The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-22
COUNCIL BLUFFS SATURDAY, AUGUST %, 1857 5...

CO
vas sure there was some one IN It. asked
the old man If he had sickness.
sYes,' he said, with . sad shake Of thu
head. my poor boy has been sick long
while. He's the only child have-the on.
y helper on the little farmland he's beer
ick now ell the spring and summer. I'vs
taken care Of the sheep, but | could moi
plant. It's hard, but we don't despair
Ny good wife-God bless her-shares the
rial with me, and | think she takes thu
biggest share.'
NO, no, John, don't say so,' uttered the
wife. mo man could do the work you do.
81 don mean to tell too much, Margaret,
only you know you've kept me up.'
A call from the sick room took the
wife away, and the old man then began to
tell me, in answer to my questions, some Of
the peculiarities Of the great Plain, for we
we're ON it now; and found him well in.
formed and intelligent. At length the table
was set out, the clean white cloth spread
and We were invited to sit up. We had ex.
cellent white bread, sweet butter, some fine
stewed damsons, and capital cup Of tea,
There were no excuses, no apologies-only
the food was before US, and we were urged
to help ourselves. While we were eating,
the rain ceased falling, but the weather was
BY no means clear, though just as we moved
from the table CLEAN of golden light shot
through the window from the setting sun.
1t may have been half an hour after this
lit was not more than that-when wagon
drnuo nv ia tho Annr In Hrbioh t,uo
men. The old man had just came in from
the barn, and it was not so dark but we
could see the faces of the men in the wag-
on. They were middle aged men, one Of
them habited in a sort Of jockey hunting
garb, and the other dressed in black clothes,
with that peculiar style of hat and cravat
which marks the officer. turned to.
wards our host for the purpose of asking
it he knew the new comers, and saw he
was very pale and trembling. A low, deep
groan escaped him, and in q moment more
bis wife moved to his side, and put her arm
about his neck. She had been trembling,
but the groan of her husband seemed to call
her to herself.
'Don't fear, john she softly said. sThey
can't take away our love, nor our SOULS
Cheer up: Pll be support to ye, John,
when all else are gone.'
A tear rolled down the old mans cheek,
but when another started he wiped it away,
and having kissed his wife, he arose from
his chair. just then the two men entered.
He in the jockey coat came first, and his
eyes rested upon Leeman and myself.
tOnly some travellers, Mr.. Vaughan said
our host.
So Mr.. Vaughan turned his gaze else
where about the room, and at length it was
fixed upon the old man.
sWell,' said he, 'what about the rent p
sWe haven't penny to pay of it yet, sir,
answered the host trembling.
Not penny! Then how'll you pay me
twenty pounds?'
sTwenty pounds = murmured the old man,
painfully. sAlas cannot pay it. You
know Walter has been long sick, and every
penny could earn has been paid the doc.
tor. You know he was to have earned the
rent if he had been well.'
Il don't know anything about it, return
ed the landlord doggedly-for Mr.. Vaughan
owned the little farm, it afterwards appear
ed. sAll know is, that you have had the
house and land, and that for two whole
years you haven't paid me a penny. You
know told you a month ago that you should
have just one more month to pay ME. That
month was up last night. Can't you pay
me?'
sNo! 400, God knows that can't?'
sThen you must leave the house,
sWhenY @
aa sTo-night ?
'You do not mean that. You will not
turn us out so quickly as
'Out upon your prating! What do you
mean by that? You had notice month
ago. How long notice do you suppose
give2 If you haven't had time in a month
to move, then you must look out for the
Tonight you move! If you
want shelter, you may go to the old house
at the horse pond.'
sBut there is not a window in it,
'Beggars shouldn't be choosers,' remark
ed Mr.. Vaughan. 'If it hadn't been for
hunting up the officer, should have been
here this morning. But 'tisn't my fault
Now, can have a good tenant right off and
he wants the house tomorrow. So there
is not word to be said. | shall take your
two cows and your sheep, and if they 60
for more than twenty pounds, after taking
out the expenses, you shall have the balance
back
The poor peasant gazed for moment,
half wildly, into the landlords face, and
then sank into char, and covered his face
with his hands.
sMy cows mp sheepn he groaned, spas
medically. %, kill Inc and have done with
tip
Sin Gods name, Vaughan, 'cried the wife,
spare us them. We will leave the cot, and
we will work with all our might until We
pay you every farthing, but do not take
away our very means of life. My poor boy
will die! U, you are rich and We are poorn
Nonsense ? uttered the unfeeling man.
Pm 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 year here.'
'But We have been sick urged the wo-
man.
'That isn't my fault. If you are paupers,
you know where to 90 to get taken care of.
90 to night, unless you pay me the twenty
pounds, and your cows and sheep go too.'
| was just on the point of turning to my
to ask him if he would not help
me make up the sum, for was determined
that the poor folks should not be turned out
thus. The woman had sunk down, and
she, too, had covered her face with her
hands. At that moment Nathan Leeman
,prang to his feet. His face was very pale,
and for the first time saw that tears had
been running down his checks.
'Look ye, sir,' he said to Vaughan, show
much do these people owe you?'
Twenty pounds returned he, regarding
his interlocutor sharply.
sAnd when did this amount come due in
The year
sIt was just due one month ago. The
rent is twelve pounds, but l allowed him
four pounds for building small bridge
over the river
sShow me the bill.'
The man, pulling out large leather
pocket book, from it took bill: 1t was
receipted. Leeman took out his purse, and
counted over twenty golden sovereigns.--
He handed them to the landlord anu took
the bill.
q believe that settles the matter, sir, my
said, exerting all his power to-
appear calm.
Yes, SIR returned Vaughan, gazing first
upon the man who had given him the mon
ey, to see if he was in earnest, and then
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