. He soon returned
with his mother. who was very easily per-
suaded to let Jack go to the farm. The
train came whistling and wheeling into the
station. and the boy and man were soon
seated In a car. Farmer Franklin had acted
upon the impulse of the moment, and now
began to have some misgivings What If
the lad were dishonest. What would Mrs
Franklin say? She would probably, in dis
approval, tell him he always acted from
feeling, instead Of principle. He almost
wished he had let the boy alone If the
good wife did not like the newcomer. It
would be bad for the husband and worse for
the lad.
All this time the train sped on, and at
length brought them to their station, where
the farmers wagon awaited them. When
the farm was reached and they entered the
house, Mr.. Franklin privately told his wife
all he knew about the new boy. Alas, 1t
was just as he had feared, her wonianly
prejudice at once arose. and she stoutly de-