Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-14

And hasn't he had FIVE minutes to spare
within three days?'
Yes, sir-a good many of em, l should
think
But how about this door out here?-didn't
you know that was unsafe ?
Yes sir Its been so long while. But
Mr.. Boggs said he'd fix it when he had time
and so | never touched it,
Who ugged that great log OF wood around
here TO hold it with p
Mr.. Boggs did sir
He did, eh ?-yes, yes And now how do
you suppose them bars came down "
Bars = repeated the man somewhat star
tied, are them bars down again 2
They are down, sir
! WelI-I'm glad ont Mr. Boggs said
he'd fix 'em. | asked him yesterday morning
| if should fix 'em, and he said no. He said
might go to work and he'd attend to that
! Now the cows are all gone y
| Ali understand, said Mr. Rolf And
as he spoke he turned away and followed the
tracks of his horse to the road, and saw that
it was turned towards home. He knew the
nature of bis horse, and be was sure he should
| find him in his own stall. So he returned to
the barn /; and having taken the bride on his
arm, and thrown the light saddle over his
shoulder said to the hired man.
You can tell Mr. Boggs that have gone
after my horse
But shant go with We, sir p
| No. | know just where to find him.
| So Aaron went away all Z" Saddled aud br-
bled"
When Mr.. John Boggs came into breakfast
he looked very blue"
'Why-what's the matter john the wife
| asked, for he looked really sad
! He made no answer and Matilda was upon
the point of asking him again when one of the
| roSv-cheeked little girls came running IN, with
eagernesS upon every round feature.
% mamma y she cried, don't you think
Mr. Rolfs horse has run off ! He broke ont
Of the stall where the halter hole was worn
off down to 'on almost nothing and he run
out through the barn door that was tumbled
down!-and he got through the bars where the
cows hook 'em down!-and-don't you think
he's gone off 10 try and catch h 10 lie
went with the saddle on his back! My sakes,
amt it too bad p
Matilda BIggs looked at John Boggs full
minute, and then she went back to her break.
fast She spoke not word further upon the
/ subject
The next forenoon there was letter left at
the house of john BOggs. That individual
/ received it from his wife when he came TO
/ dinner He had been fixing up a door, aud
some bars, etc. He opened the letter aud read
as follows
OAK HUI, Sept. %, IS.
( Nh JoHN BoGGs-DEAR SIR You may
/ consider that all business relations between US
are at an end But it will not thus abruptly
break of our plans without giving any reason.
I Il is this | am by nature very nervous, and
( | could not trust my interests in the hands of
a man who cannot take care of his own. Were
| not assured that the accident Of last night
was the result Of what has become confirmed
/ habit with you, / might hesitate but | un-
/ derstand it all This will remain a secret W tn
/ me and trusting you may overcome an evil
which cannot but result in harm to you if you
/ follow it up.
/ | remain yours, etc,
AARON ROLF.
/ John Boggs read this letter, and then rushed
/ from the house. Matilda picked it up and read
it. \ cloud passed over her face, aud then a
/ raw of sunshine came In few moments she
! looked happy and contented.
! But the dinner was getting cold and she sent
one of the children after him. He came it,,
! oOding sad and detected. His wife went up TO
/ him and placed her hand upon his shoulder
John, she said kindly, cannot YOU buy
some oxen p
| Yes he returned moodily.
And can you not buy them and still have
much of the money left which You received for
those you sold ?
Yes
Then 90 and buv oxen. and hire Your men
and do that work Yourself I'll do all can
towards taking care of your hands. And am
/ sure You'll make much more than you would 10
have partner Come-we eau do our duty
without the help of any man who does not
want to assist You
! John Boggs was dumb with grateful emotion.
! He understood his wife perfectly. He knew
1 how noble she was aud he nov realized that
| If he had ouly given heed to her advice before,
/ he might have been spared of his shame Bu,
! be soon gazed up aud his only answer was 10
/ draw the faithful woman down and kiss her
/ That very afternoon he commenced upoa q
rule of life which he resolved not to deviate
| lie posted off at once, and before night he was
| the owner of eight yokeS Of oxen. They wer,
not such beauties as those he had sold but they
were stout wOrking-oxen. Next he engaged
his men, Aud when the season for work come
he went at it with will The logs were all
menced out and deposited in the river, and he
was the clear, net gamer of one thousand dol
lars by the operation.
But that was not oil he gained from that faI-
len barn-door He gained the life lesson he So
much needed and from the rule it gave him
he never after deviated. He never again saw
thing upon his place that needed attention
without beStowing that attention al once. And
the result was soon manifest. Everything was
in its place and everything was safe. His wife
was happy, for she had no more occasion to
perform thst most unpleasant Of all domestic