The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1903-05-13
CHANCE TO REFORM
HOW WORRIED FATHER COM
FORTED HIS HEART.
His scapegrace Son, by Enlisting In
the Marine Corps, Was at Least
Safe from Misadventure for Four
Ycars-May Yet Make His Mark.

He is regarded as the scapegrace
of the family, and both parents long
since despaired of him. Having de-
SPARED of him, the mother chung all
the closer to him, demanding suspen'
sion of judgment. The father gave
him till IS to come to his normal
senses and achieve fame, fortune and
family. After doing the United States
thoroughly, he spent two months IN
Cuba, half year in Yucatan, a fort
night in Panama, a month In Mica
ragua, week in Sombrero, three
weeks in Labrador, a year in Cape
Nome and seven weeks with the army
of Castro in Venezuela. In all these
trials and tribulations he managed to
keep out of Jail.
Ore cold day he surprised his par
ents with the announcement that he
was to sail for Scotland on the follow
ing morning to make his fortune.
"Scotland?" gasped both in q
breath.
Scotland" he said solemnly.
He named the ship he was to sail
on, and the parental blessing was con-
ferred. No one thought OF seeing
him of.
Two days later the father, looking
over the list of arrivals of outgoing
steamships, saw the name of the very
one that the scapegrace had sailed on.
1t was cabled from Glasgow.
what! Glasgow in two days." he
exclaimed, doing war shuttle on the
parlor carpet. Something wrong.
Surely that ship did not 60 by wireless
telegraphy."
The mother said: Never mind;
what my boy said will turn out all
right. He may have taken one OF the
turbine steamers" ...
The father did not disturb her fond
imaginings.
Next day Cardinal Gibbons came on
from Baltimore to attend some festivi-
ties at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
our doubling father, having known the
grand old man from infancy, fastened
to JON him in the yard. In tow OF the
Admiral they went out to see the re-
view Of sailors and marines. A COM
pany of the latter wheeled into posi-
ton before the party, and the doubt
ing fathers heart stood still. There
in the ranks stood the scapegrace,
with a grin on his face yard wide.
"My = son "a private = in
the-Marine Corps!" he gurgitated.
The Cardinal inquired if he was Ill.
Eyes, father. Look-look there;
my boy!"
The Cardinal, who had been &C
ouainted with the boy from the time
when mothers little ray Of sunshine
wore swaddling clothes, remarked
soto voce: LET him alone! Best
place for him.
Not long afterward the boy went
aboard ship with his company and
was next heard from when the cruis'
er weathered the storm off the
Azores.
Dear Papa he wrote. 1T has
been the fearfullest time of my life.
We have been on our beam ends for
three days, and during that period
have been doing stunts with God.
Your affectionate son. etc.
well, it nearly broke my heart al
first" says the father, "but my boy
is out of devilment for at least four
years, the term of enlistment. Maybe
he'll settle down after that and be a
prop for my old age
The youth is six feet two and a
quarter inches, straight as pine and
good looking. He may make his mark,
and no doubt WILL The best blood of
old Virginia is in his veins.-New
York Press.