Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-03-01

,
him, though almost every week taught hin
the opposite doctrine. He labored hard-
was a good husband and father, warm
hearted and humble Christian, and loving
all men much, but his God more. lie
honestly earned property, but could never
make it stick to his fingers. His wife was
noble hearted woman, who had reIin-
quished brighter prospects that she might
be happy with the man OF her choice.-
And she had been happy. One by one
their children had sickentd in the wilder
ness, and they had carried them TO the little
opening in the forest which they had clear
ed for burying7place. 1t was the first
clearing he had made after reaching their
new home the briers and wild weeds were
not allowed to grow there. AT the time
my story commences Mr.. Redfeld had
Teached the age of sixty or more. HIS
wife was ten years younger. Only one
child remained to them, a staid, sober,
quiet, yet courageous boy, Of about ten
years of age, and be went by the plain
name of Daniel Redfield.
Somewhat further up the river was a
house of greater pretensions. 1t was built
OF brick. gambrel rooted, and was surround
ed by fruit trees and gardens, spacious barns
and out houses. 1t stood in pleasant val
ley, under the shadows OF lofty mountain.
The vale had been cleared up, and the
fields of wheat and corn, and the rich
meadows of grass, caused the passer by to
stop and gaze, and say, Squire Ordway is
well to do in this world.' The Squire
was a man, who, Ike his neighbor, Red
field, was honest and kind; but in worldly
wisdom he was far his superior. They had
both come into the wilderness poor, but
one was rich, and the other dwelt under
the shadow Of the hill of wealth without
being able TO climb it, Mr.. Ordway had
large family of boys. They were not very
polished, for they had 70 rough it from their
very infancy. Mutual dependence and
common privations, teach the pioneers of
the forest to be ready for any act of kind
ness which neghbor needs. and no kind
er neighbors than the Ordways could be
found on the Kennebeck. The parents
were proud of their boys; for none could
PROSTATE the forest, get out timber logs for
the mills, hunt the moose, or catch salmon
with more skill than they. But the pet of
the flock was an only daughter, about four
years old. She blossoms about them, and
as brautiIul too. Little Susan was the idle
Of the family. The father and mother
EARLY discovered that she was "a remarka-
bic child,' and the boys received it as fact
not to be questioned. Hence they gathered
flowers in the Spring, berries and fruit in
Tie Spmmrr, nuts in the Autumn, and PLAN
ned slides aud Sed-drawIngs on the ice in
the Winter, ;or little Susan Hence it is
not to be wondered at that as she grew up,
she found a will Of her own, and that her
little foot sometimes came down with de-
ciSon that was unbending.
As the two families advanced, it was
plain that the Ordways We're 10 increase
and spread, and grow wealthy. 1t was as
clear that the Redfelds never would
Daniel Hook to books Not that he dis
liked work, but he yearned for knowledge,
so that there was not book in the whole
region, of whose contents he was not per-
feet master. Happening 10 light upon a
stray Euclid, the parents wondered much
over the beautiful figures which he drew on
the white birch bark gathered from the for
est. Every pitch pine root which he found
was carefully saved to give him light for
study after the labors of the day. At the
age OF seventeen, the father of Daniel be-
gan 10 droop. 1t was evident that he must
die. Like a wise man he had set his house
in order; and the only regrets which he
! had on the conviction that he must die,
We're that he left his widow and chlld so
poorly endowed. But he knew the pro-
misses of God to be faithful, and his eye OF
faith did not grow dim.
A few days before be died, Squire Ord,
way came 10 pay his friend a visit. They
had never quarreled and had no malice to
overcome. They had lived and loved like
brothers, and the tears which they now
shed We're the true currency Of the heart
Il do not doubt it, said the dying man;
Il do not doubt that you will advise and
encourage the poor woman as a brother
would aud she'll need it. ] have my
little farm paid for, and the COW and the
poney but that's all neighbor. And then
my boy Daniel l've tried hard, perhaps
not SO faithfully as | ought, TO wean him
from his books; but it's in him, and fire
couldn't burn it out of him. What can be
done for him and with himp
'lt's no use in trying, my old friend, lt''
Jest as natural for him to study as for a
trout to bite at fly. Study he will, anc
study he must, and I'll promise to aid hin
all | can.'
Sod bless you for that, James Ordway
And if he don't feel grateful, and thanh
you, sure you are that you have the thanks
OF dying father Beforehand
'Who can tell but that, like one of ou
own rough logs which We send down tn,
river, and which is worked into beautilu
house at Bostqn he may yet become some
thing that will honor us all .
So said the friend and neighbqr, and th'
eye of the dying man kinded with Joy
and hope was there to cheer him, and faitl
to strengthen him, and SO his last interview
with his old friend was one of deep conso