Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-11-17
Sclttt Stories.
Professor llalSleadIS Girl.

A crotchety and contrary old chap was
Joel Shellenbarger a rich old farmer, as
mulish as the donkey in his barn. He had
made his wealth by the doggedcst obs
tinacy-seizing hold of whatever came in his
way, and retaining that hold as though life
depended on it joel mulishncss had liter
ally been the making of him, although you
might not have considered the little thick
skulled old man as much Of a make after
ALL
Joel had one soma handsome clear head
ed, active young man-tall, straight as a
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 a great as
sstance to his father in working his farm,
and his services had been made the most of,
the old man managing tokeep him at home
with him some time after he ought to have
been doing for himself. Not an acre of his
father possessions was ever called the
sons; he owned nothing in the world, save
him when sickly colt and some sheep OBJ
tanned in the same manner; and the old
man grudged him the keeping of these.
Joel Shcllcnbargcr and his son Anson
differed often but there were two points in
which the dificrance amounted to something
serious, The first point concerned educa-
ton for which the old man had profound
contempt, and the son had not There was
college some dozen of miles from the
Shallenharger farm and thither having
thoroughly prepared himself in spite Of faith
erly thwarting and opposition, Anson betook
himself in spite ofthc same continued oppo-
sition, and by one contriyance or another
and helped out by his mother small mark
etings kept himself there till he graduated.
Joel Shcllenbarger contested the ground
inch by inch but afraid in his scishness,
to do any thing more than be obstinate, lest
his son should leave him. That was the
first point Of difference, and that was how
Arson settled it. The second was not ike
ly to be so easy an arrangement.
AT college Arson had found some thing
besides graduating honors. He had chanc-
ed upon very charming combination of
brown curls and azure oyes-a red Tipped,
dimple checked, fairy daughter of one ofthc
professors, who instead of curving her dain-
ty lip at the homespun suit, which his pov-
erty and his father niggardiness compelled
him to wear, never seemed conscious of any
thing or any body 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 man. $ eyes-it was a mer-
cy they were fast in their sockets. Here
was gratitude! This Anson having already
defrauded his old father out of so much Of
his time was going now to set the seal upon
town girl! Bad enough to marry any
one, seeing his father wasn't through with
him yet--but a town grill He should never
consent, and every Shelenbarger acre should
go to strangers before Anson should have
one, ifhe persisted in an idea so ridiculous
And pray, what harm is there in being
town girl? questioned Barbe Halstead
when Anson told her halflaughing, half:
vexed and altogether rueful-for without
assistance from his father he could not mar
ry Barble for a long time yet. Ansor
laughed again, but with some embanass
ment, saying, my father is afraid that {
daughter of Professor Halstead would not
make very good farmers wife.
Does he think Barble hesitated,
looking with smiling perplexity at her little
white hands.
That these pretty hands don't know
much about brewing and baking, &c. Ex.
actly; do believe he thinks just that.
Then he thinks wrong, said Barbie, red
dening and looking up at her lover with
comical pout. Did mt ] hear you say yol
wanted Il servant at home? I've mind t,
60 down and offer myself for the place.
Anson laughed enjoyingly.
'We need one badly enough, but my ia
ther would not suffer one inside the house.
why, how do you live then? Who cook
for you now that your mother is ill?
We do our own cooking, Anson salt
with return of the halfsmiling, halfcm
barrassing expression, we cook for our
selves or do without.
The very day succeeding the one whicl
witnessed this conversation Anson was a
home busying himself over some cunar,
operation, when the outside door, whc
stood ajar, was noiseessly pushed wide ope
and singularly attired form presented it
self on the threshold. 1t wore a red an
green plaid dress, the checks very large,
yellow shawl, and very frowzy and tun
bled white bonnet. A red feather, nearl
as long as Anson's arm, streamed from on
side, and within the brim Topped an I'M
mense trill of a cap which clung close aroun
the face of the stranger. The iace-wha
could be seen of twas a very cusious on
to be inside Of such bonnet and cap. Jus
; now as she surveyed the kitchen and An
son-herself still unseen-the muscles abou
her mouth twitched nervously, and her eye
twinkled with roguish brightness.
Presently Anson looked that way.
Instantly the face took lugubrius length
and coming into the room the girl said in
sinuatingly, but without looking at him,
I'm wud ye be afther hirin a sarvint tn
day !? and stood fidgeting the fringes of he
shawl
Il believe not, said Anson, coloring wit
some annoyance perhaps at the nature o
his employment.