Mexico Missouri message., 1903-02-19

/ AAS AAh WAo NWb uuuIb Mlkn MQeu
Fritz Warden took the train at Pine
Top. Twenty miles down the valley
the narrow gauge connected with the
through line which was to take him
to the distant city. The young fellow
was in high spirits as he bounded into
the car and took a seat by a window.
He had looked forward to this day
through six long years of toll and
economy. He had studied and starved
and slaved-but how small seemed his
labor now in the sunshine Of this glori-
Gus present! In his pocket he could
feel the roll of bills which represented
the work and the economy which had
abstained from everything except the
barest necessities. And now he was
actually on his way to college! Ane
after college, what? OF course there
could be but one thing after, and a
warm flush rose to his face and a glad
look came into his eyes. He would go
back to Neuchatel and up the valley
to the chalet overlooking the Bienne.
Suzel would be waiting for him, and
they would be married and come back
to America and make a home.
The train rushed on, and little old
maid opposite looked across at her
neighbor and wondered what made
the car seem SO bright and cheerful.
When Fritz caught her glance he
laughed and blushed, and she actually
forced a tiny return smile to her grim
lips. The conductor came in and
found the young fellow trying to tempt
a child with big red apple, and was
obliged to wait until the comedy was
over. Then the child lost her ball, and
Fritz disturbed the whole car in his
eager search after it.
At the junction he was the first to
leave the train, and was rushing down
the platform when he saw a pair OF
frightened horses approaching. With
out hesitation he sprang forward to in.
tercept them. But as he left the plat
form his foot slipped, and instead of
striking as he intended, he fe!, direct.
ly under the maddened animals. 4
moment later they were stopped, and
he was dragged from beneath their
hoofs. When the train returned to
Pine Top he was on board, crushed
and unconscious.
He was taken to the place where |
he had worked, but no money was |
found on his person, and the farmer |
was a hard man. The next day Fritz |
was bundled into wagon and taken ,
to the town farm.
1t was months before he left his bed !
and began to hObble around. AS soon |
as he was able to work he was set to
Smelling corn and sorting potatoes.
Then it was discovered that he was
Skillful with his fingers, and his work
was changed to making ax-heIves and
hay rakes and other wooden tools for
farm use. AS he grew stronger his
work was increased. In the spring he
was sent into the fields with the hands.
He was not yet able to do a full days
work. II he had been he would have
sought employment among the farm
ers. AS 1t was, he could only wait
One day several new paupers were
brought to the farm. Among them
was little old man who was helpless
with rheumatism. He was given a bed
near Fritz.
For some days the two scarcely no
iced each other. Then Fritz stopped
IN his way out and asked if there was
anything he could do The old man
shook his head despondently. The
next day Fritz stopped again and was
allowed to bring him glass of water.
After that there was a nod or. word
every time the young fellow went in
Or out. The old man began to watch
for him, and would often detain him
by his bedside and make him listen
10 long, rambling accounts of his mis-.
fortunes. Fritz grew weary of the
and fault-fnding, but he
was good-natured, and listened with.
out taking much interest in. the nara.
i've.
One evening, as he came into the
-oom, the old man motioned him to a
stool by his bedside.
TITS awful lonesome up here all
lay" he said ENORMOUSLY. "Scarely
/ -szsz=zz=-------- -z1.- III,