Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-01-26

them a COW, and the ladies' gave a
few chickens. They sold milk and
| eggs, and that helped"
Il don't reckon anybody could get
closer to bedrock poverty than that"
said the first listener, with shuddsr.
"They could not" asserted the school
teacher. "Then this boy, Henry, he's
been like father to those children.
He works from daylight to dark. BE
put in sort Of garden the next year;
that helped give living, and he ped
| died some vegetables from it and
worked ut odd jobs. He's kept on haul
ing manure out there on that land and
got it pretty rich. There are seven
acres in the place"
"Why. that's flne!" said one Of the
| men.
The garden was better next year,
| and the COW had 4 calf. and that prom
lses to be good COW. They've got
more chickens and make plenty to eat,
and he sells more. and those children
are able to 90 to school in winter now.
thanks to Henry. And this year he
squeezed in three months himself-the
urSt ScnoOllnS ne ever had.
MY. my, what a tough time that
boy has had"'
Indeed, yes: but not a whimper
from Henry. He's got the heart Of a
Roman soldier in him. And, do you
know, the Old skintlint that owns that
place has gone to charging that poor
! outcast rent Oh it,"
chorused the two men.
Fact. Why, that place was In such
bad shape niger family moved out
or 1t before these folks We're dumped
there by the Ladies of Charity. That
Old rascal has given an option on the
place for $500 to friend of mine. If
Henry can buy the place and stop the
drain for rent they'll get along fine.
Kent amt much. but nickel looks as
big to them as a cart Wheel"
Mr.. Ralston looked at Joe. He was
white and breathing hard and strain
ing his ears to catch every word.
So continued the schoolteacher, IF
be wins he can commute this scholar
ship for $500 and make nearly another
500 Off the corn he sells. III person
ally see that the balance is made up
and enough is raised to buy him good
mule and wagon. If he gets the chance
hell actually make and save money
there IT he loses on this believe it
Will be the last straw. l actually be-
lleve 1t will break his heart-his spirit
and take the fight out Of him.
whats his record?" inquired the
other man.
Two hundred and fifteen bushels at
Is cents
"That's wonderful" said the first lis
tener.
well, he's an experienced gardener
by now, but it's a fine record. No rec
ord filed up to this time equals it, so
say that Joe Weston is the only one I
am afraid Of. \ few have made a few
more bushels than Henry has, but the
cost was so much greater. Why, guess
what that boy did,"
Cant imagine"
He went around town and cleaned
out every chicken house in town to get
the guano. He couldn't afford to spend
much money on fertilizer. What do
you think Of that for resource?"
Just splendid. and hope the little
chap WINS said the listener heartily.
There was very little talk at the table
where Joe and his father sat. Nor did
Mr.. Ralston or Tom seem inclined to
break the silence. All had heard the
words OF the man at the next table.
and all seemed depressed and the life
gone out of them.
When the meal was finished they
went to the fair grounds and made for
the Agricultural hall, where the Corr
| club exhibits were the first thing. 1t
was magnificent array and showing.
The whole party went into ecstacies
over it.
\ man in the center of the space
where the Corn club exhibit was began
shouting something through a mega
ohone. They stopped and listened.
".All entries for the contest for the
state championship Of the Boys Corn
| club growers will close at $3.50, posi-
lively. No records will be admitted to
| file after that hourv' he announced.
Half an hour" remarked Mr.. Raj
| ston. looking at his watch and throw
! ing sidelong glance at Joe.
| plenty Of time yet,' said Joe easily.
LES go and look at the stock"
They walked back to the stock ex-
hibit down by the race track, con-
siderable distance from the Agricul.
tural hall. They were Immersed in ad-
miring the beauties Of fat, splendid
cattle on exhibition when Mr. Ralston
pulled his watch from his pocket again.
| Great gracious, Joe, the entries will
close in five minutes! You've got just
about time to make it there. Run!
Hurry up!' he urged.
I'm not going to enter" said Joe
quietly.
"W-h-a-t! Not going to enterY' gasp
ed his father.
mo, sir; amt" He said it deter
minedly
"Oh, son, don't act foolish. Don't
throw away sure thing like thatr'
pleaded his father.
"Go on, Joe. You've worked too
hard for this. Go In and win!" said
Tom Ralston.
II amt going to do it," replied Joe
doggedly. IF I took the prize away
from that poor boy taking care OF
those little half orphans and helping
support his mother, why-why-I new
er could sleep at night again.
Mr. Weston mO{stonoi his lins which