Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-06-26
CHAPTER L

Its good deal better than my room
twice as big, to begin with Then, my
carpet looks as if it had come down
through several generations. AS for "a
mirror, I've got a seven-by-nine looking
glass that l have to look into twice be-
fore | can see my whole face As for the
btdstead, it creaks so when l jump into
1t that l expect every night it'll fall to
pieces and spill me on the floor. Now
your room is splendidly furnished"
Yes, it is now, but father furnished
1t at his own expense. He said he was
willing to spend little money to make
mo comfortable"
That's more than my father said. He
told me it wouldn't do me any harm to
rough it,
Perhaps he's right" said Walter. "Of
course, l don't object to the new carpet
and furniture, but | shouldn't consider
1t any great hardship if l had to rough
1t, as you call it."
Wouldn't you? Then I'll tell you what
vcll do. Let's change rooms. You can
go round and board at Mrs. Glenns, and
I'll come here"
II am not sure what my father would
think of that arrangement" said Walter,
smiling.
II thought you'd find some way to
crawl out" said Lemuel. For my part,
don't believe you'd enjoy roughing it
any better than l."
II don't know" said Walter; i've
sometimes thought / shouldn't be very
sorry to he a poor boy, and have to work
my own way"
That's very well to say when you're
the son of a rich man."
80 are you"
"Yes, but | don't get the benefit Of it,
and you do. What would you do now
II you were a poor boy?"
II can't say, of course, now, but l
would go to work at something. l am
sure l could earn my own living"
IL suppose could, too, but shouldn't
want to. Some people are born lazy, don't
think so?"
Perhaps you are right" answered
Walter, with a smile. Now suppose we
open our Caesar"
Lemuel Warner was a pleasant looking
boy of fourteen, the son Of a prosperous
merchant in New York. Walter Conrad
was from small country town, where his
father was the wealthiest and most prom
inent and influential citizen, having a
handsome mansion house, surrounded by
extensive grounds.
Nobody knew Just how rich he was
out he was generally supposed to be
worth two hundred thousand dollars Mrs.
Conrad had been dead for five years, SO
that Walter who was an only child, had
no immediate relation except his father.
II was for this reason, perhaps, that he
had been sent to the Essex Classical In
stitute Being boy Of talent, and we'll
81 rounded in Latin, he was easily able to
take a high rank in his class. Lemuel
Warner had become his intimate friend.
being in the same class, but inferior to
him in scholarship. They usually studied
their Latin lessons together, and 1t was
owing to this circumstance that Lemuel
made a better figure in his recitations
than before Walter came to the school,
There, that jobs DONE" said Lemuel,
closing his book with an air Of satisfac-
ton. Now we can rest"
You forget the Latin exercise. You
know the doctor expects each boy to
write letter in Latin, addressed to his
father not less than twelve lines in
length"
The boys started on their new task, and
finished by nine o'clock. Lemuel's let
ter was written with brilliant disregard
of grammatical rules, but 1t was consid-
erably revised in accordance with sugges-
tions from Walter.
"I've a great mind to send my letter
home, Walter" said Lemuel. Father
expects me to write home every week, and
this would save me some trouble Besides,
he'd think was getting on famously, to
write home in Latin"
"Yes, If he didn't find out the mis-
takes"
THAT'S the rub. He'd show 1t to the
minister the first time he called, and then
nv blunders would be detected. l guess
I'd better wait till 1t comes back from
the doctor corrected"
"I expect to hear from home to-mor-
sok," said Walter. "It is my birthday"
LET me be the first to congratulate
you How venerable will you be?"
"As venerable as most boys Of fifteen,
Lem"
You're three months older than am,
then. Do you expect a PRESENT."
Father promised to give me gold
watch chain some time. You know l
have a gold watch already"
Eyes, and regular little beauty"
$50 it wouldn't surprise me much to
get chain for a present"
"You,re a luckv how NV watch Ia sill |
YER and only cost twenty dollars"
81 dare say should be just as happy |
with a silver watch, Lem"
81 suppose you wouldn't like to buy,
would you? If so, I'll give you the
chance. A fair exchange is no robbery" |
mo, suppose not; but 1t wouldn't do
to exchange gift"
perhaps, If my watch were gold and |
yours silver, you wouldn't have any OBJ
jectons" |