The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-11

] But, unfortunately, after death had taken
awaysi,is children, and The work in the fields
was all done by hired hands, the old ,nan
| became inpatient Of the du'lncss Of life. and
4 spirit of speculation seized him. just at
that time, railroad stock was in high favor
throughout the country. Steam drawn car
riages were to do away with all other modes
ofpublic travel, (as. indeed, they generally
have done, and the fortunate owners OF rail.
rad stock were to grow rich witt tout ,foub-
lc in SHIRT time In particular, n certain
line Of railroad. to run through the village
he lived, was to make Jacob New ell and NIL
his ncighbors rich. Itwould bring a market
to their doors, and greatly increase the value
ofall they produced; but above all, those who
took stock in it would be insured a large
permanent income. Better the twenty and
thirty per cent that must acrue from this
source than to loan spare cash at six per
cent. or invest their surplus in farm improve
ments. So said q very fluent and agreeable
gentleman from Boston, who addressed the
people on the subject at Railroad Meeting
he'd in the town hall and incautious Jacob
Newell (hitherto most prudent throughout
his iife) believed.
Only twenty per cent was TO be paid down;
no more, said the circular issued by the d.
rectors, might be required for years perhaps
there would never be any further call but
that would depend very materially on how
generously the farmers through whose lands
the road would pass should give up claims
for land d-damages. Jacob Newell needed ex-
citement of some sort, and il took the form
Of speculation. He believed in the railroad,
and subscribed for two hundred shares ol
the stock, for which he paid four thousand
dollars down. lie also gavr the company
the right Of way where the track crossed his
farm.
In six months he was called upon for two
thousand dollars more three months after
yards another two thousand was wanted ;
and SO it ran till he was obliged 10 mortgage
his farm, and finally to sell the greater part
OF it, to meet his subscription In vain he
begged for mercy. and pleaded the statement
that only twenty per cent would be needed.
A new set Of directors laughed at him, and
others like him, to scom He would have
sold his stock, but he fou ID il quoted a,
only twenty-five cents on the dollar, and
that price he could not prevail upon himself
to take.
So he sat on this drear Thanksgiving Day
despondtnt beside his hearth. With hun.
'ired hard lines furrowing his pale face. tel
ling of,he work Of time and struggle and
misfortune. he looked the incarnation o,
silen; sorrow and hopele>sness, waiting ir
quiet mcekness for the coming Of DEATH -
without desire. but without dread.
1t was not strange that on this day there
should come into the hearts of both Jacob
: and Ruth, his wife. sad and dismal memo.
ries. Still his gaze wandered .ilen,ly abou,
! the room, and she piled INCREASINGLY her stiff
bright knitting needles. Que would have
thought her figure Of stone, sitting SO ral,
ard bolt upright, bu, for the activity Of the
patiently industrious fingers
Presently Jacob spoke
Ruth" he said, ''it is bitter time 70,
us, and We are sore oppressed; but wha,
does the Psalmist say to such poor, worn-ou,
creatures as We are? The steps OF a good
man are ordered by the Lord, and he de
lighteth in his way. Though be Gall, he shall
not be utterly cast down for the Lord up
holde'h him with HIS hand. have not seer
the righteous fnr.aken, nor his seed begging
bread Wife, we are not forsaken of tho
Lord. although all earthly things seem to e
wrong with ns" 3
j She made no verbal reply but there wa.
nervous tiuttcr in the poor, wan fingers, a.
she still piled the needles, and two lars,
tears rolled silently down'her cheeks and Eel
upon the white kerclief she wore oyer he,
shoulders. 8
1--WE have still house over our heads.
continued Jacob, "and wherewithal to kecr
ourselves fed and clo.hcd and warmed /; W,
have but few years more to live let u.
thank God Tor what blessings He has ye,
vouchsafei u.s."
She rose without word. stiff, angular
ungainly, and they knclt together on the
floor
j Meanwhile the snow fell thicker and taste,
without, and blew IN fierce clouds agains,
the windows. The wind was rising and
gaining power, and it whistlcd wrnthfuliy
about the hcuse, ,'howling as in bitter nockery
at tho scene within. Sometimes it swclled
into wild laughter, and again dropped !, t.
low and plaintive wailings. II was very
dismal cut in the Geld, and hardly NOR,
cheerful in the warm sitting, room, where
those two jadcd souls khelt in earncs,
prayer.
i 70 BIZ CONTINUED.
/ Nvthing can convey more consolation and
support tn hi.h-minied, virtueas woman
in the R.id.t ~ sormw and misfortune tina.
the recollection Of the coDduci Of her Sc,
under >iniIarc ea,ns'ances. Wh,n encon