Indiana State sentinel., 1861-01-16
From the New York Weekly
Mr. WOodbridge,s Investment.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.


The fiery crimson of the stormy November
sunset was staining all the hills with its lurid
glare-the wind, murmuring 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 heghten the cheerfulness of the roaring wood
fire, whose ruddy glow danced and quiverel over
the rough rafters of Farmer Woodbridge's spa
ciout old kitchen, sparkling on the polished sur
faces of platters and glimmering brasses, and
sending long stream of radiance through the
uncurtained windows out upon the darkening
road.
'Yes-as was sayin' afore," observed the old
farmer, rubbing his toll hardened hands together,
and gazing thoughtfuly into the fire, "it's been
capital harvest this year. | wouldn't ask for no
better. So, wife, you jst pick out some o. them
yaller pippin apples and put em into Jessies
basket again when she calls arter it,"
% Won't the little red 'uns do as well? l cal
culated to keep them pippins for market; Squire
Benson says they're worth"
81 don't keer what they're worth" interrupted
the farmer, as his hepmate, spare angular
woman with face ploughed with innumerable
little lines of care fingered the yellow checked ap
Piles obviously. " tell you what it is, Ketury-
folks never yet lost anything by doin kind thing
/ never could make you believe that unless the
pay came right in, in hard cash. Now here's Jes-
sic Morton, likely gal as ever breathed, teach
in school day in and day out, ard her marin sew
in to hum earnin livin by the hardest-born
ladies, both on EN- Don't you s'pose these ap-
Piles III be worth more to them, if you give em
with kind word, than they would be to that pesky
tight listed agent, up to Hardwiche Hall, if he
gave q dollar bushel?'
g Charity begins to hum" said Keturah jerk
ing out thesupper table with an odd twist of the
face. " Not but what Jessieis well enough-but
you'd plaguy sight better scratch your pennies
together to pay up that mortgage, if YOU don't
want the Hardwiche agent foreclosing on you.
And them pippins is just 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 good
humored laugh, banishing the annoyed expression
which had orerspread his face when she alluded
to the mortgage. "Come long in Jessie, my
galf' he added cheeriy, as light touch sounded
on the door latch Here's the basket, all right
and some o them golden pippins tucked in tot
Maybe they'll tempt your mother appetite"
Jessie Moreton was a slender, graceful girl OF
about seventeen, with satin smooth bands OF
chestnut hair, parted abovea low, sunny forehead
large liquid eyes, and cheeks which farmer Wood
bridge always declared ''sot him to thinkin' OF
them velvet looking Jarsy peaches, that grew on
the tree down in the south medderl' She took
up the little basket with n grateful smile tha,
went even to the iinty heart of Mrs. Keturah
80, Mr.. Woodbridge, how kind you always art
to u.s. II were ONLY ricb-if could only mall,
some return"
Don't YOU saw n word about that are said IN,
farmer. rubbing his nose very hard "Jest vo,
run home. as fast as ever Won can mt for n,
Citing most dark. and the November wind ain
no ways healthy, as / ever heerd on. And saw
Jessie, if it rains to morrow so you can't get /,
school handy. lust YOU stop here. and m civ,
YOU lift in nv yaceinn
:. Daar ola NJ Woo.i>,;,., >, ,,-o,;,..:, T..
sic Moreton 10 herself. as her liobt footsten nat
tered along on the fallen Leaves /" how n,anv
many times have had cause 10 thank his ~ener
Gus heart. And to think that he sbould no :,
distressed about the mortgore nv tho aeent =
Har,lwiche Hail."
She pauseI for n moment N look mn 20 yvbar
the stately roofs and rables of the Hall ros
darkly ontlined AGAINST tho crimson tbat iii
burned stormilv in the slv On a ,or,,,a, ,,5;,,,
height. and nearly hidden in trees many of wb;c
| still retained their brilliant autnmn ifoI;,go
seemed almost like am old baron;aI castla
:. Tbere i stanIs ,, ho ,,I g -. -,
lent. wear after year. its -nagnifcont ,oon,s ,,
tenanted: the flowers blossomino uncathare1 !;
its conservator;es since NJ UarI,y;cLa d;aa
twenty wears since mamma sovs~tba f,mily Lo,-
been away and now tho onI,, s,,r,;,;,. bo; (; o., :
elIinr no one knows whore ,vopder ;cbo Lno,.
how srasnino and ce,,al b;s a,ent - or g.
she added SOFTLY. "monev doe not alvyavs com
where il is most needed IfI were tba m;s,ra. re.
! of Harlwicbe HalIp'
She started with n SLIGHT scream tho naxt IN
slant, as tall figure rose up from a moss