The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-04-15
NOT QUITE A FAILURE
MANS LIFE NOT As PLANNED,
BUT DUTY WELL DONE.
Quality Of seF-saerifee Counted For
Much When Ambition Was Put
Awsy at the Call Of FiliaI
Affection.


II always like to see ambition in
boy" said the doctor. "The best men
are those who as boys had little op-
portunity. but who made the most OF
what they had. AS rule the boys
who have worked their way through
college are about the best fellows !
know"
Il agree with you,' answered the
schoolmaster. But sometimes think
that there are boys who never go to
college who have done even better.
Did ! ever tell you about John Smith?
1T was years ago, and was prin-
cipal OF the school in little country
town. It was the only high school in
the county, and the boys and girls
from all round attended Many OF
them could not get away from the
farms until late in the season and so
dropped in at any time during the
term. Well, along about Thanksgiving
John Smith arrived. He told me he
lived six miles back in the country
and had walked in. He was a big.
well-set-up boy with bright, intelli'
gent face, and / soon found that he
had come to study. One day was
struck with the amount Of mud on his
shoes You must have a muddy walk
to school, remarked.
"'Yes, sir he answered, the roads
are pretty bad And then found out
that he walked the six miles in every
morning and out again at night! II a
boy took that trouble to get an educa-
ton, was interested, and | had a
quiet talk with him. He had wild
owed mother and little sister, and
they owned small farm. For the past
two years John had done all the work
himself, and he still had to do II. That
was the reason he had to live at home
instead OF boarding in town. lie told
me that he wanted to go to college
and become a doctor His father hat
been an unsuccessful lawyer, who hat
given up his practice and bought Tho
farm John told me his plans. Ht
was sure he could get another boy II
the neighborhood to look after hi
place while he was at college. and hi
mother was as anxious for him to g
as he was
Naturally gave him all the help
could. and although he had to leav'
early In the spring, lent him book
and gave him little personal aid il
his work from time TO time.
well, three years more passed II
the same way. John kept well NJ
with his studies by hard work, and a
last he was ready to enter college. HI
was accepted for entrance on thI
school certificate, and it was pleas
ure to see the glad look on his fac
when showed him the registrar
letter saying that he was admitted. II
had saved a little money from variou
odd Jobs that he had done, and he toll
me that he was all ready financial
for the first year, and that he had n
doubt that he could manage the oti
ers.
81 left the school that year, but jus
before It was time for college to oper
I wrote John a letter Of counsel an
encouragement ! get this brief not
in reply: ! am sorry to say that ] al
not going to college.
81 made II point to go down to sc
what had prevented him from carryin
out his ambition. found him hoein
corn. He was very glad to see M
and told me what the trouble was. Hi
mother had had a stroke of paralysis
Without murmur he had given u
his cherished plan. When ! asked hiT
whether he could not get someone
take care OF her, while he went o
with his course, he told me that tha
was impossible since his mother d,
pended so entirely upon him. | sha
never forget the tragedy and love t
gether in the boys face as he talke
to me of his vanished hopes an
watched his helpless mother"
81 suppose he got to college som
how" remarked the doctor, "and
now a famous surgeon
NO" replied the schoolmaste
that was ten years ago. but hear
from him only yesterday. His motht
is still alive and still helpless. lie
still running the farm, making a sma
living and caring for her. The littI
sister he has Just sent to the normi
school, but he will be small farmt
to the end of his days. And ! beliey
he was Just the man to have made
splendid doctor Yet | hardly thin
his life has been failure
81 should think not" said the do
tor.-Youths Companion.