The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-09
OW, those boys might take that place and make
5N something fine Of it, if they only had mind


boy-od enough and strong enough to take the work
his shoulders and 60 ahead with it.:
"But they say he's all the time reading and thinking
about something else"
That's just it. Doesn't want to settle down
to anything in particular Dreaming all the time Never
Ben Lochren settled down lower and lower in the
seat of the car which taking him away to school,
ahead of him fell like lead on his heart He did
intend to hear what said The spoke in voice
loud he could avoid listening And he knew
they were speaking about him. Who else had that pas
sion for study9 Where else there farm with boys
old enough to take the farm work off fathers shoulders
as he had7
:, "Wel, tell you, the boys of today not what
amount to anything. don't into it. Such chances
as the young men of today have!"
Ben shut his lips tighter and tighter.
"I'n show em!'' he said in his heart ''The boys
that can DO things did not all grow up! There's few
Did word of this escape Ben's Hpsg Anyhow
one of the at that moment turned about and looked
Ben Ben in the face But Ben captured at least city
that morning. for he simply smiled pleasantly up
the face of the man, and said:
e.. "Goo o morning, MI. Wayne What nice day it u.s.
After that the subject of conversation on the front
seat was changed and they all went to the city if
no'ni met i iaet happened MAJ e .
the words which had come back to him. He thought it
all over, sitting there.
this fall: He isn't very we'll But I know he wants me
to 60 He has said hundred times''
''Work hard for an education, Ben," he said ct
never had chance. Boys did when I your age;
and am anxious that you should do better than have
~ don't see how could do better than you, father
How could any man9'' -....
Ben thinking about the nice farm his father
cleared and made beautiful there edge
prairie. Nowhere there finer place. Just now it
might be a little run down. Ben knew how that
Father had been getting little more gray He did not
step quickly as he once had And the boys could not
the work just he had, work hard as they
might So the barns showed signs decay They needed
hOuSa had lost of
but that could be put on again. 1t the
best farmhouse anywhere about.
ward his boarding place. ''I show those two that
"Ben's all rght!'' Mr. Lochren was saying at about
the same time to his wife, ''He is steady as clock
You never will catch him in of the wild crapes they
tell about at school He does love books so! It
be too bad not to give him chance Well get along
'We will do all We for Ben, - she said turning
away that the little trembe voice might not
be revealed. 81 know he is good boy.''
lhey sat there thinking about it for time.
|fMr. Wayne told the other day that any time we
wanted money to let him know, and he would get it
ttof course he would want a mortgagef"
"That is what hurts, isn't it,, mothera We never
have had such claim against place, and it does
most Of lives But it would be only for little while
Ben will clear it all when he gets earning money
We can get along without Mr.. Wayne s help for while,
anyway
But the day came when Ben's little store ran low.
he Kept 1t from his father as long he could. And it
was only when the direct question asked that
told the exact situation. '..
81 have been just careful could, father he
said. % 1t is too bad that it should 60 fast''
'sThere, there, Ben! You know I not saying
word against your using the money. We expected you
to do that. You have made it go good ways think.
But must have now.' 49,. -
And he left Ben sitting there talking mother
and slipped across the field to the farm of Mr. Wayne
The mother knew what he going to do when she
saw him pull the brim of his hat little lower over
his eyes. Out the knoll and looked over
the farm. '..~.-.,~ 49,. H. -, -. 49,
along without putting mortgage it! But Ben will
make it all back in few years I want him to get
good education.'' .
When Ben went back to school that week, his father
went with him. -: 'a-H = ''-.
he said. ' 4o4A'
Ben had heard something about paper that his
father and mother had to sign but he did not realize