Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-12-19

the directors, might be required for years !;
perhaps there would never he 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 damages Jacob Newell
needed excitement Of some sort, and it took
tbs form of speculation. He believed in the
railroad, and subscribed for two hundred
shares Of the stock, for which he paid four
thousand dollars down. He also gave the
company the right oil way where the track
crossed his farm.
In six months he was called upon for two
thousand dollars more; three months after
wards another two thousand was wanted (;
and SO it ran till he was obliged to mort
gage his farm, and finally to sell the greater
part OF 1t, 10 meet his subscription. In vain
he begged for mercy, and pleaded the state
ihcnt that only twenty per cent. would be
needed. A new set Of directors laughed
him, and others like him, To-. scorn. He
would have sold his stock, but he found it
quoted at only twenty-five cents on the dol
lar, and that price he could no, prevail upon
himself to take
So he sat on this drear Thanksgiving Day
dependent beside his hearth. With bun
dred hard lines furrowiDg his pale face, tell.
ing of the work of time and struggle and
misfortune, he looked the incarnation OF
silent sorrow and hopelessness, waiting in
quiet meekness 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 memories.
Still his gaze wandered silently about the
room, and she piled increasingly her stiff,
bright knitting needles One would have
thought her figure of stone, sitting so pale
and bolt upright, but for the activity of the
patiently Industrious fingers.
Presently Jacob spoke.
Ruth" he said, ''it is bitter time for
us, and we are sore oppressed; but what does
the Psalmist say to sucli poor, wora-out
creatures as we are? The steps of good
man are ordered by the Lord, and he de.
lighteth in his way. Though he fall, he
shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord
upholdeth him with his hand. Ihave been
young, and now am old yet have not
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread Wife, we are not forsaken
Of the Lord, although all earthly things
seem to go wrong with us. -
She made no verbal reply hut there was
a nervous futter in the poor, wan fingers, as
she still piled the needles. and two large
tears rolled silently down her cheeks and fell
upon the white kerchief she wore over her
shoulders.
"We have still house over our heads" F."
continued Jacob, "and wherewithal to keep
ourselves fed and clothed and warmed We
have but few years more to liye let u.
thank God for what blessings He has YET
vouchsafed us"
She arose without word, stiff, angular,
ungainly, and they knelt together on the
floor.
Meanwhile the snow fell thicker and fast
er without, 1nd blew in fieIce clouds againsl
the windows, The wind was rising ant
gaining power, and it wbistled wrathfully
about the house, bowling as in bitter mock
cry at the scene within. Sometimes i
swelled into wild laughter, and again drop
ped into low and plsintive wailirgs. 1t wa.
very dismal out in the cold, and hardly more
cheerful in the warm sitting room, where
those two jaded souls knelt in earnest pray
er.
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