The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-26
RDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. 26, 1866.

| poned her washing for the purpose. IL was after
noon when they arrived at their journeys end
Laura received thep joyfnlly, but Josiah was NJ"
| expected home until evening. MIR. Ducklow pu
the old marc in the barn, and fed her, and ther
went in to dinner, feeling very comfortable indeed
'Josiah's got nice place here. That's about
as slick little barn as ever see. Always does
me good to come over here and sec you gittin
| along so nicely. Laura.
Il wish you'd come oftener. then said Laura
wall, it's hard leayin' home, ye know. Have
to Git one Of the Atkins's boys to come and sleep
| with Tadly the night we're away.
we shouldn't have come today, if hadn
been for me- remarked Mrs. Ducklow. Says
to your father says |, feel rs II wanted to 60
aud see Laura II seems an age since I've seen
her. says I. WALL says he, 's'pos'n' we 60:
says he. That was only last Saturday; and this
morning VIC started
And it's no fool of job to make the journey
with the old mare!' said Ducklow. :,
why don't you drive better horse sa'u
Laura, whose pride ways always touched when
her parents came to visit her with the old mare
and the one horse wagon.
'Oh, she answcrs my purpose iioss nesh is
high, Laury. Have tO economic, these times.
Pm sure there's no need Of your econouiling!
exclaimed Laura, leading the way to the dining
room. why don't you use your money, and
have the good Of it!'
80 I tell him. said Mrs. Duckow, family
why, Laury! didn't want you to be tn so muc,
trouble to git dinner jest for Us! bite would
At evening Josiah came home; and II was not
until then that Ducklow mentioned the subject
which was foremost In his thoughts.
what do yc think O. Govmcnt bonds, Josiah
he incidentally inquired, after supper.
First-rate!' said Josiah. ;,
About as safe as anything, ant they! said
Duckuw, encouraged.
'Safc!' cried Josiah. Just look at the resour-
ccs of this country! Nobody has begun yet to
appreciate the power and undeveloped wealth OF
these United States It's hig rebellion, know;
but we're going to put 1t down. tn leave us
big debt, very sure; but VIC handle 1t now easy q.
that child lifts that stool. Ii makes him grun'
and stagger little. not because he isn't strong
enough for IL, but because he don't understand
his own strength, or how to Use II: he'll have
twice the strength, and know just how to apply !,
in little while. just so with this country. II
makes me laugh to hear folks talk about rcpudIa'
tion and bankruptcy.
But s'pos'n' we do put down the Rebellion
and the States come back; then what's to hendci
| the South, and Sccesh sympathiIeas in the North
from jnn tog, thcr and votin' that the debt sha II
be paidl'
Don't you worry about that! DO ye suppose
we're gcing To be such fools rs TO give the Rebels
after we've whipped 'em, the same political power
they had before the war! Not by long chalk
Sooner than that, we'll put the ballot into th'
hands Of the freedmen. They're our friends
They've fought on the tight side, and they u vote
on the right side. tell sc, spite of all the prcu
dice there is against black skins. we ant such d
nation of nnnes as to give up all we're fighting
for, and leave our best friends and allies, not to
speak Of our own interests, in the hands OF oui
enemies
You consider Gov'ment good investment,
then, do yer said Ducklow, growing radiant
Il do. dccidelly,-the very best. BESIDES, you
help the Government; and that's no small consid
eraton.'
SO thought. But how is II about the COW.
pom bondsl Amt they rather ticklish property
to have in the h0uscl'
well, I don't know. Think how many years
you'll keep old bills and documents and never
dream Of suJh q thing rs losing them! There
not bit more danger with the bonds. shouldn't
want TO carry 'em round with me, to any great
amount, though did once carry three thousand
dollar bonds in my pocket for week. didn'
mind it,
Curtis = said Ducklow: I'vcgo: thrcce thou.
san '-dollar bonds IN my pocket this minutc!'
Well, it's SO much good property answered
Josiah, appearing not at oil surprised at the Cir
culnstance.
Seems to me- though, IL had safe. as you
have. I should lock 'cm up In IT,.
Il was travelling that week | locked 'cm up
pretty soon after got home, though.
Suppose said Ducklow, rs ii the thought had
but lust occurred to him. suppose you put my
bonds into your safe shall feel easier
'Of course replied josiah. I'll keep 'em for
you, il yOu like
= Ii will he an accommodation. They'll be safe,
will theyH ,,,
'Safe as mine are; safe rs anybody's: III In.
sure 'em for twenty-five cents
Ducklow was happy. Mrs DucklJw was hap
ny. She took her husbands coat, and with n
pair Of scissors cut the threads that stitched the
envelope to the pocket.
Josiah.
NO
well, you'd better They'll he payable now
soon; aud if you take them, you won't have to
touch the bonds again till tho interest on tho No
vember coupons is due
"A good ideal said Ducklow.
He took the envelop'. united the tape, and re-
moved its contents. Suddenly the glow Of COM
fort, the CLEAN Of satisfaction, faded. from his
countenance.
Hello! What you got therel' cried Josiah.
'Why, father! massy sakes!' exclaimed Mrs.
Dacklow.
As for Ducklow himself, he could not utter q
word; but, dumb with CONSERVATION, no looked
again in the envelope, and opened and turned 1t
inside out, aud shook, with trembling hands. its
astonishing contents. The bonds were not there
they had been stolen, and three copies OF the
Sunday Visitor had been inserted in their
place.
Very early the following morning dismal.faced
middle. aged couple might have been seen riding
away from Josiahs house. Ii was the DucklOws
returning home after their fruitlcss, their worse
than tuitless, journey. No entreaties could pre-.
vail upon them to prolong their visit. Ii was with
difficulty even that they had been prevented from
setting of Immediately on the discovery Of their
loss, aud travelling all night, in their impaticncc
to get upon the track Of the missing bonds.
'There'll be not the least use in going tonight,
JOSIAH had said. lfthey were stolen nj the bank
YOU can't do anything about IL until Ia. morrow.
And if they wero taken from your own house, !
don't see what's to be gained now by hurrying
back. Ii isn't probable you'll ever 'em again,
and you may just as well take it easy, ,-go to bed
aud sleep 1t, and get fresh start In the morn.
ing
So, against their inclination, the unfortunate
owners Ot the abstracted bonds retired 10 the lux
urious chamber Laura gave them, and lay awake
all night, groanins and sighing, wondering aud
surmising, and Il regret to adl) blaming each
other. SO true il is, that modern cUnsclcnces,
hot and cold water all over the house, pier glass
and the most magnfcently canopicd couch. avail
nothing to give tranquility to the barasscd mind
Hitherto the Ducklows had felt great satisfaction
in the style their daughter, by her marriage, was
enabled TO support. To brag Of her nice house
aud furniture and two servants was almost as
good as possessing them. Remembering her rich
dining. room and silver service ani porcelain,
they were proud Such things were enough for
the honr Of the family; and. asking nothing for
Themselves, they slept well in their humblest Of
be,l.chambeis, and sipped their tea contentedly
out Of clumsy earthen. But that night the boast
ed style in which their darter lived was less ap-
precated than formerly: fashion and splendor
were no longer u consideration.
If we had only given the three thousan' dol.
lars to Reuben!' said Ducklow, driving homeward
with q countenance as long rs his whip.lash
'Twould have jest set him up. and been some
compensation for his sufferins and losses goin' to
the war;
wall. I had no objections replied Mrs. Duck.
low. Il always thought he ought to have the
money eveutooslly. And, as Miss Beswick said
no doubt 1t would a been ten times the comfort
10 him nnx il Mnnll be a number nf years irntn