Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-06-03

should offer him double fee and he
should say, No, thanks, I'm tired. I've
cot forty thousand dollars in the bank
and don't have to work when I don't
want to-
"Or suppose were trying a case for
you and, when my eight hours work
had expired, l should want to walk
out of the court and leave your case
70 take care of itself. What do you
suppose would become of it? Yet that
is exactly what you did to my pipes.
You left them to take care of them
selves. You men, who use your hands,
make a great mistake in thinking that
YOU are the workers of the country
and that the rest of us are your natu-
raj enemies. In America, we are all
workers The idle man is mere par
aslte and not at heart an American.
Generally, l work fifteen hours a day.
''This little lad has been knitting
night and day for the soldiers without
hope of reward and has spent his saw
ings for yarn. There isn't a doctor in
Bingville who isn't working eighteen
hours a day. / met a minister this
afternoon who hasn't had ten hours
of sleep in a week.-Mrs. been so busy
with the sick, and the dying and the
dead. He is a nurse, friend, q
comforter to any one who needs him.
No charge for overtime. My God Are
we all going money mad? Are you any
better than he is, or | am, or than the
doctors are who have been killing
themselves with overwork? Do you
dare to tell me that prosperity is any
excuse for idleness in this land of ours.
if ones help is needed?"
Judge Crooker's voice had been
calm, his manner dignifed. But the
last sentences had been spoken with
a quiet sternness and with his long,
bOny fOrefinger pointing straight at
Mr. Sneed. The other members of the
committee clapped their hands in
hearty approval. Mr. Sneed smiled
and brushed his trousers.
"We're all of our balance little,
but what is to be done now?"
"We must quit our plumbing and
carpentering and laWyering and bank
ing and some of us must quit mer-
chandising and sitting in the chimney
corner and grab our saws and axes
and go out into the woods and make
some fuel and get it hauled into town."
said Judge Crooker I'll be one of a
party to go tomorrow with my axe.
| haven't forgotten how to chop"
The committee thought this good
suggestion. They all rose and started
on search for volunteers, except Mr.
Sneed. He tarried, saying to the judge
that he wished to consult him on Il pri-
vate matter. 1t was, indeed, just then,
a matter which could not have been
more public although, so far, the news
of it had travelled in whispers. The
judge had learned the facts since his
return.
Il hope your plumbing hasn't gone
wrong" he remarked with a smile.
mo, it's worse than that" said Mr..
Sneed ruefully.
They babe the little Shepherd good
night and went downstairs where the
widow was still at work with her
washing, although it was nine o'clock.
Faithful wOman" the judge ex-
claimed as they went out on the street.
what would the world do without
people like that? No extra charge for
overtime, either"
Then, as they walked along, he cum
ningly paved the way for what he
knewvgas coming.
did you notice the face of that
boy?" he asked.
Eyes, it's a Gods blessing to
see a face like that" the judge went
on. "Only the pure in heart can have
it. The old spirit of youth looks out
of his eyes-the spirit of my own
youth. When I was fourteen, I think
that my heart was as pure as his SO
were the hearts of most of the boys
I know"
. "It isn't so now" said Mr. Sneed.
81 fear it isn't" the judge answered.
'There's a new look in the faces Of the
young. Everyf variety of evil is
spread before them on the stage of our
little theater. They see it while their
characters are in the making, while
their minds are like white wax. Every
thing that touches them leaves a mark
or a smirch. 1t addresses,th them in the
one language they all understand, and
for which no dictionary is needed
pictures. The flower of youth fades
fast enough, God knows, without the
whitening knowledge of evil. They say
it's good for the boys and girls to know
all about life. We shall see!'
Mr.. Sneed sat down with Judge
Crooker in the handsome library of the
latter and opened his heart. His son
Richard, a boy of fifteen, and three
other lads of the village, had been
committing small burglaries and stor-
ing their booty in cave in piece of
woods on the river bank near the vii
lage. A constable had secured a con-
fession and recovered q. part of the