Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-11-10
Ghoite Mliseellang.
Prof. Halstead's Girl.

A cretchety and contrary old chap was
Joe Shelenbarger rich farmer, as mulsh
as the donkey in his barn. He had made
his way in the world by the doggedest OBJ
stinacy-seizing hold of whatever came in
his way, and retaining that hold as though
life depended upon it. Joel's- mulishness
had literally been the making of him. though
you mightD't have considered the little pot
bellied thick k-skuled old man as much of a
make after all.
Jcol had one soma handsome, clear
headed, active young man-tall, straight as
young larch, and as set in his way when
he chose to have one, as old Joel himself
This son, as he grew up, had proved great
assistance to his father in working the farm
and his services had been made the most of,
the man managing to keep him at home
with him some time after he ought to have
been doing for himself. Not an acre of the
father possessions was ever called the sons;
he owned nothing in the world save horse
which some neighbor had given him when
it was sickly colt, and some sheep obtained
much in the same manner and the old
man grudged him even the keeping of these
Joel Shellehbarger and his son Arson
differed often, but there were two points on
which the difference amounted to something
serious. The first point concerned educa.
tion, for which the old man had profound
contempt and the son had not. There was
college some dozen miles from the Shell
lenbarger farm, and thther--having
thoroughly prepared himself, in spite of
iatherly oppostion--Anso betook himself,
in spite of the same continued opposition,
and by one contrivancc aud another, and
helped out by his mothers small marketing,
kept himself there till he graduated. Joel
Shelonbarger contested the ground inch by
inch, but afraid in his selfshness to do any
more than to be obstinate, lest his son
should leave him. That was the first point
of difference, and that was how Anson set
tied it. The second point was not likely to
be OF so easy an arrangement.
At college Anson had found something
besides graduating honors. He had CHANGED
upon very charming combination OF brown
curls and azuie eyes--a red-lipped. dimple
checked fairy, daughter Of one of the pro-
fessors who, instead of curving her dainty
lip at the homespun suit which his poverty
and his fathers niggardliness compelled him
to wear, never seemed to be conscious of
anything or anybody else when he was by.
In short Anson had found some one to
love, somebody that he wanted to marry, as
he gravely informed his father. You should
have seen the old mans eyes; it was a
mercy they were fasein their sockets Here
was gratitude This Anson, having already
detrauded his old father of so much of his
time, was going now TO set his seal upon his
absurdity and disobedence by marrying a
'town CIR !" Bad enough to marry any
one, seeing his father wasn't through with
him yet--but town girl He should never
consent, and every Shelenbarger acre should
60 to strangers before Ansen should have
one, if he persisted in an idea so ridiculous!
And pray what harm is there in being a
when Anson told her, half-laughing, half.
assistance from his father he could not marry
Barbie for long time yet. Anson laughed
again, but with some embarrassment, say
ing, my father is afraid that daughter
of Professor Halstead would net make 6
very good farmers wife,"
docs he think--?' Barbie hesitated
looking with smiling perplexity at her little
white hands.
THAT these pretty hands don't know
much about brewing and baking, etc ?-Ex
actly believe he thinks just that"
Then he thinks wrong" said Barbie
reddening, and looking up at her lover with
a comical little pout. Didn't hear yol
say you needed servant at home I've
mind to go down and offer for the place.
Auson laughed again enjoyipgly.
"We need one badly enough, hut my
father will not suffer ore inside the house.
"Why, how do you live then VIII
cooks for you now that your mother is i'll 2
"We do our own cooking" Anson sal,
with return of the halfsmiling, half-em
barrassed expression. "We cook for our
selves, or do without" 49,,
The very day succeeding the one whicl
witnessed this conversation, Anson was a
home busying himself over some culinar,
operations when the outside door, whicl
stood ajar, was noiselessly opened and sin
gularly sttired form presented itself on tn
threshhold. 1t wore red and green plai
dress, the checks very large, aysllow shaw
and very frowsy and tumbled white Dor
net. A red feather, nearly as long as Al
son arm. streamed from enc side, and with
. in the brim Topped the immense frill of
) cap which clung close around the face of Ii
stranger. The facs-what could be seen
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