He was one of the bondsmen of a public official who made a hasty
departure to Canada, one evening, leaving his business in such a shape
that his securities were compelled to pay fifty thousand dollars. Two
others were associated with Mr. Wyckoff, and with the aid of their
tricky lawyers they managed matters so that four-fifths of the loss
fell upon the estate of the deceased merchant.
The result swept it away as utterly as were the dwellings in the
Johnstown Valley by the great flood. The widow and her boy left their
home and moved into a little cottage, with barely enough left to keep
the wolf of starvation from the door.
It was then that Bush showed the stuff of which he was made. He
returned one afternoon and told his mother, in his off-hand way, that
he had engaged to work through the summer months for Mr. Ashton, who
not only agreed to pay him six dollars a month, but would allow him to
remain at home over night, provided, of course, that he was there early
each morning and stayed late enough each day to attend to all the
chores.
The tears filled the eyes of the mother as she pressed her little boy
to her heart, and comprehended his self-sacrificing nature.
"You are too young, my dear child, to do this; we have enough left to
keep us awhile, and I would prefer that you wait until you are older
and stronger."
"Why, mother, I am old enough and strong enough now to do all that Mr.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233