Harvard Harvest

Perhaps the popular myth of virtue triumphing over adversity persists be cause it is true. Angus Mack Gaither, 18, of Thompsonville, Ill., lost his father in 1968. Angus, his mother and his elder brother Jewell took over the management of the family's 400-acre farm. In 1971 Angus' brother had a stroke, leaving him a semi-invalid, and the burden of running the farm fell to Angus and his mother. Angus rose at 5:00 a.m. to do his chores, and some times worked in the fields--raising soy beans, corn, cattle and hogs--until midnight. During the day, he maintained an almost-straight-A average at the local high school. His dream had long been to attend an Eastern college, preferably Harvard.

Last month Angus was accepted by Harvard, and the dream seemed nearer. Quite suddenly, disaster struck his family once again: his mother suffered a stroke, and she too became bedridden. It seemed the dream would have to be deferred, until a reporter for the Southern Illinoisan wrote about Angus' hardship. Though Angus, who will be valedictorian of his 26-member graduating class, won a $5,250 Harvard scholarship, he estimates it will cost $1,300 a month to hire help and pay for medical care for his mother and brother while he is away. Several people responded to the news story with offers of aid, and though Angus still does not have all the money he needs, he has decided the gamble is worth it. He is off to Harvard at harvesttime, aiming for a career in law and politics.

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