Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-02-09
rrnd the New York lyeebly.
MR, WOODBRIDGBs INVESTMENT.
>. q. .uy nLLLEA rlEg.T oaAyEs.

IeaVes that lay heaped over tho wOodpaths, seemed
to mourn, with an almost human voice. But tue
a%utumnal melancholy without, only served to
heighten the cheerfulnoss Of the roaring wood fire,
whose rudy glow danced and q%uiyered over the
rough ralers of Farmer Wocdbsidge's spacious
Old kitchen, sparkling on the polished surfaces Of
platte1s aud glimnering brassos, and sending a
long stream Of radiance through the uncurtained
window s cut upon the darkened road.
"Yes-asl was seyin' aforo," observed the old
farmer, rubbing his toilhardened bands together,
and gazing thoughtfuily into the fire, "ifs been a
capital harvest this year. l would not ask for no
better. So, wife, you just pick out some o them
ya'ler pippin apples, and put''em into Jessie's
basket again when che calls after IT,"
Won't the little red 'uns do .Gs well9 I calcu-
lated to keep them pippins for market,-Squiro
Benson says they're worth-"
81 don't kcer what they're worth" interrupted
the farmer, as his helpmate, a spare, angular wo-
man, with a face p~loughed with innumerable lit
tie lines Of care, fingered the yellow-cheeked APP
pies obviously. II tell you what it is, Ketury,
folks never yet lost any thing by doing a kind
thing. l never could make you believe that unless
the pay came right in, in hard cash. Now here's
jessie Moreton, as likely a gal as ever breathed,
~toachin' school, day in and day out, and her mann
SEWN to hum, earning q liyin' by the hardest
born ladies, both on 'em, Don't you s'pose these
applesW be worth more to them, it, you give 'em
with a kind word, than they would be to that pes
ky tight-fsted agent at uardwiche Hali2"
"Cbarity begins to hum, said Keturah, jerk
ing out the supper table with an odd twist of the
face. "Not but what Jessie's we'll euough-but
you'd a plaguy sight better scratch your pennies
together to pay up that mortgage, if you don't
want the HardYicho agent lOreclosing on you
And them pipPins is just as good as SO much
money. There they be, anyhow, in the basket
one Of your investments, | guess!"
zone Of my investments then, if you like to call
it so, Ketury," said the farmer, with a good hu-
mored laugh, banishing the annoyed expression
which had overspread his face when she alluded to
the mortgage. "Come long in, Jessie, my gall" he
added cheerily, as a light touch sounded on the
door latch, Here's the basket, all right, and
some O. them golden pippins tucked in tot. May
be they'll tempt your mothers appetite"
Jessie Moreton was q slender graceful girl of
about seventeen, with satin-smooth bands of ches-
nut hair, parted above a low, sunny forehead,
large liquid eyes, and cheeks which Farmer Wood
bridge always declared ''sot him to thinkin' of
them velvetlookin' Jarsy peaches, that grew on
the tree down in the south medder."
She took up the little basket, with a grateful
smile, that went even to the linty heart Of Mrs.
Keturah.
80, Mr.. Woodbridge, how kind you always are
to Ut? II | were only rich-if l could only make
some return" e-al
"D0u'U you say q word about that are" said the
farmer, rabbing his nose very hard. "Just you
run home, as fast as ever you can put, for it's get
ting most dark, and the November wind amt no
ways healthy as | ever heeId on. Aud | say, Jes-
sic, if itTains tomorrow so you can't get to school
handy, just you stop here, and III. give you IA lift
in my Vaughn" .
"Dear old.Mr. Woodbridge" soliloquized Jessie
Moreton to herself, as her light footsteps battered
along on the fallen leaves, show many, many
times I've had cause to thank his generous heart
And to think that he should be SO distressed about
. the mortgage by the agent at IIardwicbe Hall! !"
t She paused for a moment to look up to where
the stately roofs and gables Of the Hall rose dark
g ~ outlined against the crimson that still burned
: stormily in the sky, On'a commanding height
: and nearly hidden in trees, many of which still
e retained their brilliant autumn foliage, it seemed
4 almost like an old baronial castle.
There it stands" she unused, "shut up anC
!, silent, year after year; its magnificent rooms uu
tenanted; the flowers blossOming uugathered in it,
t eonservatories. Since Mrs. lIardwiche died
twenty years since, mamma sAys--the family have
been away, and nov the only surviving heir il
d travelling, no one knows where. l wonder if HI
e knows how g%raepipg and cruel his agent isl Oh
e DEAR" she added softly, money does not Away
come where it is most needed, If l were the mis-
.fess Of Hard wiche Hall!'
W She started with a slight scream the next in
is slant, as q tall figure rose up from a messy horde
s. by the roadside, directly in front of her. ~
rs pardon me-" said a voice that instantly reas
it sured her, for it was too gentle to come from an
but a gentleman, but | am not certain that
have moi lost my way. Is this the Eden road?-
Sc L was waiting for some ole to come and direct me.
W This is Eden road" said Jessie, all uncor
ID seious that the last CLEANS Of the fading sunst
were lighting. up her fair innocent face with a
u almost angelic beauty, as she stood there anon
70 the fallen leaves.
"Apd CAP you tell me the shortest footpath
Hardwiche Hall? have not been in this neigl
borhqod since l was & little, child, and l am cou
a pletely at fault" a'I
" Jessie hesitated a moment. II could show 70
better than tell you, for it is rather a compIicate
h road" she said, land if you will accept NY sci
It vices as guide it will not be much out of my way.
Il shall feel very much houored," said th
J, stranger. "Meantimo let me carry your basket"
/ 1t was a wild and lovely walk, winding anon
e moss-garlanded trees and hollows, sweet witt
aromatic incense of dying leaves. Jessie eoul,
5 not help ~admiring the chivalric manners and pol
ished courtesy of her companion, and be was NOR
o than pleased with the blooming lOveliness and cir
e lish dignity of his young guide. A few adroi
d questions respecting Hardwiche Hall and it
b. heighberhood suficed to draw fGr III a spirited alb
stract Of the character of the Hardwiche agent
and the impositions he was won't to practice upoI
o the tenants and ncighbOrs, as well as an arch des
= %cription of most of the characters" thereabout
d Then he continued to learn all about Jessie,s littl