The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-01-19
. toid klm a gently ~ poeaibl- than
he might look for work elsewhere.

SAPASSSSd OSSP- ISSTGI Nv dShCA IL lo
could stay until the following Saturday.
OF course this was agreeable to Mrs.
Hampstead and in the interval George
set about getting employment else
where. One evening he crossed tho
meadow and hailed a passing trolley
car for Brooklyn, where he hunted up
a branch office of the american" Hav-
ing achieved his first Job through an
advertisement he had abiding faith in
this method of doing business and suc-
ceeded in drafting the following artfu4
announcement of his desires Ind capac.
tiles:
FARM HAND-Young and strong,
wants work; understands all kinds OF
Irrigation. cattle and chickens. Willing.
steady n sober; poultry 9 specially;
Brooklyn Branch. N. z. American"
George read 1t over q few times. con
cluded that 1t "a all right and paid
IS cents over the counter.
"Whenll that get into the paper?' he
asked h clerk.
Tomorrow morning. You're sure to
get plenty OF answers. too. Drop In
about noon"
George Peterson went back to the
Hampstead farm. slipped into the barn
and went to his room. where he read his
Bible for half an hour. then lay himself
of the knowledge that the world lay
before him with all its rewards for am
bition.
At dawn he was up and doing. After
breakfast he toured h fields. attended,
to his irrigation bitches n trudge4
back to the house for his lunch. Il
the midst of his contemplation Mrs.
Hampstead came from the sitting room
and handed him a letter.
Here George" she said. run over to,
that mall box BY the trolley track and
post this. And hurry, as / want that
heifer out OF the alfalfa pasture" She
turned abruptly and entered the house.
In a few moments George arrived att
the mail box. 1t q not occurred to
him to look at the letter, but just as hei
was about to slip It into the slot his
eyes fell upon the address:
Box D, Brooklyn Branch N. III
American"
That address seemed to be familiar
to him. He paused q moment. rubbed,
his head and read the address again.
We'll, Is this isn't the address / gave
the man. 1t must be for me- he
s%oliloquized. BOX d. He scratched
his head again and mechanically tore
ope the envelope, sure that the epistle
had reached its destination. This ia,
what he read:
"Sir-I saw your advertisement in the
American" Can give o steady work.
II you know your business. The man q,
have now doesn't suit. The trouble
with him is that he spends too much
time reading the bible and too little
time taking care Of my farm. If you,
can separate your theology from our
farming ] can put you to work iimnle-t
diately. I like the tone of our adver-1
tisement and believe o are the man,
I have been looking for. Answer innlne-,
diately. Mrs. Hampstead,
Meadow Lane, Long Island.,
George Peterson felt the perspiration
breaking out on his forehead. Me-
chemically he wiped his brow and
looked back at the Hampstead house,
bewildered. The good widow was wav-
ing her hand for him to return. He
reused himself, tucked h letter in his!
breast and walked back slowly. He did
to the barn, with his jaw set firmly and
a light of curious determination in his
eye. He caught a glimpse of Ida Hemp;
stead at the window as he crossed the
edge of the porch, but he made no sign
Of recognition. Presently he entered the
barn and in a few moments reappeared
with a book in his hand. With a firm
step he returned to the sitting room
door where Mrs. Hampstead stood. her,
brow clouded in wrath, and handed her
the volume. q,
whats this??" she exclaimed, snatcI,-I
ing it.
me" replied George.
We'll, what OF it,"
II want you to keep it until the farm
II lI16 SCdSOA 4S OSCiS vi .. ~
didn't know you objected to my reading}
it and 1 will wait until the winter
comes on. You see, I-I-I told inyl
mother the-day-she-died-'
(something thick and oppressive choked'
his throat)-sthat I would read 1t
would read it every-day-but I.
Just got your letter and
George Peterson broke down as he,
handed h already opened document
to the astonished widow Hampstead.
II 49, - Lh~Z ~~+ ~, - WL
himself, you answered my advertiser
ment and i have come to accept the po-
sition. I ont want to go away, Mrs.
Hampstead. SO I'll let you keep the
bible until the season is over. Then
I'll get it again and pick up my studies.
You won't object. will your"
Mrs. Hampstead swayed in the door
way a moment, then gathering up her
apron she burst into such a food of
tears as nae not dimmed her eyes since
the remains of old Josh Hampstead
were lowered into the ground and the
minister with his eyes heavenward
pronounced the words, dust to dust,
ashes to ashes" The good woman
shook with emotion and wound up her
paroxysm by dropping her head on
George Peterson's shoulder, as she
slipped the bible, his mothers dying
gift, into the youths trembling hand.
Then she slowly drew him into the
house, sobbed a moment at his side and
ended 1T all by putting her strong moth
erly arms around his shoulders with
her head on his breast.
A door opened and Ida Hampstead
entered the room. An exclamation OF
establishment escaped her. -
Mother! What Is h matter?"
Nothing, Ida-ssNothinss emily George
is going to stay with us and I am going
to try. and make him forget that +
asked him to go away. He ts the kind
Of a farm band I have been looking
for. only I didn't know 1t until q few
moments ago.
Ida Hempstead looked George Peter.
son full in the face n with that in-
tuition which seems to be a woman's5
greatest strength she understood.
The trouble with George Peterson
and the troubles of George Peterson
ended at that moment.
Matchmaking.