Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-10-12


had melted once, aud there was hope tha
the lime might come when there would be {
general thaw.
Ii bad been hard year upon the farm
ers. Little rain had fallen their crop
we're cut of, aud there was general distress
throughout the country. Obed Groot Will
his usual fortune, had escaped 1t CHANGED
at the time Of which we speak, that he wat
sitting in a room in his house, with one eye
on bis ledger aud the other on the road
nlong which he saw man approaching
As the man came near bis gates, ObeC
raised the ledger eye also, and watched
him with both. The mon paused as If hesi
tuting and then came. 1t there was hesi
talion in bis manner at first, there wa.
none now for his tread was firm and strong
and single knock at the door loud anc
bold. t... ....,
'Come in," said Obed. s#
The stranger came in. He was large in
frame his tread denoted strength aud res.
olution his eye was clear aud frank bis
hair slightly streaked with silver; his fea.
lures heavy and massive, like those of a
maslif. He looked for moment at ODed,
who returned his look with an eye keen and
watchful as that of terrier, then nodded to
him. ....,-
Good morning, John Wakeman I'm
glad to see you said he, The words were
kind, the tone was cold aud harsh. -
suppose you know my errand, SIR said
the man with some embarrassment of man,
ner. .f Ha
i have not the least idea Of it, replied
Obed tartly He 6dgeted as he spoke, for
he knew it well. .,,s
i came to ask for time TO pay my debt
to you. 1t has been a hard year every.
;hlpg seems to have gone wrong $50
Obed's face grew hard as a Aiut, and this
Lime the corners Of bis mouth very nearly
met under his chin At last he snarl.
ed out /; That's the cry Of every one just
now ,...-
What eau | do /? said the man.
1fyou cant give money, give what you
can. III take your farm it's worth some
thing was the sharp reply.
But II part with it, how shall live p
'There are plenty Of people in the world
who dou't own farms live as they do, re.
piled Obed.
Mr.. Groot,' said the other, my farm is
but small one, and not worth much bot
it is all have, and the only home ! have
for my wife. II were alone, you should
havest this very hour, as it is, viii not
see her turned out of doors If can help it.
dust as you please, replied Obed 4
would rather have the money. have more
land now than eau use.' @
AS he SnOEp he wnuaH hic bond III com a
complacency toward the window which CON.
manded view of his own laud. The man
drew a long breath as be looked over the
wide fields aud ample barns and granaries
filed TO bursting, and thought of his own
blightcd harvest. He said nothing, how
ever but stood looking on the floor and
apparently pouderiug something in his
MUD, 900.
WELL said he at length, l SUD.
pose my errand here has been waste Of
time 2
Entirely
The former stood for moment, as If he
would have urged his plea once more, but
at last turning to the door, he wished Obed
good morning in a quiet, civil tone and
went out. Obed watched him until he had
passed the gate, hen turned 10 bis ledger
L was just making ont that fellows
account when he came in It's very
odd
AS he spoke he heard quiet foots,ep in
the room and Esther came IN, and took her
seat by his side He was 100 much engross
ed to notice her, but kept on adding up the
figures aud mlttering to himself: Every.
body wants time. / never ask for time,
not once--and iii not give it, His mouth
closed, and the corners went down again
aud his chin ran great risk hate poor
people, said be, posing his pen over the
paper while he ran bis eyes up aud down
the page to see that he had omnlit ted no
item. Ninety y-five dollars and seyenty.fi
cents. verify believe there never was
poor mau who was an honest one-not one
! think it is absolutely wicked to be so con
poor. He felt hand pressing
on his. He looked up pair of soft, le-
eyes were searching his.
Well, Esther, what now
Father, there was once One so poor that
He knew not where TO lay His head.
Eb what. said he, looking round
H"u Suf hOiuiuS h'S peH POiaeu over
the paper, SO poor as that who was
he n
One who healed the sick, gave sight to
the blind, raised the dead, pointed out the
path 10 heaven shown by acts of loving
kindness and mercy to man who last died
for u.s.
Tears came into the girls eyes as she bent
forward aud looked earnestly in the sharp
hard face which peered SO curiously 10 het
own. n
Oh ah snid he, as the meaning of her
words slowly made its way into bis mind.
All very tnre, no doubt-a matter of re.
ligion. never mix religion with business.
You're a very good little girl. Esther. Pm
glad that you read your Bibei. Let me
see where was II He bent bis nose to bis
ledger. Ninety.6 Eve dollars aud seventy Eve
cents.
The girl said nothing more, but got mp
aud left the room. Obed kept on with his
nose as close to bis ledger as ever, but he
could not get ou with his account [; for every
now aud then the idea of how strange il
must be to have no place to sleep 10, would
come across his mind, and bother him as
he was adding up column. At last his
mind wandered so much that he could not