Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-01-26
The Compass.

IL was the last day of Warren Buffers
vacation, and the last day before he was
TO start for his new employment in New
York. He had been spending his outing
in a camp in the mountains, so that he
might have the benefit OF all the country
air possible before cooping himself up in
an office in the city.
The pastor of his mothers church was
with HIM. The clergyman was fond OF
hunting and fishing, and his interest in
these things made il possible for him to
get into closer touch with many OF his
parishioners than if he had not cared for
outdoor life. Warren liked him for it,
and man and youth were on terms OF
friendly intimacy whenever they were IN
the woods. AT home Warren was little
shy of the clergyman, for then, as he
would have put il. the pastor was "work
ing at his trade"
The two were sitting on a log before
their tent as the afternoon was wearing
away. Warren was looking across the
valley and watching the clouds chase one
another over the fields, noting now and
then the varying shades OF green as the
wind ruffled the leaves in the forest be-
yond. He liked the open, and now that
he was to leave il for the barrenness and
confinement OF the town, there was as
much regret in his heart as can find lodge
ment in youth who has his life before
him.
The clergyman also, looking over the
hills and far away, saw the peris that
encompass young man alone in great
city. Finally he spoke, gently and con-
fidently.
81 hope you will continue TO go TO
church when you get TO New York, he
said.
The boy hesitated. He was evidently
thinking. Finally he said, "Well, don't
really know. ! wonder sometimes il the
men who are making the most stir in New
York are those who go most regularly TO
church. II seems to me that good many
OF them have something better to do with
their time. II | am TO succeed, | shall
have TO work hard and make my time
count as much as possible"
The minister made no reply for time.
There was silence for considerable
space. Then again the elder man spoke:
"Did ever tell you the story Of your
uncle? He died before you were born,
and think you never knew much about
him. He was fond of hunting, as you
are, and he was also high-spirited and
indepencent.
"He was with guide after deer in the
north woods one fall They got so deep
into the forest that they lost their way.
Neither could recognize any landmarks,
even when they climbed tree to look
over the surrounding country. They
agreed to separate, the guide TO 90 in one
direction and your uncle in another, and
the one who first found any familiar trail
or landmark was TO go back for the other.
Enough snow had fallen since they lost
their way to make this easy, and il was
growing colder, so that their tracks would
not disappear.
"Your uncle was sure that the way he
selected was right. He had often said he
never knew his sense OF direction TO be
at fault. He walked for two or three
hours without seeing any familiar th x.
He had a compass with him, but he was
so positive he was headed right that he
did not look at it. Finally il began TO get
dark, and at last he decided to consult the
compass, just TO make sure.
"FIe leaned his rifle against tree, and
after going some distance from il, took
out the compass. II showed that he had
been travelling north, when he was GER
tain that he had been going south.
"He did not believe the compass. II
must be out OF order. To prove il. al
though he was chilled 10 the bone, he
took il apart TO find why the needle was
stuck and persisted in pointing in the
wrong direction
The minister paused moment, and
Warren was on the point OF exclaiming,
"How foolish - for he knew the trust
worhiness Of compass; but he checked
himself as the story was renewed.
1.-The next morning, said the minister,
"the guide, with the helphe had secured,
found your uncle frozen TO death, with
the dismantled compass lying in the snow
beside him."
The minister made no further reference
TO the matter which had led TO the telling
of the story nor did the boy but the next
day, when they came out OF the woods,
and it was time TO say good-by. Warren
held out his hand and shook the minis
ter's heartily. "a want to thank you for
the story that you told me yesterday, he
said. And then he added, 81 think whrn
| get to New York ! shall stick to the
compass"