The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-02-19
A >Miser's
Money
And How It Was Turned
to a Useful Purpose
By ESTHER vANDEvEER
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

: By ESTHER VANDEVEER :
John Borlan was a country boy who
had gone to the city to make his for
tune. He had parted. the night before
leaving home, with Mabel Burroughs
at the gate Of her fathers home, both
pledging themselves to be true to each
other till Johns return. when he had
become successful, and they would be
married.
Mabel was a practical girl. She had
known Of other young men going to
the city to make their fortunes. some
OF whom had come back threadbare
and hungry and some remained away.
but she had never heard Of any Of
them making fortunes. One had been
crushed under the wheels of the jug
gernaut car that rolls over those who
fail in the struggle in a great city.
While John "a %picturing to her how
he would work early and late. saving
all he made except for a bare living.
she listened d%oubtingly.
Anyway. Johnny, whether you come
back rich or poor, you'll find me here
waiting for you. and I'll welcome you
just as heartily If you are poor as ii
you are rich. But against one thing
let me caution you. II you find that
the battle is going against you come
back. Don't stay in the city to be
crushed"
John promised, and with a long en-
brace they parted.
When John rolled on the raised
tracks through the outskirts Of the
city and saw the miles and miles of
houses. the throngs, the traffic. his
heart sank within him. But he re-
pressed the feeling Of dependency.
gritted his teeth and resolved that he
would succeed. He had read the story
Of Wilmington. who went to London
q poor boy. became discouraged at the
sight Of the great city in the distance
and resolved to go back to his home.
But he heard the bells ringing. and
they seemed to say, Turn again.
Wilmington. lord mayor Of London"
He entered the city and became en0r'
mously rich.
This story. familiar to many a school,
boy. came back to John Borlan and
gave him courage. When he alighted
from the train he felt strong enough
to breast the tide that seemed rising
to oppose him.
The game Of life is similar to a game
Of cards. II we have good cards.
which is the same as having good luck.
we win. A few there are with such
aptitude for the game that they may
win with poor cards; but. generally
speaking, poor cards mean the loss Of
the game. In other words. success
comes with opportunity.
John Borlan found one bit Of op-
p~ortunity in the city or. what Is the
same thing. a bit Of luck. But this did
not come to him for several years aft
er he had entered the fray there. On
his arrival he spent q mouth looking
for a job and just al his money ran
out found one In running an elevator.
A gentleman whose business vas In
the building took a fancy to him and
gave him q subordinate position. But
this man failed. and John was thrown
out. Again he walked the streets hunt
ing a job.
Johns hardships are. not interesting.
and Twill pass W them for bis op.
portunity. After drifting a long while.
sometimes earning a few dollars q
week and sometimes hungry for food.
when III the latter condition he remem-
bered his promise to Mabel that IL he
found the battle going against him he
would go back to the country. At the
time of his arrival he had put away
enough to pay his fare on the train.
but he had spent it for %sustenance. he
had no money to take him home. but
he resolved to keep his promise and
would sset out the next morning to
tramp the distance.
To one person In the metropolis he
resolved to say goodby. Tbat was the
man who had given him u position
when he was running an elevator. On
his way to this friend he saw at his
feet on the sidewalk n ~pOcketbook. He
picked 1t up. It was rectangular in
FORM. about six inches long BY three
wide. just large enough to hold a bank
bill not folded. Opening IT.. he found
a number Of such bills inside. BE
closed the pocketbook without count.
ing them and looked about to see II
any eye was upon him. Since no one
seemed to be observing him he thrust
his flnd into his pocket. for he desired
to have time to think over what he
should do In the premises. Finding q
place where be would be alone he
counted the money he had found.
There was 1854.
Johnny was M Of those men who
cannot bring themselves to appropri-
ate anything belonging to another. Be.
sides, he had the sense to discover that
anything so appropriated would do him
no good and might do him harm. he
certainly could not return to Mabel
without an effort to dnd the owner
Of this money for she, would condemn
him II he did. He knew that the own
or would advertise the loss Of his prop