Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-09-13

- - W SSttlb5 hIi Nooo
about that Eunice. know the mans
weak point and l can manage him.
We found Uncle Joshua quite alone,
for hi, family happened to be away from
home. He sat by the table, with his
head bowed over some accounts he was
running up Of the probable gains of
the next harvest. He is getting to be
an old man, and as he lifted his head and
! saw the iron gray locks round the hard,
harsh, wrinkled face, on which was writ
ten the story of his life, shiver, half o!
pity, half of disgust, went over me.
think he OWNED the object of our visit,
for there was little defiant expression
in bis eyes, though he shook hands with
US, and offered us chairs. There was
little Indifferent conversation betwixt the
men on the weather and the promise of
the crops, and then Mark said -
/ am not a man of many words, Mr..
Webber, and so ! may as well open the
subject of my visit this evening, at once.
You have had our brother with you a
number Of years, now; and as we have
a home Of our own and want him with
US, we have concluded to take him off
your hands; and from this night you
need never have any farther care of him.
| have been in hurry to have this
thing settled, because Paul has told me
your intention of apprenticing him to a
joners trade, for which business he has
ne kind Of liking; and think young
boys should have some voice in selecting
!heir own following in life, as / believe
their bent is to be considered. However,
that's not to the point. Wen take Paul
off your hands from this hour-thafs all
The old, harsh face flushed into
great heat Of anger.
| reckon you'll find, he said, tha.
it takes two TO make bargain, afore you
get through; and don't intend to give
Paul up so easy as that.
I've made up mind that he shall go,
10 liners trade. What the boy wants
is a good toughenn', and to have some
Of his womanish notions, which he got
from his mother, knocked out of him. /
know what's good for him, and / don't
intend to let him go now, after I've had
the care and trouble of him for six years.
Look here, MIR. Weber, answered
the calm, steadily poised voice of my
husband, there's no use in getting an
cry over this matter, and | didn't come
here tonight TO have any quarrel with
you. What have to state, is few
facts, and then I'm done. If you don't
choose to give up Paul. that's all; but l
know the ground I'm on and I've had a
long talk with lawyer this afternoon,
and I'm certain that you have no legal
claim on the boy. His parents never
gave you any; and, moreover, he's paid
you in hard labor, as ! can bring forward
plenty Of evidence, for every meal he's
eaten under your roof.
Moreover, there's piece of wood
land in the south meadows, as you know,
that you've got rather of shaky title to,
as Pauls father could prove il he was
alive, and as | shall try to, in case you
make US any farther trouble about your
nephew.
! don't come here to threaten you,
only to state what know, and / shall
put the matter through at once, for I'm
man of my word, and you'd better con-
'iler before you decide, for in my mind,
f you carry a high hand now, it'll be
pretty expensive piece OF business to you
before you get through
Many changes went over the old mans
ace while my husband was talking
There was little pause, and then Uncle
Joshua spoke; and his voice was not like
lis former one. Mark had well said he
lnew his weak point.
Wei, Mr.. Truman, if you're bent on
layn' the boy, take him, | say, afore I'll
nave the bother and plague of a law
uit at my time Of life. He's never
armed the salt'to his porridge, and as
Or his bein' any good to me, shall be
etter off to be rid Of such a lazy dog
The old farmers voice trembled, and
is great brown hands shook with sup
ressed rage as he finished. But these
'st words stung me out of silence. 1t
ad been very hard to bear the sneer
nth which he had coupled my dead
lothers name with Paul's, and the in
ignation at my heart broke out at last.
What YOU say is not true, Uncle
oshua, and you know it. | charge il on
our gray hairs that you have wronged
ie son Of your dead brother! call
lod, who will Judge you in little while,
, witness the truth Of my words that
gu took that helpless orphan boy to
-... 49,, nj f,. 81, Vsao,-