Litchfield enquirer., 1861-01-03
MIR. WOODBRIDG E's INVESTMENT

The fiery crimson of the stormy Novem: Der sunset was staining all the hills with it's lurid glare-the wind muFmuring restlcssly among the dead leaves that lay heaped over the ood- d-paths, seemed to mourn, with an almost human voice. But the autumna] melancholy without, ouly served to heightcn the chseriulness of the roaring wood fire, whose ruddy glow danced and quivered over the rough rafters of Farmer Woodbridge's spacions old kitchen, sparkling on the p,l ished surfaces of the p!atters and glimner- ing brasses, and sending a long stream of radiance through the uncurtained windows out upon the darkened road.
 "Y,s,-as was sayin' afore," observed the old furmer, rubbing luis toiLhsrdened hands together, and gazing thoughttully in to the fire, it's been capital harvest this year. wouldn't ask for no better. So, wife, you just pick out some of them yellar pippiu apples, aud put 'cm into Jesse's basket again when she calls artcr it,"
 Wont the little red 'uns do as we'll l calculated to keep them pippins for market !; Squire Benson says they're worth" :
 "I don't kser what they're worth," in- terrupted the farmer, as bis help mate, 8 spare, angular woman with face ploughed with innumerable little lincs of care, fngcr- ed the yellow checked apples dubionsly. II tell you what it is, Kctury- folks never yet lose any thing by doin' kind thing 1 never could make you believe that unless tho pay came right in, iu hard cash Now here's Jessie Morton, as likely gal as eyer breathed, tenchin' school day in and day out, and her marm scwin' to hum earnin 8 livin' by the hardest-born ladies, both on lem. Don't you s'pose these apples Fl be worth more to them, if you give lem with 8 kind word, than they would De to that, pes Ky tight listed agent up to Hardwiche Hall, if he gave dollar bushel p -.e
 Charity begin to hum," said Keturah, jerking out the supper table with an odd twist of the face. "Not but what Jessie's we'll enough--but you'd plaguey sight bet ter scratch your pennies together to pay up that mortgage, if you don't want the Hardwiche agent forecosing on you. Aud them pippins is just, as good as 50 much money. There they be, anyhow, in the basket--one of yo4r invests, guess! "Ons of my investments then. if you like to call it so, Ketury," said the farmer, with good humored laugh, banishing the an noyed expression which had oyerspread his face when she alluded to the mortgage. "Come Tong in Jessie, my gal p 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. Mey be they'll tempt your mothers appetite" sk-s
 | Jessie Morton was slender graceful girl of about seventeen, with satin-smooth bands of chestnut hair, parted above low, sun. ny forehead, large liquid eyes, and cheeks which farmer Woodbridge always declared 2 sot him to thinkia' of them velvet looking Jarsy peaches, that grew on the tree down in the south medder P She took up the little basket, with grateful smile, that went even to the finty heart of Mrs. KetH rsh.
 1 70, Mr. Woodbridge, how kind you al ways are to us ] If l were only rich-if could only make some return"
 Don't you say word about that are, , said the farmer, rubbing his nose very hard "Jest you run home as fast as ever you car put, for it's getting most dark, and the No vember wind ain't no ways healthy as ey CT heerd on. And say, Jessie, if it rain' tomorrow so you can't get to school han dy, just you stop here, and I'll give you lift in my waggin."
 Dear old MT. Woodbridge" soliloquizet Jessie Morton to herself, as her light foot step battered along on the fallen leaves ;" how many, many times I have had caus to thank his generous heart. And to thinl that he should be so distressed about tn mortgage by the ageptat Hardwiehe Hall