The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-12-24

could to the boy he was training and
spent part of each day with his books
IL would be three or four years, per
haps as MAN, AZ i've or six. before he
could finish paying off the mortgage
and getting things in the condition he
wished TO leave them. But In the
meantime he would be preparing him
self rs thoroughly as possible for this
second coming of his ambition.
Bllt ms these new years few swiftly
| by. bringing him nearer and nearer
tn his future. the ambition began to
/ separate itself somewhat from that
! OF his youth. He studied himself for
this work as he had for the farming
would need patching or perhaps oblit
Grating altogether. Things that were
! an advantage then were no longer his.
and even The maturity that made him
stronger was In a way detrimental.
He did not spare his weakness nor
magnify his strength. In those days
he had dreamed of the work he would
strong. firm In his convictions and
thoroughly equipped In his studies.
Now the equipment would be scant.
the freshness gone. and. though the
convictions would remain and perhaps
the strength. the world had passed
him by. and he could not push to the
front with the new generation.
But il he could not attain to the cul-
tured eastern church and large con-
gregation of his dreams there was still
outside work In the far west which
he could do in the isolated towns and
among the camps of the miners and
Indians. He would go there. 1t was
not always the work one liked that
was best, but rather the work where
laborers were few. And in the west
perhaps earnestness would be accept
ed in place of the culture to which he
had not attained.
So he worked and studied and
dreamed and counted the money that
was bearing him on, and at length.
when the time drew near, he began to
study the conditions Of his body. as
faith, for the years that had bridged
the chasm of his duty had Slapped his
strength. and out there on the frontier
he would need sturdy health as well
as sturdy faith.
One day Jane discovered that his
bed had not been slept In the night
before. and she wondered, but said
D..t hA In.v
the next went by and still the bed
remained untouched her wonder he-
came investigation. and the investiSa-
ton soon brought a twinkle Of com.
prehension 10 her keen gray eyes. The
9th evening she listened until she
heard him tiptoeing upstairs, then fol
lowed softly He went directly To Il
bare room in IN unused portion of the
house, where she heard him raise Il
window. Moving noiSeessly down the
ball, she waited Il few moments out
side the door and then went in. lie
was lying upon the floor in his clothes.
with bis head near the Opeu window.
4 food of moonlight WAS Strea ming Ia.
Jane crossed quickly to his side.
bent over him, what does this meau:"
lie started little unpasily aGd
opened his eyes. but almost INSTANTLY
his face grew tranquil.
Il AIN fitting myself for my work,
sane lie said quietly. II did not
wish YOU and mother 10 know tor
fear you might be Worried
q Il, 81
mere iilciy." she retorted. 'foi~~h
practical farmer you are the most im.
pg:lriirai man / ever saw. John" she
closed the window with bang and
coLtiuu"d: "Now, ] want good long
talk win you. I've wanted il ever
since you've had this notion 81 the
west in Your mead. | suppose THIS
e'S That is lttiE: you for life in tAe
camps and on tire ranches"
WHY. yes" hc acknowledged lit
tie (,il.fullr. "YOu EHl.c / navr
never ~!'pt nCtsidr al d.in' lad IN
al NY lie. JaEc. and -aEd II r,rn!ed
a duly 10 prepare myse'. for roGGhiuG
It,"
i.iNiN UlHF, JUED " 't'lNON, Sl''' nv
gar. Then her vote Suffered sud.
denly. You mcan al rig!t. Brother
John. but YOU cunt do IL. You would
die from exposure ont there inside "
a month. BESIDES. yUu are Bot fitted
for that Kind of WORK. know what
you'd like To have been and what you
have been. but you're mistaken III
thinking any part Of your lie l"&,. 1t
has been full-just rs full perhaps as
though you could have done as YOU
wished. The Lord does not waste his
workmcn. John
Her hand was resting upon his Sh0u'
der now. and her voice had grown ic.,.
der and thoughtful.
"You want to do all you caD with the
rest Oi your life" she went OF, but II
seems 10 me You can do more here.
You understand this people better ilan
you do that. ! was through some OF
the worst streets of the city ypster
day. and | heard little Vhildren swear
Ing at each other in the cutters, and
| heard OF sick men and women sti-
~,