The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-02-04
You might as well pay him tonight, as

since the earliest streak in the east, and
had ridden many miles to and from the
market, so he answered that he was too
tired to attend to any more business that
night, and a little while after he unlocked
a drawer in the old fashioned desk at the
further part of the room, laid his money
away in it carefully, e,locked it, and re.
turned the key to his pocket: An hour
later and there was no light burning in the
farm house. Uncle Nathan and Aunt
Ruth were enjoying such sweet repose as
none can know hut those how have a clear
conscience, and LIES greatest blessing,
health.
1t was past the midnight hour when a
mufiod form crept slowly on to the low
roof of the porch and from thence climbed
in at the open window where Ann slept,
and then crept slowly along toward the
kitchen and the old desk. But suddenly
pausing, it moved in another direction,
and opened wider The door that led to
where the farmer slept. 1t disappeared
within the bedroom for a few moments
and then returning, moved cautiously to
the desk, applied key to the drawer that
Uncle Nathan locked SO carefully, placed
the contents in a small bag, re-locked the
drawer, replaced the key, and left the
house 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 breakfast from
vegetables and meat that originated on
his own farm, and then prepared himself
to meet Reuben Green. The key was
taken from his pocket, turned in the lock,
the drawer was opened, and Uncle Ma
than thrust in his hand to take out the
contents, but had it met there the dag
gers point, it could not have been with
drawn more suddenly, and then turning
to his wife he said, nervously, You been
here, Ruth?'
No. was answered, and then the far.
mer threw himself heavily into a chair
while his face blanched to an ashened hue,
and for several minutes there was no 9TH
er word spoken, and then. various were
the coniectures of the husband and wife,
each in turn naming every manner in
which the money might have disappeared
save the right one.
'All the doors were this morning as we
left them last night remarked Aunt Ruth
pale with excitement.
And l found the key where / put it
too, said Uncle Nathan, while his voice
trembled to such degree that he could
hardly finish the sentence. AT this mo-
ment Reuben Green was discovered. walk
ing leisurely down the road, and in few
moments he stepped within the kitchen.
well, neighbour said he, you will ex.
cuse my calling, but it is getting along to-
wards the middle of the day, and as l
have to pay away good deal of money
before night, thought l would call up
and settle up our business in season.
The farmer told the caller what had
happened, but the latter did not seem
disposed to be any more lenient on
account of his misfortune, but said that
he must have what was due him, even if
his neighbor sacrificed all his stock to
meet the payment
Should | force into market the remain
der of my cattle and my only remaining
horse, remarked the farmer Responding.
ly, they would not bring the amount |
owe YOU
The day came when Nathan Bowers
farm was going to the highest bidder, and
Aunt Ruth sat in front of that broad stone
hearth, where she spent so many happy
hours Uncle Nathan was pacing to and
fro the wide front yard, his face was hag.
gard, but not SO ghasAy pale as hers
who sat within; Ann was by his side, her
tiny hand locked in his. Suddenly the
good man stopped, and with distended
eyeball gased down The road, for there
was Mary Harris coming towards the
farmhouse, chatting as in other days, and
by her side walked he whom she long
mourned as dead. In few moments the
child was locked in her fathers arms, and
the kindhearted farmer held in his hand
the means to meet all present demands,
and on his ears fell the words from the
greatful husbad of Mary.
Mr.. Bower, for your kindness TO my
wife and children in my absence, you
shall never want for a friend, or the
means 10 retain your homestead Aunt
Ruth now came forward and spoke her
thanks, but there was different feeling
at her heart from what there would have
been had she in the beginning welcomed
the child with the same warmth Of feel
ing that her husband did.
There is family by the name Of
Green living near BY said William Har'
ris, when the first greeting was over,
with whom I have quite an account TO
settle, not only for the slander heaped
on my poor wife in my absence, but for
theft - And then he stated that when
he arrived at England, he found that he
should be detained much longer tnan he
had at first anticipated, and having all
confidence in R6beFtGfeen, who held the
office of second mate on boardiwhcn the
ship was about toreturn 10 America. he
rsgSsshim letter containing a sum of
Money. to>gve to his vile, and since that
time he had written repeatedly to Mary
Ebut had received only two letters in re-
t,Mn, both being very short, and now he
SaA aAssceftaiaed they were forgeres, and
that ihawaic6N NM ether articles that he
had lost at the time that RooSsts ~ ieI',