North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-03
Se(ett Storp
PROFESSOR HALLSTEAD'S 6
GIRL,

A contrary and crolchery old chap was
Joel Snellenbarger, Q rich old farmer, as
mulish as the donkey in hie barn. He had
made his way in the world By the doggedest
'bstinacy, seizine hold of whatever came in
his way, and retaining that hold as though
life depended it. J"ei's mu lishness had liz
orally been the making Of him. though you
might not have considered the iittle pot bel
lied, thick skuiled old man 40 much of q
make after oil. r- a.... .
Joel had one son-a handsome, clear
headed, active young-tsll, straight, as
young larch. and as set in his way, when he
chose to have one, AZ old Joel himself
This son, as he grew up had proved great
assistance to his father IN working the farm
and hs services had been made most of. the
Old man managing to keep him home with
him sometime after he ought to have been
DUNG for himself.
Not an acre of his fathsr's possessions were
ever called tie sons; he owned nothing in
the world save q horse, which some sick'y
neighber had given him when il was sickly
colt, and some sheep obtained in much the
same manner and the old man grudged
him tho keeping of those.
Joel Sballenbarger and his Anson differed
often, bnt there were two points in which the
difference amounted to something serious.
The first point concerned education, for
which the old man had the most profound
contempt, and the son had not. There was
college some dozen miles from the Shell
lenbarger farm, and thither, having thor
oughly prepared himself, in spite of fa,herly
thwarting and oppotition, Ansou betook
himself in spite Of the same continued oppo-
sition. and by one contrivance asd another,
and helped out by his mothers small mark
citing, kept himself there until he graduated
Joel Shallenbarger contested the ground
inch by inch, but was afraid, in his selfish
ness, to do anything more than he obstinate
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 arrangement.
At college Arson had found something
beside graduating honors. He had chanced
upon very charming combination of curls
and azure eyes-a red Tipped dimple.cheeked
fairy, daughter of one of the professors, who
instead of curling her dainty lip at the home
epun suit which his poverty and his fathers
n'ggar dness compelled him to wear, never
seemed to be conscious of anything or any
body else when he was by. .. ssr..
In short. Anson had found some one to
love--somcbody that be wanted to marry
as he gravely informed his father. s
You should have seen the old mans eyes
1T was q mercy that they wero fast in their
sockets. Here was gratitude That Anson
having already defrauded bis old father of so
much of his time, was going now to set the
seal upon his absurdity and d,sobedence by
marrying "town girl % Bad enough 10
marry any, seeing nis father wasn't through
with him yet but . town girl! He should
never consent, and every Sheilenbarger acre
should &C to strangers before Anscn should
have one, if no persisted in an idea 90 ridicu-
loua %
q And pray, what harm 10 there in being q
town g'rl ?" Questioned Barbje Halstead
when Anson told, her, .half-laughlng, half
vexed, and altogether rueful-for, without
assistance from bis father, be could not mar.
LA