Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-12-07
AR. WoOOBRlDaEs INVESTMENT.



vember sunset was staining all the hills
with its lurid glare-the wind, murmur-
ing restlessly among the dead leaves that
lay heaped over the wood-paths, seemed
to mourn, with an almost human voice.
But the autumnal melancholy without.
only served to heighten the cheerfulness
of the roaring wood fire, whose ruddy
glow danced and quivered over the rough
rafers of Farmer WOodbridge's spacious
old kitchen, sparkling on the polished
surfaces of tin platters and glimering
brasses, and sending a long stream Of
radiance through the uncurtained win
duws out upon the darkening road.
Yeas I was sayin' afOre,' obserY-
ed the old farmer, rubbing his toll
hardened hands together, and gazing
thoughtfully into the FIRE, it's been a
capital harvest this year. wouldn't
ask for no better. So wife, you jist pick
out some of them yaIler Pippin apples,
and putem into Jessie's little basket, agin
she calls arter it,
Wont the little red 'uns do as well
calculated to keep them pippins for
market. Squire Benson says they're
worth
I don't keer what they're WORTH in-
terrupted the farmer, as his heIpmate, a
spare angular woman with a face plough
ed with innumerable little lines of care,
fingered the yelIoB-checked apples dubi-
ously, I tell you what it is, Ketury-
folks never yet lost any thing by d0in' a
kind thing. I could never make you
believe that, unless the pay come right
in. in hard cash! Now here's Jessie
1Ioreton, as likely gal as ever breath
ed, taachin' school day in and day out,
and her maru sewin' 10 hum, earnin'
living by The hardest-born ladies, both
Of 'em. Don't you s'pPoss these apples
Il be worth more to them, if you giv'm
with kind word, than they world be to
that pesky tight-fstsd agent, up to Hard
wiehe Hall, If hegave a dollar bushel:'
CHARITY begins to hun,' said Keturah,
jerking oat the suPper-tabls with a old
twist Of the face. Not but what Jes-
sie's well enougb-but you'd = Plaguy
sight better scratch your pennies togeth-
er to pay up that mortgage, if you don't
want the Hardwiche agent foreclosing On
yeu. And them pippins is jest as good
as 50 much money. There they be,
any how, in lhe basket-Oas Of your IN
vestmentz, I guess
One Of ny investments, then, It you
Ike to call it 50, Ketary, said the farm
er. with 2 good-humored laugh, banisb-
ing the annoyed expression which had
oversoread bis face when she alluded to
the mortgage. Come long IN, Jessie,
ny galF he added, cheeri!y, as light
touch sounded on the door-Iatch. Here's
the basket, all right, and some o them
golden pippins tucked in to t. May be
ttey'n tempt your mothers appetite
Jessie Moreton vas slender, grace
f1l girl Of about aevenieea, with satin
smooth bands Of chestnut hair, parted
abo7e q low sunny forehead. large liquid
eyes, and cheeks which farmer Wood
bridge always declared 'sot him to think
in Of them velyet-looking Jarssy peach
e. that grew on the tree down in ihs
south medderg She took Up the little
basket with a grateful smile that went
even to the thrifty heart Of Mrs. Keturah
%, Mr. Woodbridge. how kind you
always are to Us! If l we're only Fich
If 1 only could make some return
Don't you say word about that are,
said the farmer, rubbing his nose veFy
hard. jest you run home As fast as ev
er you can put, for is gettia' noss DARK
and the November wind amt no way
healthy As / ever heerd on And say
Jessie, If It rains tomorrow 50 you can
get to school handy, just you stop here
and I'll give you q lift in ny wassin-'
Dear Old 8Ir. Woodbridge soliIO
oaised Jessie Moreton to herself, as be
light footsteps pattered along OF the fall
sn leaves, how many, many times | hav'
had cause 10 thank his generous heart
And 70 think be should be 50 disiFesse.
about that mortgage BY the sseat :
Hariziche Hail.
She paused for moment TO look p
20 where the stately roofs and gables g
the Hal rose d2rkly outlined against til
crimsou that sill burned sEoruaily IN L
sky. On = Commanding height, an
nearly hidden IN trees, many Of whie
all retained their brilIizat autumn fol
age. Il seemsd almost Ike 2a cd baroais
eastle.
There Il stznd., she aased, shut q