Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-09-13

''Oh, | can't tell you-l can't tell you'll" said
Beers with groan.
'sBut you aaust tell me,' returned my father.
''lt will break your heart" groaned Beers.
''To be sure it will, if he is seriously injured,
replied my father, but where is he"
He is dead," said Beers, as he nerved himself
up for the announcement, and then closing his
ewes, sunk into chair completely overcome with
fright.
My father gave groan that started Nelson to
his feet again All the sensations of pain, des-
pair horror, and intense agony were depicted to
The life upon my fathers cUuntenance.
'.Oh, uncle Phille. uncle Phlle, don't be too
hard with me- wouldn't have had ii happen for
all the world" said Beers.
"You can never recompense me for the horse"
replied my father.
II know it, know it, uncle Phille. can on
ly work for you as long as | live, but you shall
have my services till you are satisfied, after my
apprenticeship is finished" returned Beers.
After short time my father became calm, and
although apparently not reconcied to his loss, he
asked Nelson how much he supposed he ought to
owe him.
81 don't know am no Judge of the value of
blood horses, but have been told that they are
worth fortunes sometmes," replied Beers.
"Aad mine was the best in the world" said
my father, sand in such a perfect condition for
rdnning-al bone and sinew."
20 YES, saw that" said Beers. despondngy
but with frankness that showed he did not wish
to deny the great claims of the horse and his own
er.
"Well," said my father with sigh, cas- have
no desire to 90 TO law on the subject, we had bet
ter try to agree on the value of the horse. You
may mark on a slip of paper what sum you thiak
you ought to owe me tor hlm, and Will do the
same we can then compare notes and see how lar
we differ"
81 will mark" said Beers, ''but, uncle Phllle,
don't be too hard with me-"
81 will te as easy as | can. and endeavOr to
make some allowance for your situation" j" said my
father .but, Nelson, when think how valuable
that horse was, of course must mark something
in the neighborhood of the amount of cash could
have received for him. believe, however, Mel
son. that YOU are an honest young man, and are
willing to do what you think is about right.
therefore wish to caution you not TO mark down
one cent more than you really think, under the
circumstances, you ought 10 pay me when you are
able. and for which you are now willing to give
me your note of hand You will recoect that |
told YOU, when YOU applied for the horse, that
did not wish to let him eo'
Nelson gave my father grateful look, and as
sented to all he said About dozen CT our joke
loving ueighbors were witnessing the scene with
great apparent solemnlty. Two slips of paper
were procured, my father marked on one, and al
ter much hesitation Beers wrote on the other.
"Well. lei us see what you have marked, y
said my father.
81 suppose you will think it ton low" replied
Beers, handing my father the slip of paper,
"Only three hundred andseventy- five dollars!'
exclaimed my father, reading the paper. "Well,
there is pretty specimen Of gratitude for you -
Nelson looked humbled, and could not muster
courage enough to ask my father what he had
marked.
Finally one Of our neighbors asked my father
to show his paper. He did So. lie had marked
''sir and quarter cents!" Our neighbor read 1t
aloud, and roar of laughter ensued, which fairly
lifted Beers to his feet. 1t was some time before
he could comprehend the joke. and when he be-
came fully aware that no harm was done, he was
the happiest fellow ever remember seeing.
"By thunder!" said he, ''lve got dollar and
thirty seven and half cents, and darned II don't
treat that out as free as air was never scared SO
bad in all my life"
Nelson stood treat for the company. and yet
having half his money left IN hand, he trudged
home happier if not wiser man.