The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-25

some of the pecuiarities of the great
Ram, Tor we were on it now aud found
him well informed and intelligent. At
length the table was set out, the clean
White cloth spread, and we were invited
to sit up. We had excellent white bread.
sweet butter, some fine stewed damsons,
and capital cup Of tea. There were no
excuses, no apologies-only the iocd was
before us and we were urged to help our
selves. While we were eating, the rain
ceased falling, but the weather was bv no
means clear, though just as we moved
from the table CLEAN Of golden light
shot through the window from the set
ting sun.
In may have been an hour after this
1t was not more than that-when WAC
on drove up TO the door, in which were
two men. The old man had Just come
III from the barn, and it was not so dark
but we could sec the faces Of the men in
the wagon. They were middle aged men.
one of them habited in a sor, of iockey
hunting garb, and the other dressed IN
black clothes, with that peculiar style of
hat apd cravat which marks the officer.
tusned towards oGr host for the purpose
OF asking if lie knew the new comcrs, and
l saw he was very pale and trembling.
low, deep groan escaped him Us he
arose from lis chair. lie in the Jockey
coat came first, and his eyes rested upon
Lcemau and myself.
"OnIy some travellers, Mr.. Vaughan"
said Our host,
SO Mr.. Vaughan turned his gaze else
where about the room, and at length it
was upon the oil man.
"M ell" said he, What about the
rent"
awe haven't penny Of it vet, sir"
answered the host, trembling.
"Not penny Then how'll you pay
me twenty pouudsl"
. "Twenty pounds" murmured the s.hl
man, painfully. "Alas! | cannot paw il,
You know Walter has long been sick, and
every penny could earn has been paid
the dos,or. You know he was to have
earned thu ren, if he had been WELL"
81 don't know anything about it," re
turned the landlord doggediy Mr.
Vaughan owned the little farm, i, after
, wards appeared.
"All know ia, that you have had the
nouse and land, and that for two whole
years you haven't paid penny. Ycu
know :old you a month ago that you
should have just one more to pay me-
HAT month was W last night. Can you
pay me"
No! MOO, God knows I can't"
Then you must leave the house"
"When I"
40 aightp
"fou DO no: mean that. You will no,
turn us out so quickly AS"
"Out upon yorr prating! What dc
you mean by ,hatl You had notice a
month ago. How long notice do You
, suppose give! II you haven't had tim,
, in month TO move, then you npnst lool
out for the consequences. 70 night you
move! u you want q shelter you ma,
go INTO he house q, the horse pond"
| "But there is not a window in it,"
, "Beggars shouldn't be choosers," re
marked Mr.. Vaughan. "[f it hadn'
been for hunting up the officer, should
have been here this morning. But 'tisn'
my fault. Now | can have a good ten
ant right of, and he wants the house to
, morrow. So there is not a word to b,
said. | shall take your two COWS and
your shcrp, and IT, they 40 for more than
twenty Pouaif after taking out the ex
pepses, yon shall have the balance back y
The poor peasant gazed for moment
halt wildly, into the landlords face, and
then sank into chair, and covered his
face with his hands.
!, My cows my sheepl" he Croaned
sRaaaodiea!iy. 10, kill me, and have
done with itp
"ln Gods name. Mr.. Vaughan" cried
the wife, "Spare us them. We will
leave the cot, and we will work with all
oaT might, until We pay you every far,
thing, but do not take away our very
means of life. My poor boy will die o,
you are rich, and we are poor!'
Nonsense uttered the uufeeling
MAJ. ".rm used TO such. stuff !; make
living by renting my farms, and this
farm is one Of the best have. A good
man can lay up more than ten pounds a
year here"
"But We have been SICK" urged the
woman.
"That ian't my fault. If you are pau.
pers you know where to 60 ard get taken
care OF. Now ! do. not want snpthtr
word. Out you go, to night, unless. you
pay me the twenty pounds, and your
cows and sheep 90 too"
was just upon the point Of turning to
my companion TO ask him il lie would
not help. me make up the sum, for uas
determined the poor folks should not be
turned out thus. The. woman bad sunk
down, and she too had, covered her face
with her hands. At that moment, Lee.
man sprang to his feet. IIjs face was
very pale, and for the first time saw
that tears had been. ruRaing down Lis
cheeks.
"Look We sir" he said 10 Vaughan,
show much do these people owe you:'
"TwentJ pounds, ".returned he, regard.
ing his interlocutor sharply.