Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-12-11
UNCLE BEN'S NEW YEARS GIFT.

81 think" said old Benjamin Hicks, q
comfortable farmer, residing some fifty
miles from Cincinnati, "tha, l'Il take a
little trip over 10 s., and see how Peter is
coming on"
al wish you would" replied the farmer.
wife, fine. hear'y.looking old woman
with pleasant, in,e!ligen, coun,enance-
" 81 wish YOU would, Benjamin. There's
not much TO do now al home and you can
60 away for week, as well as not. II
will be good opportunity 10 see the family
and Judge Of things little from your own
observation. Hannah makes a dreadful
mouth whenever she writes"
Al know she does. and that's the reason
why l thought OF going over. There's
something wrong, depend on't-something
wrong. Than Peter. there ism, harder
working or more Industrious man any
where, I'll give him credit for that. He
ought 10 get along comfortably and lay up
money. No one in the State has finer
piece Of farm land. nor one that, properly
treated. ought 10 turn out more 10 the
acre"
land can sreak for Hannah" said the
old lady. Il raised her, and l know tina,
She hasn't lazy bone in her body."
"lt isn'i want Of industry on either side" !"
remarked BENJAMIN Hicks. "The defect
lies somewhere in want OF management !;
or in the profitable disposition Of what they
make. Handwork is ali very well; ou, it
is often like rowing with one oar there
must be a head.work to make the boat
shoe, lightly forward. Yes-yes. mus,
see them"
[, was towards the latter part Of Decem-
ber. few days before Christmas, that the
brief conversation, here given. took place
between Benjamin Hicks and his wife.
On Christmas day, the old gentleman. true
10 his purpose, arrived by stage in S.
Soon afterwards he entered The farm house
of Peer Miller, which, neither within nor
without, presented an air Of thrift or com.
fort.
A hearty welcome did Uncle Ben receive
from Peter and Hannah; and also from
their children. Or the latter, there were
four liv'ng-three had died. The oldest OF
these was Ellen, a girl in her sixteenth
year; Henry, jus, fourteen, came next.
Between him and Hannah, a bright. rest
less. noisy creature, seven Yeas old, there
had been a brother and sister; but, two
small hillocks in the graveyard near by,
marked The spo, where their dust was
minging with its kindred dust. A baby,
nearly two years old, completed the house,
hold treasures Of Peter and Hannah Miller.
For few hours alter The old gentIeman's
arrival. the pleasure felt at his coming
beamed from every coun,enance. Peter
was taIka,ive and cheerful, and Hannah's
face was Ii, up with q constant succession
of smiles. After supper. however. when
all The children but Ellen were in bed-she
sat ur 10 help her mother with the sewing
Of the family-and the quie, Of evening
made their thoughts sober Peter grew
silent, and Hannah, as she sat al her work,
now and then sighed involun,ariIy.
"How are you getting on now. Peter y
asked Mr. Hicks. breathing in upon a
silence Of several minutes.
Not so we'll as could wish, Uncle
Ben.' replied Peter. He tried to affect a
cheerful air. bu, the real dependency that
was in his heart could no, 10 disguised.
"I'm sorry 10 hear you say ,ha..' re-
turned the old gentleman. "You were
always honest and industrious; and in the
country. homes, industry should rise by its
own inherent buoyancy."
"Peler works ha I'd enough, dear knows"
spoke up Hannah. We ought to get
along. If he goes on as he has been going
for the last few years, he will break him
self down."
"Tha's bad" said Uncle Ben. " very
bad; work, even hard work. Is better for
The health than idIeness. Rust destroys
more than friction. Bu, over.work is not
good"
That ! already begin to feel" said
Peter. 81 give out much quicker than ]
did some years ago."