The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22

dent Why. it's less than two weeks
since you promised IL took back Tom
Nesbit, who beat his wife and lei his
children go hungry, that YOU wouldn't
ask another thing OF me for six
months"
but this is a boy" pleaded Mrs
Gerald. She started to tell about the
lad, anu the superintendent and tho
other men looked at nor half hunlor.
onsly occasionally making jccting or
locosc remarks. When she finished,
the superintendent voiced the aenti-
ment of the men when he said the
Boy Tramp" probably was an artful
little liar, who knew how to fool a
soft hearted woman. Mrs. Gerald
flushed at the suggestion of untruth on
the hoy's part, ana She did not press
her request on the superintendent I'M
I'll he was about TO depart. Then she
said: You viii give him something to
DO. wont you, Edward" and he, man
like responded: We'll, I'll think about
it,"
The next day William Shatcr carried
note from AIRS Gerald 10 the SUPER
IntendeDt. lie had been told IL was
difficult 10 get by the gate to the big
establishment, and he was TO Insist on
delivering the note In person lie
followed instructions, and tho super
intendent, after reading the note and
scowlnS, asked him n few curt u,ies-
tons and sent him to the pattern shop
That night william Shafcr reported TO
Mrs. Gerald that he had a Job ana was
to get So u week.
1t was month or two later that the
superintendent who dincd regularly
once a week IT the Gcrnlds' remarked
casually to Mrs. Gerald Il saw that
boy tramp OF yours to-day, Martha
was talking with the foreman OF the
pattern room and happened 10 notirc
him. | asked the foreman how he was
getting on, and lie said the boy worked
faithfully enough, but was sul!en.
obstinate little brat--a regular mule
guess he'll get fired before long"
Mrs. Gerald sent for tho yo,ingstcr
and had Il long talk with him. She
his rare tact and a wonderful Skill in
presenting any case in which she il
interested deeply. She explained 10
the hoy how hn appeared to others
and how he aided thom in misiudeine
him. she Told how great {, thing will
power is, and how VALUABLE: it Is when
properly employed, but how closely
allied IL is 10 obstnacy. She said his
character was jus. forming. ana what
sort OF n man he was To nc would be
determined hy what measure of self
cortr7l he practiced. To obey the
orders Of his superiors was mos, I'M
nortant. To do chcerfully was almost
as necessary as 10 do we'll He must
overcome the bitterness. tho sullen-
ncas ,hat has come upon him through
The Injustice and mistrcatment Of his
Gather aud .;tcpmothor IL was smother
life he mad entered now. Whether il
should te one of brightness and happi.
ness or one of gloom and opposition
rested with himself Gu, of her own
ardent imagination she drew q picture
of what he might do if nc bur tried.
and then she told hii;l /; vas his duty
to himself and 10 her that lie should
do so.
Tile statement that 1t was his duty
| to her seemed 20 impress the boy moro
Than anything else. you are tho
! only one who has been kind 70 me since
my mother died" ho said. and ri do
| everything Won ask me-"
| y few days later hc reported how he
had been ordered 10 do something he
did not approve. The order had come
| from man hu iisliked but under
whom ne was working. Tie did not
want to do II and refused Then lie
thought of all she h1d said, and he
had forced himself not only 10 do il,
but to smile in doing it. lie had sur
prised the man ny his change Of atti-
tude ana the man had scoffcd and
| aneered at him because he had thought
he had mastered tho spirit of the obsi-
nate youth. never imagining, Of course
! tho real cause.
Mrs. Gerald was delighted. She told
| the boy he had won a victory and that
| if he. would DC steadfast there would
| be less and less difficulty in overcoming
| his one great fault. Soon time would
come when what now was a habit
would disappear. Then she told him
nc must study. There was night
school to which she advised him 10
20. She had learned that he delight