Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-04-11


these ,t'other things" casting glance al
the stranger. -..
7 The stranger had, indeed, his eyes
fixed curiously upon the two, for he had
been watching the consump,ive tenden-
cy of the son; not in any cough or hec.
tic flush, or peculiar paleness, for he had
"a positively sunburnt complexion of his
own, but by the extraordinary power he
possessed of tossing down coffee and
ham, with enormous pieces of toast and
butter. Under his operations, a large
dish of broiled ham rapidly disappeared.
and the contents Of the coffee-pot were
in as active Gemand. Yet the old man,
ever and anon, looked up from his reve.
re, and repeated his paternal obserya-
don't ... ....... g-.r. .....-. ....,.
T. "Joe, lad, thou eats nothing!'
! mo, fayther," was still the reply; 81
towd you | shouldn't. It's this reen,
and these ,'other things again glancng
at The stranger. s..a.s. s.....a. ... .,..a
Presently the broiled haih had totally
va anished-there had been enough for six
ordinary men. And while the son was
in the act. of holding the coffee-pot up
side down, ard draining the last drop
J from it, the old man once more repeated
his anxious admoni,ion:-''Joe,l lad thon
eats nothing" !"-and the reply was still,
No, faylher, l towd you | shouldn't
It's this reen, and these ,'other things" "
This was accompanied by another
glance at the stranger, who began to feel
himself very much in the way, but was
no little relieved by seeing the son rising
with his plate in his hand, and coming
across the room, saying, you've a
prime round of beef there. sir; might !
trouble you for some?'
"By all means" said the stranger and
carved off slice of thickness ard diam
eter 2roportioned 10 what appeared to
him the appetite of this native of the
Peak. This speedily disappeared; and
as the son threw down the knife and
fork, the sound once more reused the
old man, who added, with an air of in
creasing anxiety, "Joe, lad, thou eats
nothing ''g,nI ..ras.z ............ ....
"No, fay,her," for The last time res
ponded The son. "ItowG you | shouldn't
It's this reen, and this t'other matter; but
I've done, and so let's co. na E-.#r
| The father and son arose and went
out. The stranger who had Witnessed
this extraordinary scene, but without
betraying any amusement at it, arose,
too, the moment thev closed the door az
ter them, and, advancing to the window,
gazed lixedly into the street. Presently
the father and son, in their great coats,
and with their huge drab un brella hoist
ed over them, were seen proceeding
Gown the market-place in the midst oil
the still pouring rain, and the Strangers s
ryes followed them intently till they dis
appeared in the winding OF the street.
He still stood for some time, as if in
! deep thought, and then turning, rung the
bell, ordered the breakfast-things from
his ia Die, and producing writing-case,
sat down to write letters. He continu-
ed writing, pausing at intervals, and look
! ing steadily before him as in deep thought,
for about an hour. when the door opened.
and the Peak farmer and his son again
entered. They were in their wet and
s,eaming great coats. The old man ap-
peared pale and agitated; bade the son
see that the horse was put in the cart,
rung the bell. and asked what he had to
pay. Having discharged his bill, he
continued to pace the room, as if uncon-
scious of the stranger, who had suspen-
ded his writing. and was gazing earnest
ly at him. The old man frequently
paused. shook his head despairingly, and
muttered to himself, "Hard man!--no
fellow feeling!--all over! all over!'-
With suppressed groan, he again con-
tinued his pacing to and fro.
The stranger arose. approached the
old man, and said with peculiarly SYM
pathizing tone, a aaea4ag s's 3
''Excuse me, sir, but you seem to
have some heavy trouble on your mind;
should be glad if it were anything thai
were in my power to alleviate.
The old man stopped suddenly-look.
ed sternly at the stranger--seemed to
recollect himself, and said rather sharp.
ly, as if feeling an unauthorized freedom
4 - A'us = a'@ ht@tat sAH4ess.# tE. E.E tHsssa
81 beg PARDON said the stranger
81 am aware that it must seem strange
in me to address you thus; but l cannot
but perceive that something distresses
you, and it might possibly happen that
might be of use to you.
The old man looked at him for some
time in silence, and said--s.s
81 forgot any one was here; but you
can be of no manner of use to me.
thank you.' r4a n sl..
II am truly sorry for it; pray excuse
my Freedom said The stranger witE q
slight flush; shut l am an American, and
we are more accustomed to ask and
communicate matters than is coEsisten,
with English reserve. ! beg you will
pardon me-"
"You are nm Americana" asked the
old man, looking at him. "You are
quite stranger here?" .s8s
"Quite SO, sir" replied the stranger
with some little embarrassment. "Iwas
once in this country before, but many
years ago." 2t "a
The old man still looked at him, was