The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-12-07
PROFESSOR FEAEsTEAD'S
GHEsH..

A orochety and contrary old chap wa
Joel Shelenbarger, rich old farmer, a
mulish as the donkey in his barn. H
had made his way in the world by tn,
doggedest obstinacy = seizing hold o
whatever came in his way, and retaining
that hold as though life depended uper
it. Joels selfshness had literally beer
the making of him, though you mishtn
have cedsidered the little potbellied, thicl
sculled old man as much of make afte1
all
joel had one son-a handsome. clear
headed, active young man-tall, straight
as young birch, and as set in his way
when he chose to have one, as old Joel
himself. This son, as he grew up, had
proved a great assistance to his father in
working the farm, and his services had
been made the most Of, the old man man
aging to keep him at home with him some
time after he ought to have been doing
for himself. Not an acre Of the father s
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 OBJ
tanned in much the same manner; and this
old man grudged him the keeping Of
these.
Joel Shelenbarger and his son Arson
differed often, but there were two points
in which the difference amounted to some
thing serious. The first point concerned
education, for which the old man had pro-
found contempt, and the son had not.
There was college some dozen miles
from the Shelenb barger farm, and thither-
having thoroughly prepared himself, in
spite of iatherly thwarting and opposi-
tion-Anson betook himself, in spite of
the same continued opposition, and by
one contrivance and another, and helped
out by his mothers small marketiRgs,
kept himself there till he graduated.
Joel Shelenbarger contested the ground
inch by inch, but afraid in his selfshness,
to do anything more than be estimate, lest
his son should leave him. That was the
first point of difference, and that was
how Anson settled it. The second was
not likely to be of SO easy an arrange
ment.
At cellege Anson had found something
besides graduating honors. lie had chanc
ed upon very charming combination of
brown curls, and azure eyes-a red Tipped,
dimpled-cheeked fairy, daughter Of enc of
the professors, who, instead of curving
her dainty lip at the hoIhespun suit which
poverty and his fathers niggardliness
compelled him to wear, never seemed
conscious Of anybody else when he was
by.
In short, Arson 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 mercy they were fast in their sock
cts. Here was gratitude. This Anson,
having already defraudsd his old father
of so much of his time, was new going
to set the seal upon his absurdity and dis
obedience by marrying ''town girl =
Bad enough to marry any enc, seeing his
father wasn't through with him yet-but
a town grill He should never consent,
and every Shelenbarger acre Should &c to
strangers before Anson should have one,
if he persisted in an idea SO ridiculous.
g And pray what harm is there in be-
ing town grip questioned Barbie Hal
stead, when Anson told her half laugh
ing, half vexed, and altogether rueful--
for without assistance from his father he
could not marry Barbie for a long time
yet Anson laughed again, but with
some embarrassment, saying, "My father
is afraid that daughter of Professor
Halstead would not make a very good
farmers wife.
"Does he think-2'-Barbie hssitated
looking with smiling perplexity at her
little these little hands do Mt
know much about brewing and bak-
ing, &C.
Exactly; 1 believe he thinks that"
"Then he thinks wrong" said Barbie,
reddening, and locking up at her lover
with comical little pout. Didn't l
hear you say you needed a servant at
home? I've mind to go down and offer
for the place"
Arson laughed again enjoyingly.
"We need one badly enough but my
father will not suffer one inside the
house"
Why, how do you live, then?" Who
cooks for you now that your mother is
ill?'
1--WE do our own cooking" Anson said
with return OF the half smiling, half
embarrassed expression. ''Ne cook for
ourselves, or do without" :"