Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-02-06
CH AprER L

TWO years, and L might as well De com-
Portable"
IT'S a good deal better than my room
twice as big, to begin with. Then. my
carpet looks as il it had come down
through several generations. As for
mirror, I've got a seventy looking
glass that / have TO look into twice be
fore | can see my whole face. As for the
btdstead it creaks so when | jump into
it that | expect every night it'll fall to
pieces and spill me on the floor Now
your room is splenddIy furnished
Yes, it is now, but father furnished
it at his own expense. He said ne was
willing to spend little money to make
mo comfortable"
That's more than my father said. DE
told me it wouldn't do me any harm to
rough it."
Perhaps he's right" said Walter. "Of
course | don't object to the new carpet
and furniture, but / shouldn't consider
it any great hardship if l had to rough
it. as you call it."
Wouldn't you? Then I'll tell you what
we'll do. Let's change rooms. You can
go round and board at Mrs. Glenn's, and
III come here"
think of that arrangement said Walter,
smiling.
Il thought you'd find some way to
crawl out" said Lemuei. For my part,
l don't believe you'd enjoy roughing it
any better than H.
Il don't know" said Walter; I've
sometimes thought l shouldn't be very
sorry to be 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."
$50 are YOU"
Yes, but l don't get the benefit of it,
and you do. What would you do now
If you were a poor boy?'
II can't say of course, now, but
would go to work at something. l am
sure | could earn my own living"
Il suppose | could. too, but l shouldn't
want to. Some people are born lazy, don't
think so?'
Perhaps you are right" answered
Walter with smile. Now suppose we
open our Caesar"
Lemuel Warner was a pleasa looking
boy of fourteen, the son of a prosperous
merchant in New York. Walter Conrad
was from a small country town, where his
father was the wealthiest and most prom
incnt and influential citizen, having
handsome mansion house, surrounded by
extensive grounds.
Nobody knew just how rich he was;
but 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.
1t was for this reason, perhaps, that he
had been sent to the Essex Classical In
stitute. Being a boy of talent, and we'll
grounded 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 it 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. Lemuers let
ter was written with a brilliant disregard
of grammatical rules but it was consd-
erably revised in accordance with sugges-
lions 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"
Eyes, if he didn't find out the mis-
takes"
That's the rub. He'd show it to the
minister the first time he called, and then
my plumbers would be detected. l guess
Ia better wait till it comes back from
the doctor corrected"
Il expect to hear from home to-mor-
rok," said Walter. at 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 l am,
then. Do you expect present?"
Father promised to give me a gold
watch chain some time. You know
have gold watch already"
yes and a regular little beauty"
$50 it wouldn't surprise me much to
get a chain for a present"
You're lucky boy. My watch is sill
yer, and only cost twenty dollars"
Il dare say l should be just as happy
with silver watch, Lem"
Il suppose you wouldn't like to buy,
would you? If so. I'll give you the
chance. 4 fair exchange is no robbery"
mo, l suppose not but it wouldn't do
to exchange a gift"
Perhaps, if my watch were gold and
yours silver, you wouldn't have any OBJ
jections.'
Il don't think that would alter the
case with me. A gift is gift, no matter
about its value
Its the hard study. l suppose. that's
done it. / must be getting back to Ma'am
Glenn's. Goodnight"
Goodnight, Lem"
Lemuel Warner gathered up his books
and left the room. Walter poked the fire
putting some ashes on so that it would
keep till the next morning, and commenc-
ed undressing. He was interrupted BY
afterward q knock resounded upon his
door.
Wondering who his late visitor could
be. Walter stepped to the door and opened
It. He was still more surprised to recog
nize in the visitor DR.. Porter, the prin
cipsl of the institute.
"Good-evening, Conrad" said the doc
tor. Il am rather late visitor. l wa.
you heard from home lately, ConradT 2
asked the doctor.
Eyes, sir. l received a letter a few
days since
Did your father speak of being un
well?"
nc, sir" said Walter. taking instan
alarm. "Have~~have you heard any
thing?"
'Yes. my boy; and that is my reason
for calling upon you al this unusual hour
rarajyetf thiS te1ncrsYn fwepty minutes