Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-04-26
APRIL aetha Is54.5q ~

IL mas never missed OeloEes Sne
said, looking earnestly atlher father
No suspicion OF the truth was in her
mind, but to the eyes of her father, her
countenance was full of suspicion. Still
he had not the courage to confess what
he had done. ..s..l.r. -tares b.
1t seemed to Mr.. Asburn that he heard
but little else, while in the house during
the whole day. but the failure of the
newspaper When night came, even he.
as he sat with nothing to do but to think
about the low price of wheat for an hour
before bed time, missed his old friend
with the welcome face, that had so often
amused, Instructed and interested him.
On Monday, the girls were very anxious
for their father to ride over to the post
office and see if the paper hadn't come !;
but of course the farmer was too busy
for that. On Tuesday and Wednesday
the same excuse was made. On Thurs
day Margaret asked asked neighbor
who was going by the Office, to get the
newspaper for them. Towards evening,
Mr.. Markland, the neighbor. was seen ri
ding down the road, and Jane and Mar
garet ran down eagerly to the gate for
the newspaper.
''Did you get the paper for us ?'' ask
ed one of the girls, showing two smiling
rows of milk-white teeth while her eyes
danced with anticipated pleasure.
The neighbor shook his head. r....
"Why :" asked both girls at once.
"The postmaster says it has been stop
ped" ~
Stopped - How changed were their
f,oaz oDl Of voice
"Yes." he said, "your father directed it
to be stopped"
THAT must have been mistake. He
would have told u.s."
The neighbor rode on, and the girls
ran back into the house.
"Father, the postmaster says you have
stopped the paper said his daughters,
breaking in upon the old gentleman's no
very pleasant reflections on the low price
of wheat, and the difference in return he
would receive at ninety cents bushel to
what he would have realized at the last
years price of dollar and twenty-five
cents"
"It is true he replied, trenching
himself behind firm and decided man
ner. 't ..-
But why did you stop it. father 2"
inquired the girls.
=" Because l can't afford to take it. 1t
is as much as shall be able 10 do to get
you enough to eat and wear this year."
His manner was decided, and his voice
had repelling tone.
The girls could do no more but they
did not leave their fathers presence with
out giving his eyes the benefit of seeing
fresh gush of tears. 1t would be doing
injustice to Asburn's state of mind to say
that he felt very comfortable, or had done
so since stopping the Post, an act for
which he had sundry times more than
half repented. But, as it had been done
he could not think Of recalling it.
| Very sober were the faces that surround
ed the supper that evening. and but few
words were spoken. ASburn felt oppres-
sed, and also fretted to think that his
daughters should both mako themselves
and him unhappy about the triAe of a
newspaper, when he had such serious
| trouble to bear.
On the next Saturday, as he was, walk
ing over his farm, he saw man sitting
on one of his fences. dressed in a jockey
cap, and wearing a short hunting coat
He had rife over his shoulder. and car
ried powder flask, shot and bird bags +;
in fact, he was a fancy sportsman, a
somewhat rara aviS in these parts. .g
"What's this lazy fellow doing herc?"
said Asburn 10 himself, II wonder where
he comes FROM" | ..H
"Good morning neighbor," spoke out
the stranger in familiar way, as the far
mer came within speaking distance. Is
there any good game about here? Any
wild turkeys or pheasants 20
"Thcre are squirrels returned AS
burn little sarcasticslly, 'and the woods
are full of robins
" SQUIRRELS make frst-rate pie. But
[ needn't tell you that my friend. Every
farmer knows the taste ofsquirrel,'' - said
the sportsman with great humor, "Stiu L
want to try my hand at a wild turkey
I've come off here into the country to
have crack at game better worth shoot
NO. than in the neighborhood of P.
:" You're from p, then" said
the farmer. tE- ~
"When did you leave there 90
-Four or FIVE weeks ago"
Then you don't know what wheat is
selling for now p ,-
ivc or dollar, I don't remember which
when I left"
"Niuety! I should like to buy at
that"
II have no doubt you can be accommo-
Dated" replied the farmer.
"That is exceedingly low for wheat
If it wasn't for having week sport
among your wild turkeys. and the hope
of being able to kill deer. I'd stop and
buy lot of wheat on speculation:
"I'Il sell you FIVE hundred bushels at
ninety-two, :" said the farmer, halt hoping