M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-01-13

Of our best citizens, and 90 To the
Legislature yet" replied old Deacon
Joe, complacently.
Doubt it,"
"Yes, maybe you do; and that's a
pretty way to build up a young fellow,
isn't it, when he's trying his best
No, John Clarke won't be a good cit
izen if you can help it. People that
cry mad dog are pIaguey willin' to
stone the critter while he's IL runnin',
| take it; and-if he ain'i mad they'r
sure to drive him so. Why don't you
step up to him and say, John, I'm clad
you're right now, and I've got faith in
you, and i you want any help, why
come to mc and I'll put you through,
That's the way 70 do business. Mr..
Sprggs."
"Well, | hopo you'll do it, that's
all" replied Mr.. Spriggs, suIkily.
IL hope | shall; and lm bound TO,
any way, if have a chaace. Fact
is, he's got such Il smart little wife
that he don't really need any help"
mo? it's 4 pity then, that brother
Jacob left him that one-horse shay"
"You needn't 'augh at thar; old ia.
cob never did nothing without a mean.
ing to it. That old shay may help
him to be a great man yet. Fact is,
I think myself if Jacob had left him
money, it might a been the ruin OF
him. Less things than ono-horse
shay has made a mans fortin."
"Well, | am glad you think SO much
of him; don't"
NO" mnttered Deacon Joe, as his
neighbor turned away, "but if he'd
married your raw.boned darter that
plays Oh the lorty.piano, he'd "a been
all right. and no mistake"
"a one.harse shayM said the min
lister, laughing; "what a tortuncn
And SO it went from mouth to
mouth. None of the rrlatvcs-somc
already rich--had offered the poorest
man among thcm--ihc owner Of the
one-horse shay--a dollar Of the ho
queathmert loft to him or her; but
they had rather rejoiced in his dlsap.
pontment.
The truth is, everybody had proph
esied that John Clarke, IL poor, moth
eress boy, would come to ruin, and
they wanted the prophecy TO prove Il
true one. He had in his youth hrcn
wild and waywarl, and somewhat
prohigate in the early years OF his
but his old uncle had en-
couraged him to reform; held out
hopes to which h, had hitherto been
a stranger, and the love Of tho sweet
younI Jenny Brazier completed, as it
seemed, his reformation.
Jenny never appeared so lovely as
she did on that unfortunate day OF
the reading Of the will, afterthcy had
returned to the poor little honse that
was Jonny's own
mo matter, John, she said. cheer
fully, "you will rise in spite Of them.
wouldn't let them think | was in
the least discouraged; that will only
please them too well. We are doing
nicely now, and You know if they do
cut the railroad through our bit Of
land, the money will set us up quite
comfortably; isn't our home a happy
one, il it is smallI And oh! John,
by and bye!---"
An eloquent blush-a glance to-
ward her work basket, out Of which
peeped the most delicate needle-work,
told the story-that ever new story Of
innocence, beauty and helplesSness,
that bring cares akin to angels work.
For outD. John Clarke stopped the
gossip's mouth. He held his head
up mantulIy; worked steadily at his
trade, ana every step seemed a sure
advance, and an upward one.
Baby was just six months old when
the corporation paid into John Clark's
hand the sum of six hundred dollars
for the privilege of laying the track
through his one little field.
"A handsome baby, a beautiful and
industrious wife, and six hundred dol.
lars" thonght John, with an honest
exultation; swell, this is liviugl"
John" said his wife, rising from
her work, "look out"
He did, and saw the old one-horse
shay dragged by stalwart negro,
"Nassa says as how the old barn is
gwine to be pulled down, and so he
sent your shay" said the African.
"Thank him for nothing" said
John, bitterly; but a glance at his
wife removed the evil spirit, and q
better one smiled ont of his eyes.
"John, you can spare a little mon,
ey now to have the old shay fixed up,
can't you9 You ought to, according
to the will, " said Jenny.
"The old trash" muttereG John.
"But you could at least sell it for
what the repairs would cost" said
Jenny, in her winning way.
Eyes. suppose could"
"Then I'd have it done, and bless
me, I'd keep it, too. You've got a
l.-z .,,l o,,, bovn tho old Sh O u