Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-02-05

breast of her husband Mrs. Bowc,
swept the hearth. opened the cheese
: room window, and did various other
little chores, then drawing her chair BY
the side of her husband, she said, "Weli.
= Nathan, VIC have pretty hard time oil
1t to raise the money to pay off that
mortgage, but we have done it with
strong hearts. for our other debts are
; triAes compared with the one we owe
neighbor Green
cs, Ruth, felt kind of bad to part
with two OF my best cows and the young
horse, but still l always hated debts, and
now 1t health is spared us little longer,
we shall be free from all membranes
on the farm"
wv ny don't you go right up tonight,
and have all made up as it should be.
You might as well pay him tonight, as
tomorrow
Uncle Nathan had been from his bed
since the earliest streak in the east. and
had ridden many miles to and from TIE
market, so he answered that he was too
tired to attend to any more business
that night, and little while after he un.
locked draw in the old fashioned desk
at the further part Of the room. laid his
money away in it carefully. re-locked it,
and returned tac key to his pocket An
hour later and there was no light burn
ing in the farmhouse. Uncle Nathan
and Aunt Ruth were enjoying sach
sweet repose as none can know but those
who have clear conscience, and life's
greatest blessing, health.
1t was past the midnight hour when a
mufiled form crept slowly on to the low
roof of the porch, and from thence elm
ed in at the open window where Ann
slept, and then crcpt slowly along to-
wards the kitchen and the old desk
But suddenly pausing, it moved in anoth-
er direction, and opened wider the door
! that led to where the farmer slept. 1t
disappeared within the bedroom for
/ few moments and then returning, moved
cautiously to the desk, applied key to
the drawer that Uncle Nathan locked so
ca~efully, placed the contents in small
bag, re-locked the drawer, replaced the
key, and left the hous, BY the same way
it came.
The good old farmer arose with the
sun, MIXED his cows and turned them
, into The pasture. ate his breakfa.t'from
vegetables and meat that originated on
his own farm, and then prepared himself
70 meet Reuben Green. The key was
taken from his pocket, turned in the
lock, the draw was opened, and Uncle
Nathan thrust in his hand to take ont
the contents. but had it met there the
d1gsor's point. it could not have been
Withdrawn moro suddenly. and then
tnrnnr to his wife he said, nervously,
You been here, Rut.?'
Mo- was answered, AMI then the
farmer threw himself heavily into a chair.
Will his face blanched to an ashen hue,
and for several minutes there was no
other word spoken, and thcn various
were tho conf njcctures of the husband and
wife. each in turn nam Nc every manner
in which the money might have disap-
pearcd save the right one.
Ian the doors were this morning as
we left them last night, remarked Aunt
Ruth pale with excitement.
"Ani found the key where put it
too" said Uncle Nathan, while his voice
trembled to such a degree that he could
hardly finish the sentence. At this mo-
ment Reuben Green was discovered
walking lcisuroly down the road. and in
few moments he stepped within the
kitchen.
"Well, neighbor," said he, 'you will
excuse my calling, but it is getting
along towards the middle Of the day.
and as l have to pay away good deal
ofmoney befor2 night. thought I would
call up and settle up our business in sea-
son."
The farmer told-:ttic CATER what had
happened. b1t the latter did not seen
disposed to be any more lenicnt on ac-
count o' hfs smisfortune,s but said that he
must have what was due him, even if
his neighbor sacrificed all his stock to
meet the payment.
'Should I force into market the re-
mainder of my cattle and my only re.
naming horse" remarked the farmer,
dcspondinglv, ''they would not bring me
the amount owe you
The day came when Nathan Bowers
farm was going to the highest bidder.
land Aunt Ruth sat in front of the broad
stone hearth, where she had spent so
many happy hours. Uncle Nathan was
ipacing to and fro the wide front yard,
his face was haggard, but not so ghastly
pale as hers who sat within; Anna was
by his side her tiny hand locked in
his. Suddenly the good man stopped.
and with distended eye-balls gazed down
the road, for there was Mary Harris COM
ing towards the farmhouse chatting as
in other days. and by her side walked
he whom she had long mourned as dead
In few moments the child was locked
in her fathers arms, and the kind heart.
ed farmer held in his hand the means to
meet all present demands, and on his
ears fell the words from the grateful hus-
band Mary.
"Mr. Bower, for your kindness to MY
wife and children in my absence, you
shall never want for friend, or the
means to retain your homestead. -
Aunt Ruth now came forward and spoke
her thanks, but there was different ieel-
l. l. l.k l. y