The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-09-21


little village he cared to see except
his Aunt Caroline.
John Philip had lost both father
and mother at an early age. Then
his Aunt Caroline had, taken him to
her home and cared for him. She had
never married, and all her affection
was lavished on the orphan boy. He
was grateful for this kindness. He
repaid her by obedience and industry.
And when the restless longing to get
away from the deadly dizziness of Pc
ternell became too strong to resist he
had left the stagnant village with but
one regret-the pain he knew he
would infict upon Aunt Caroline.
But she had let him go without a
word OF discussion.
II knew twas coming" she said.
II saw you wouldn'tt be contented
here, and l amt going to be so selfish
as to try to keep you
Whereat John Philip had quietly
announced that he would give up his
journey If his aunt thought she
needed him.
81 don't" she told him. "There
amt any chance for you here. 1
hoped I could get you into the post
office, but Jim Bronson had promised
the clerkship to Squire Sanders nep-
hew. don't w4nt you to be farmer
not on such farms as we have here
abouts And 1t amt a-going to do
you any harm to get away and see
the world-down as far as Burling-
ton, anyway. But you mustn't for
get that you've always got a home
here"
There were tears in his eyes when
John Philip started away that bright
June morning. so many tears that the
blue hills swan before him. He was
seventeen, and those blue hills had
bounded all the world he had ever
known.
So he trudged along with a heavy
heart-being only a boy-and was
really afraid to look behind lest tho
old home should draw him back.
He was going to Burlington with
Seth Andrews, who had half a dozen
horses to deliver and could avail him
self of the boys services. He had no
idea what he would do after the
horses were delivered. But he didn't
come back to Peternell.
So he climbed the hills beyond
which lay the nearest railway town.
and looked off into the great world
beyond.
And his Aunt Caroline's last words
hummed in his ears.
John Philip" she had said. "I
want you to treat everybody just as
fair and kind as you treat yourself
and don't forget to save your money"
John did not come back. He found
something to do at Burlington, he
worked his way to Albany and, as a
steamboat deckh hand. he finally
reached New York.
1t was a year before Aunt Caroline
saw him again. His employer had
sent him up to Albany. He seized the
opportunity to spend the day at the
old home.
Aunt Caroline had drawn him in
with a glad cry.
"Prodigal?" she presently asked.
mot yet" he laughiDgly answered.
He had fair job and was working
hard-and there was a chance to rise.
Are you saving your money!" she
asked.
NO" he laughingly told her.
when Saturday night comes there's
nothing to save"
She shook her head.
You're like your father, she said
"He never saved. No matter what he
earned, it was just enough to live on
and that was all. Guess you'll al
ways have to work for somebody.
John Philip"
Whenever he could John Philip Wis
tied the old home. His visits grew
rarer, but IT the summer passed with
out his finding time for the trip he al
ways wrote Aunt Caroline a long let
ter.
lie was working hard and doing his
best 10 save something-an she must
give up all fear OF having a prodigal
on her hands.
When John Philip had been AWAY
two years he sent his Aunt Caroline
500 as a present His aunts income
was a small one, derived from the
rental of a farm and from little loans
on real estate. She had taken the
money he sent her and put # i'm the
bank.
"The dear boy will need It some
time. she said.
So the years wore on thirty of
them
Ho sent modest sums of money sew
eral times, and Aunt Caroline added
each remittance TO the original John
Philip fund.
She told him finally that the money
was waiting his hour of need. and he
had laughed ia a queer way.
"All right" he cried, 1T may come
handy some day"
Yes. he had a fairly good Job, I'm a
bank, and was doing his best TO save
something. But living was expensive
in the city.
Three weeks later a jaunty young
man crossed The threshold of Aunt
Caroline's prim little parlor Tt was
matter of important business that
brought him. he answered fra his
quick, smiling way.
There hadn't been n book aren't or
a peddlcr OF any sort In peterneu for
a half dozen years. Aunt Caroline
wondered what this brisk stranger
could be.