Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-05-21
David and Jonathan



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SIT was remarked by their respect
! i've nurses that nothing was more
touching than the devotion of the
baby, David Smith, to the baby, Jona-
than Brown. If David possessed
cake or new toy, it was his great
delight to lay 1t at Jonathan's feet.
Jonathan accepted these attentions,
though with some haughtiness and did
not return them. He once gave David
button, but after thinking the mat
ter over for about week, decided to
ask for 1t back again-and got 1t.
AS boys at a private school, Davids
devotion to Jonathan continued. Da-
vid was the more studious of the two
and was able to assist jonathan in his
work.
At their public school David cOntin-
ued his friendly care for Jonathan.
He would take without murmur pun
ishments that should have properly
come to Jonathan. He lent Jonathan
money. He eXhorted Jonathan not to
smoke cigarettes because, as he very
justly observed, it was not right. l
am not certain that jonathan was any
more grateful now than he had been
in the days of their babyhood, but he
had at any rate now learned thepro-
priety of expressing the gratitude
which he did not feel
You are a good chap, David" he
said. you've got me out of no end
| of a lot of messes"
The two young men went up to Ok
ford to the same college. David had
a scholarship, Jonathan had none. Da-
yid habitually spoke Of Jonathan as a
remarkably brilliant man until other
people as nearly as possible believed
it, David lent him little more
money. David took him back to his
rooms, thereby avoiding catastrophe at
a time when, owing to much wine,
JOnathans legs had refused their Of
flee and he had expressed wish TO
call on the master to invite him to
take part in the California game of
draw poker" There is not the least
doubt that Jonathan owed much to
David, and the natural result was that
David was more attached to Jonathan
than Jonathan was to David
Then a tragedy happened. iona
than Brown announced that in the
beautiful words of the Morning Post
marriage had been arranged and
would shortly take place between him
self and Miss Bertha Frieze Now,
Miss Bertha Frieze was the third
daughter of a local tobacconist. She
was large and plump and comely, and
would have sooner flirted with an arch
bishop than not have firted at all.
In rage and despair and an express
train Jonathan's papa and mamma
hurried off to oxford. At any cost
his terrible mesalliance must be pre-
vented. For three days Jonathan's
papa beloved as If he had been a bull
of Bashan. He beloved at Mr.
Frleze, who was sulky, and at Bertha,
who was distinctly impertlnent, and
Mt his son, who was very superior,
and said that his father was doing
just exactly what he had expected
and 1t would make no difference. His
mother wept and pleaded, and it was
all of no use. At the end Of three days
she said to her husband, 81 shall go
around and see that very nice young
man. David-Dayid Smith-who was
always such a friend of Jonathan's."
She saw David She reminded him
Of all that he had done for Jonathan
in the past, and assured him that jon
athan was not ungrateful. The time
had now come when David had
chance to render a service far greater.
She and her husband had done what
they could, but neither persuasions nor
threats nor the most liberal promises
to old Frieze and his daughter, Bertha,
had been Of any effect. Could Mr..
Smith help them? Could he do any
thing to save his friend from a life
time of misery? Mrs. Brown" said
Smith, you may depend upon me.
will do my best. If the thing can be
done 1t shall be done" He then went
out to buy two ounces of Latakia at
Frieze's little shop.
1t took a good deal Of effort, and
much hattery and many presents. Rut