Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-02-23

her hand trembled SO that it dropped
from her fingers just before it reached
his, and at that moment a gust Of wind
waited it gently toward the brook. The
stranger leaped from his horse and ran
back two or three rods to recover it, Deb.
by was not so far gone in her fright but
that she had her thoughts about her; and
seizing the rein of the strangers horse,
she applied the whip to both horses al
once, and was otfin a canter. The man
called in loud; threatening tone, and al
once fired his pistol upon her; but as she
did not feel the cold lead, she did not STOP
or turn even to give him farewell look
The remainder of the journey was soor
passed over, and as she came out in the
settlement and passed the dwellings ol
her neighbors, many were the heads that
looked from windows and doors, and
great was the wonderment at seeing Deb
by ride home SO fast, and leading such {
fine strange horse. Her father who hac
seon her come over the hill, met her some
rods from the house, exclaiming, will
astonishment:
"What have you here, Debby? Who's
horse, is that?"
"Debby, what has thee been doing?'
said Mrs. Wilder, who was but few
steps behind her husband, "thee doesn'
look well, what is the matter?'
AS soon as they were seated in th
house, Debby told them the whole story
Mr.. Wilder felt so rejoiced at his daugh
ter's escape, that he began to be in excel
lent spirits; and led the strange horse t.
the door and began to examine him.
"Well. Debby," said he, ''since you'v
got home safe at last, we may as well be
gin to talk about business. The hundred
dollar bill is gone, but I'm thinking, af
ter all. you haven't made very bad bar
gain. That's the likelest horse I've seer
this many a day. l don't think it woult
be difficult matter to sell him for tw,
hundred dollars. At sny rate, I'll talk
the horse for the hundred dollars, ant
you may have the saddle for the twent,
dollars you were to have of it,"
"And the saddle bags, too. I suppose
said Debby, feeling disposed to join il
the joke.
"Yes, and the saddle bags" said MI
Wilder; no, stop, we'll see what's in then
first" he continued, untying them from
the saddle. "Oh, there's lots of shirts
stockings, hankerchiefs, and capital ones
too. Yes, Debby, the saddle bags ar
yours; those things come in very goo
time for Joseph, you know"
Debby colored, but said nothing.
"Now, William" said Mrs. Wilder
"thee is full OF thy fun"
"No fun about it," said William, re
placing the articles in the leather bag
Here. Debby. take 'em and take care o
J 'em."
Debby took the saddle bags to he
chamber, not little gratifed at the val
liable articles of clothing they contained
She emptied the contents upon the bed
and examining to zee if every thing wa
out, she discovered an inside pocket il
one of the bags. She opened it and DIRE,
therefrom an elegant pocket book, an
found it contained quantity of bills
She counted them, and her heart bea
quicker and quicker. for before she go
through she had 81 800 in good ban
money.
Debby kept her own counsel. In
few days it was rumored that Joseph Mel
son had purchased an excellent farm il
the neighborhood that had just been offer
ed some months for the sum of ST. 900
and was considered O grea. bargain.
"Joseph," said Mr.. Wilder the mex
time they met, IL am astonished tina
you have been running into debt for
farm in such times as these. think yo
ought to have worked two or three year
and got something beforehand, befor
getting into debt so much"
"But | hav'nt been running into debt,
said Joseph.
Haven't you bought Sanderson's farr
said Wilder
Eyes. l have" said Joseph.
"At $l,000?"
EYES," said Joseph, "but I've pal
for it. | don'trun in debt for anything
Mr.. Wilder was too much astonishe
to ask further questions.
i Joseph Nelson made an excellent far
mer and respectable man; he was in
dustrious and got rapidly beforehand
and MIR. Wilder was always proud of hi
son-in-law. 1t was some ten years alte
this. when Mr.. Wilder was sitting on
day and trot,ing his third grandson o
his knee, that he said:
"Debby, should like to know hov
Joseph contrived to purchase his farm a
the time you were married?"
Debby stepped to the closet, brough
out the old saddle bags, and opening ther
pointed to the inner pocket, saying, 9TH
money came from there. sir"
A MoTHER's PRAYER.-An exchang
well says: The boy who feels his name