South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-31

and crippled 10 walk Owing 20 tire
ruin my father pushed my hand
Cdrriage under an archwly. Takins
shelter there we found a handson
COY OF l.. well built. strong and
looking more than his age.
Fearing 10 lose time from work IN
his taurery my father engaged this
hoy 20 push me home when the rain
ceased Arrived At our house ask
ed him in for a meal. After his
dinner IN the kitchen he Joined ne
iu he diniug-rOom telling ne
something OF his history His name
was I0nn Halifax. an orphan. with
ouJ home. relatives. or money. and
20 obliged 20 roam the country look
INK for work. lis one treasure was
q Greek Testament. on the hy-leaf
81 which was written the name Of
Clv Halifax IN addition there were
rae entries Of the marriage Of Guy
Halifax, gentleman, 20 Muuel Joyce.
-pinster. in TIE year 1873: OF the
birth OF John Halifax IN 1880. and
of the death OF Guy Halifax in
1891 Boing unable TO write the lad
asked me 20 make the additional
entry. Nuriel Halifax, died Janua-
~ lst, 17e1."
Never having had a companion
Z took 20 this boy as a friend, Undue
ing ny father, Abel Fletcher 10 give
lm work In the lanyard. II was
humble work. at a pIttance a week
and the boy took such care OF him.
self as he could. sleeping in or on a
90 20 49,
than enough TO keep him alive.
Faithful and Industrious how
ever. he won his masters confidence
being gradually promoted 10 better
posts. though still earning no more
tnan & bare maintenance.
Those were the days OF hard times
incidental TO the NapoleOnic wars
with scarcity both Of work and food.
As I was helpless II meant much 70
my father 10 have growing up under
his eye a lad 10 whom his masters
interests were his own. In a meas
ure John Halifax took my place IN
the tannery. during the labor riots
from which my father suffered. as
did most employers OF the time. my
friend was always on hand TO soothe
the workmen and protect my fathers
property.
IN proportion as Abel Fletcher
grew old and infirm a greater meas
IRE OF responsibility fell on the
Younger mans shoulders BY the
time ne was twenty one my father
was willing TO take him into partner
shin. promoting him thus from the
standing OF a waif. which was that
which he held in the eyes OF our
conservative fellow-townsmen IN
Norton Bury. in Gloucestershire, 20
that OF solid citizen. No young man
ever deserved good fortune more
Developing, too, a force OF character
which could not but be progressive,
he more than once found himself at
odds with the Cd Tory elements that
Ind long held our townsDeopde IN
submission and contempt
Chief among the petty tyrants %
the aristocratic class were the Earl
OF Iuxmore and his son-in-law. Rich
ard Brithwood. the important land
owners OF our neighborhOOd- Hard
drinking. hard-riding and profligate
they male use TO the full OF those
privileges Of birth and position which
n those days allowed the nobility TO
I've overbearing TO all whom they
REGARDED as interiors. Toward this
spirit John Halifax bore himself
respectfully but mantully. exciting
tho hatred Of his opponents By de-
fcatinE their ends A combination Of
circumstances brought him IN the
long run into loser connection with
both than either he or they careJ
o. recognize.
when ] was % and John Halifax
20 we took our first holiday together
lodging at farmhouse IN the neigh
boring hills. where also some cousins
Of Richard Brithwood, Mr.. March
aud his daughter. Ursula, were max
iur a temporary residence. The
father being an invalid. and grow
iuE rapidly worse while we were
there. John Halifax was able to per-
form valuable services for the
daughter. BY the time the father
olcd John and Miss March were in
love The difficulties 10 their mar
l4.lse were Of kind only TO be solved
JOS overriding them John Halifax
was. poor and nobody: Ursula
N'arch was hish-born and an heiress.
when he would have retired II was
sle who. with the instincts Of a big
and noble heart, took matters into
htr own hands She did this the
more braveIy. owing 10 the fact that
Richard ErithwOod. her guardian
had the power 20 Withhold her In
come. which he did for years.
Their marriage vas therefore in
modest conditions. but none the less
happy for that Their first sOrTow
l.ly De said 10 have come when
tl,ir eldest child, Nuriel proved 20
have been born blind Almost the
last act or my stern old father was
to bless the babe and proclaim her
tho child OF peace
Next 20 his Wfe this lIttle blind
.i~I was the object Of her father S
aeaq-est affections. Three boys, Gu.
Edwin and Walter. We're born after
hey. and lastly another little girl:
lut 10 none did the heart OF joni
Italif1x 60 ort with the Tenderness
called forth by the little one who
never seemed afflicted because Of her
sweet happiness When at the age
~ I sha was taken from them the