The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-11-30


ner of the house whistling his latest
acquisition in .':ragtime," fishing rod
on his shoulder, tin can of bait"
In his hand. He stopped expectantly
at the back piazza. steps, but seeing
no one, called: "Mother!"
Eyes. Kent, in just a minute" came
a voice from the Kitchen. and in
about that time the owner of the
| voice, a sweet faced woman with
firm mouth, appeared.
Il thought you were out here,
mother, 1 only wanted to tell you
that I would not be home to dinner,
as John and I are going over to the
Blue Pond. But you may expect a
i; five pound trout for supper
His mother smiled. kissing his
hand to her he resumed his whistling
and set off with sturdy stride across
the fields to meet his chum. Pride
and affection showing plainly in her
| cou1ftenance, his mother watched him
out of sight,
AS he left the fields and entered the
road he was joined by his friend, John
Fenton, boy of his own age, whose
face lacked the strength that was the
predominant characteristic of Kent's,
but had far more claim to beauty.
They reached Blue Pond, famous
fishing place, in good time and pro-
ceeded to the business of the day.
Il was just thinking, Kent" said
John, "of the contrast between to-day
and yesterday. To-day We are a cou-
pie of idle vagabonds, apparently alb
sorbed in thoughts of angle worms
and roach, with possible trout later
on as lure; yesterdays and he
! threw out his chest and spoke in as
deep bass as he could compass, "yes-
terday, we stood in the classic halls
of Senoia high school and Grated Cat
| least you did and received the plaud-
its of the admiring multitude, and in
! cidentally our diplomas and the con-
gratulations Of our friends on being
first and second honor men. Was yes
terday reality and today dream,
or vice versa?' Kent laughed, albeit
, a little soberly.
| ITO me they are both realities and
both little saddening. It is no light
matter to leave your childish days be-
hind you and find yourself confronted
J with the great problem, What is my
! life to be? or rather, What am I to
make of my life? for after all, we
choose what it is to be. Have you
thought that to-day is probably the
| last we will spend together in the old
! careless fashion? What are you going
, to do now that you have graduated
from the high SCHOOL,"
! Father says I am to help him in
the store for few years, with final
view to partnership I suppose, as Il
am the only boy in the family What
are your plans?"
| II am going to college," :
'P-h-e-w! I thought it was just
all your mother could do to keep you
in the high school until you grad
uated, and now you announce in the
coolest manner and as a matter Of
course that you are going to college,"
my plans are not perfected yet, but
It you will not mention it I will tell
the people Of Chetney have to come
to Senoia, Is miles, for their mail, and
1t is great inconvenience to them.
Judge Dent has been trying for year
to make arrangements to have the
mail delivered there three times
week. He is about to succeed in this
and I intend to apply for the position
; OF mail carrier. It will only pay $3.50
year, but that will take me to col
lege for one year. I can go and come
the same day, and that will take but
three days out of the week, and the
rest of the time I can help with the
farm work and relieve mother of
good deal of care. All my spare time
/ shall put in preparing to enter the
junior class, and when I get through
that I am going to make the money
to take the senior year, :,
Il must say you are gritty. But
even if you get the place you surely
cannot take the horse from the crops
three days in week or there will be
no crops. 1t would take lot of your
wages to buy a horse; you haven't
, even a bicycle and you cannot walk
80 miles day" H..
Buying horse is not to be thought
Of l have plan, but I propose to
keep that to-. myself yet awhile, at
least until I can talk it over with
Judge Dent. I am to see him about
it tomorrow. Now let's get to fish
ing. 4 promised mother five pound
trout for supper
The next morning Kent had an in
terview with Judge Kent and when
they parted the: judge looked ver ~
much amused, while. Kent's Jaw
looked square and determined; but
there seemed to be an excellent under
standing between them, for the judge
clapped Kent on the shoulder and
said: You'll do, Kent. hope your
plan will succeed. It certainly de-
| serves success ~
"Thank you!" Kent quietly re-
| sponded. 81 am sure it viii succeed
| If I am allowed to put it to the test"
When Kent returned to his home he
0hSo,vYo1 nv HI To-