The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-04-04

again, and the chin ran great risk.
3 l hate poor people" said he,poising his por
over the paper while he ran his eye up anc
down the page to see that he had omitted
nothing.
'Ninetv-fve dollars and seventy-fve cents,
he said, 6 verify beliye there never was poor
mon who was an honest one-not one l think
it is absolutely wicked to be so confoundedly
poor
He felt a hand pressing his he looked up
a pair of soft demonstrating eyes We're search
ing his.
Well, Esther what now?'
! Father, there was once One SO poor that He
knew not where to lay his head.
| Eth! what p said he, looking round and still
holding his pen poised over the paper, so poor
as that; who was he 2
One who healed the sick, gave sight to the
blind, raised the dead, pointed out the path to
heaven shown by acts Of loving kindness and
mercy to man, and who at last died for us
! Tears came in the girls eyes as she bent for
ward and looked earnestly into the sharp, hard
| face which peered SO curiouoly into her own
Oh all . said he, as the meaning of her
words slowly made its way into his mind. All
very true, no doubts matter of religion. l
never mix religion with business. You're 8
very good little girl, Esther I'm glad that you
read your Bible. Let me see where was l 2
lars and seventy-fve cents.
The girl said nothing more, but got up and
left the room. Obed kept on with his nose as
ever, but he could not get on with his accounts;
! for every now and then the idea OF how strange
it must be to have no place to sleep in, would
come across his mind, and bother him az he was
adding up a column st last his mind wan
dered 80 much that he could not follow up his
accounts and he gave it up. he buttoned up
J., : ILL p
He looked into his cribs, barns, and cattle
stalls. He was quite j0cose with his workmen,
but his msrrment was hard and biting, and
made their teeth chatter as they laughed AS
IL grew later IN the day, he went III and tackled
his accounts again. BY this time, the idle fancy
which had bothered him before was entirely
out Of his mind, and he soon had found out the
exact amount Of John Wakemans debt, and had
calculated the interest on it up to that very hour
Ii was now late in the day and at last tgrew
dark Candles were lighted. 0bed drank his tea,
drew his chair to the fire, and toasted his feet,
buGhe did everything mechanically His daugh-
ter togk heI usual seat st the fresiae, but he did
not notice her. In truth in going over the ac
counts, he had discovered that John Wakeman
was in MS debt more than he imagined 1t was
but TITLE perhaps j ohm knew 1t, but II h5
did not or had forgotten it,i5 might not be auliss
to refresh his memory. He got up and look ed
out ol the window? Everything outside was
black as Jet, ana the wind was rising as if a
storm was brewing. Still that difference in his
account worried bIm
Father, you had better not go to John Wake
mans tonight, said the girl abruptly.
The old man started, for her Words were the
echo Of his thoughts.
'Whai put that III your head7 demanded he
testify.
We're you not thinking of him p asked the
girl.
a denial was trembling on lis lips, but he
euiped il back before it had got tar enough
out to become tpll-fedge lie, It's no matter
Child, ahat WIS lh{gillRg OF
But what ever mighJhaye been his intentions
he abandoned them aud went to bed. Still
through the nigh. that difference perpiexed
him in his dreams, and made him toss ana tum-
bic III his sleep, until at last he got John
Wakenan, his ledger, and the difference so
mixed and jumbIed up together, that ne could
not tell whether that difference was John
Wakenan Oh the ledger, something else or
what It was. In the midst Of the confusion he
awoke, and found the daylight streaming in
the room, and the rain patterng on the window
panes.
Al day long that difference haunted him;
but the storm kept on. He fattened his sharp
nose against the window panes, and blew his
breath on them, and watched the sky, but still
it stormed. Late in the evening the rain ceased
although the night looked black and lowering.
Obed could restrain himself no longer, and or
dered his horse His daughter attempted to
demonstrate, bur he child her stelnly, and with
his feelings sharpened and his venom increased
against his debtor by the opposition, he left
the house.
Cue! Mes Obed' exclaimed his negro Sam,
as he led out the horse. wonderful bad
storm is cummin!' wonderful bad Eff l was
you, Mas Obed I'd stay to hum. It's Tom
names Sam Whoa! Pepper! Whoa! Even
the old boss don't want to 60
He'll want TO go before I've done with him,
SAID Obed lolghly.
As he spoke he brushed the hand Of his old
retainer from the bride and set cut at q brisk
trot.
San shook his head Mas Died donS be-
| ieve muffin But he'll larn some day; he WHIP
| Obed rode rapidly on; for dark clouds were
drifting across the sky. and the deep signing OF
the wind showed that the storm was not over
The light of the young moon was completely
hidden by the black mass which swept over it
Although it was not dark when he started be-
fore he reached his place OF destination, be
could scarcely sec the road, and the RAIN began
to fall. Pepper, however, kept steadily on IN
I'll a light cleaning from the window Of house
at the roadside showed that he had reached his
Journeys end Dismounting, he led his horse
under shed, and tied him there; then gro
ping his way to the Louse he knocked at the
door
Come in, said voice from within.
Obed pulled up the latch and entered John
Wakeman was sitting at the table mending al
old shoe Near him sat his wife, pale, aaz-
ious looking woman. They both looked up a;
Obed entered, slight expression OF pain cross
ed the mans face when he saw who his visitor
was, and the woman cast quick appreheu
sive Glance at her husband, but neither spoke
The man instincliveiy pushed Chair toward
their visitor.
I want no chair, j ohm Wakeman,' said 0bec
grufly, NOR do 1 want to waste words cam
here about that account Of mine. Here it IS
He extended the paper to the man, who tool
it ana held It to the light.
It's right, IsupposeF
Quite right
well said Obed, somewhat staggered b
this prompt admission Of matter which ~
, had supposed would be disputed, 4 want m
: money,
As he spoke he planted himself firmly in tn
middle OF the floor, and crossed HE hands Q
the top O the chair which had been pushed t
him, as if he intended 10 remain there until d
wants were satisfied.
tone, 1 VIII pay you as soon as l can. ha7
O not got the money; have told you so betor
I tell you so again. As Fe spoke he place
+ the shoe on table, and came round to wheT
l Obed stood.
: IIy sheep have died. The storm has beate
ny grain to the ground and destroyed my Gro
+ and the drought killed my corn,a whole year
labor lost Others have suffered as well as
i The hand Of the Almighty is upon Us and '
= mus. submit.
I don't sec what have to do with that /
q piled Obed testify; that's matter between =
!. and Providence. don't see why should
q mixed up with it: and won't be, faid he res
4 lutely; Twon't be! / diden't come here
4 / hear sermons.
4 Others who have met the same rnietorsunt
{ have found indulgence answered the me
why shonld not l 3"
because you are dealing with me end L
with Others replied Obed sharply. Ilet
man tell me how / am to manage my affal
IA and I follow no ones example. I've got
D. head said he, tapping his forehead with
: fore eupar taud I iu1oa for myself. l Will I