The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-14
LOUIS 0. COWAN, Editor and Proprietor.

Tor that.
thanked the good people, and told them
would pay them well for all they did 10
us.
Speak not of pay" said the woman
taking her tea-kettle from the hob and hang
ing 1t upon the crane.
"Stop wife," uttered the old man trcm
ulously. "Let not your heart run ava.
with We. If the good gentlemen have Il
spare out O. their abundance, 1t becomes no
such sufferers as we to refuse the bounty
| saw the woman place her apron to he'
eyes, but she made no reply. The dool
close by the fireplace stood partly open, anC
I saw in the room beyond bed, and | wa
sure there was some one in il. asked the
old man If he had sickness.
"Yes," he said with sad shake Of the
head. "My poor boy has been sick long
while. He's the only chill. l have the
only helper on the little farmland he's
been sick now all the spring and summer,
I've taken care Of the sheep, but | couldn't
plant. It's hard, don't despair. My good
wife-God bless her-shares the trial with
me, and think she takes the biggcs;
share"
"No, no John-don't say So" uttered
the wife. "No woman could do the work
you do"
81 don't mean to tell too much, Margaret,
only you know you've kept me up"
\ call from the sick room took the wife
away, and the old man than began to tell
me, in answer to my questions, some Of the
peculiarities of the Plain, for we were on il
now,-and found him well informed and
intelligent. AT length the table was set,
the clean white cloth spread and we were
invited to situp. We had excellent white
bread, sweet butter, some fine stewed dam
sons, and a capital cup of tea. There were
no excuses, no apologies-only the food was
before US, and we were urged to help our
selves. While we were eating, the rain
cease falling, but the weather was by no
means clear, though just as we moved from
the table, a CLEAN Of golden light shot thro'
the window from the setting sun.
II may have been half an hour after this
lit was not moro than that-whcn wag-
ON drove up to the door, in which were two
men. The old man had just come in from
the barn, and il was not yet so dark but we
could see the faces of the men in the wagon.
They were middle-agcd men; one of them
habited in sort Of jockey hunting garb,
and the other dressed in black clothes, with
that peculiar style of hat and cayat which
marks the officer. turned toward our host
for tho purpose of asking if he knew the new
cOmers, and | saw that he was very pale and
trembling. a low deep srOan escaped HIM,
and in u moment more his wife moved to
his side, and put her arm about his neck.
She had been trembling, but that groan OF
her husbands seemed TO call her TO herself
"Don't fear, john" she softly said
"Thcy can't take away our love, nor Our
souls. Cheer up. III be- a support to yc
John, when all else are gone"
\ tear rolled down the old mans check
but when another started he wiped it away
and having kissed his wife he arose from In
chair. just then the two men entercd.-
lie in the jockey coat came FIRST, and hiseye'
rested on Ieeman and myself
"only travellers, Mr.. Vaughan, said Ou'
host.
SO Mr.. Vaughan turned his eyes else
where about the room, and at length wer,
fixed upon the old man.
"Well," saidhe, "what about the rent p
"We haven't penny of it yet sir" an
swered the host, trembling.
"Not penny! Then how'll you pa!
me twenty pounds?"
Twenty pounds,' muttered the ol'
man, painfully. Alas cannot pay it
You know Walter has long been sick, an,
every penny could earn has been paid tn
doctor. You know he was 20 have carne'
the rent il he had been WE'LL"
~ don't know anything about Il" re
turned the landlord doggcdly y--for Mr.
Vaughan owned the little farm, it afterward
appeared. "All know is, that you hav
had the house and the land, and that 70
two whole years you haven't paid me pen
ny. You know told you month ago, tha
you should have just one more to pay me
The month was up last night. Canyon pa.
mop
"No, mo-, God knows l can't"
Then you must leave the house"
Whcn?"
"To-night" ;"
"You do not mean that. You will no
turn Us out 50 quickly as
Out upon your pnting; what do yo'
mean by that? You had a notice mont
ago.
How long a notice do you suppose i give
II you haven't had time in a month to NOV
then you must look out for the consequence
Tonight you move! IfyOu want shelte
you may go into the old house at the horsC
pond"
"But there's not window in it,"
"Beggars shouldn't be choOsers, /" remark
cd Mr.. Vaughan. "Ifit hadn't been 20
hunting up the officer, l should have bee,
here this morning. Butt isn't my fault
Now l can have good tenant right OF, an
he wants the house tomorrow. So there
not word to be said. / shall take YOU
two cows, and your sheep, and IL they 20 fc
more than twenty pounds, after taking ou
the expenses, you shall have the balanC
back"
The moor peasant cazcd for moment