The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-12-25

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large sum, and he had the money about
him, all in gold, Passing through for.
est, in order to make short cut, and
save few miles, he found that the long
est way roundwould have been the short.
est way there; for there was band ol
robbers in the wood, aud they seized
bound and robbed him, and gave him till
morning to prepare for death, to prevent
accidents. Atsunrise he was waited up
ION by the considerate rufians, who asked
him if he was ready to die.
Old Tilly laughed aloud at this.
'What are you laughing for?" demand.
ed they, fercely, fourishing their veap-
.ons.
cat such a ridiculous question"
"Why ridiculous?'
Because, what matters it whether /
am ready, SO long as you are?p
"lt is a great matter to you; you are
the most interested"
"You are very polite. Is that why you
consult me?"
"Are you ready? No foOling. Times
short"
mot SO short for you as for me. But
I'd like to know precisely what you mean
by ready"
"HaVe you said your ,prayers?''
Eyes, all my life.''
"Have you made your peace with Heay
en?"
"Thats very religious of you; but I
can't think I have, or Heaven wouldn't
suffer me to die in this way
"But you must die; wewant no witness
Tes Of the robbery; so. once for all, are
you ready?"
"There are various definitions Of the
word, ready; one is, willing; but then
have no choice; another is, qualified; but
| am uncertain as to that; that must ap-
pear after I have gone to judgment; an
other is, prepared; that am not, decided
ly; there are things at home that want
looking after, before go on such long
journey-though you have sspared me
pretty we'll, having taken all my money
and another is, prompt; now whether
am prompt to die or moi, depends entirely
upon your mode of killing me-
.You are long-winded for one who has
little breath to spare. IF we asked you
if you were ready to live, would you un.
derstand the meaning sufficiently to say
Yes?" .p,-
"No; I wouldn't. I was born without
my consent, and suppose I shall die so
perhaps was never ready to live-migh
not have been willing, qualified prepared
or prompt-not perfectly. But ALPS on,
now; give me my breakfast and let me g
dine in Heaven"
Old TiIly's remarks so amused the
robbers, that on his oath not to inform
against them, they gave him a portion o
his money back, and let him go-not t,
Heaven, But where else he pleased.
The story of his being so near heaven
and taking it SO easy, might have beel
donbted, had it not been for the charac
teristic nonchalance of Old Tilly, who's
descendants to this day preserve a wish
bone, taken from fowl which the rob
bers set before him at his forest break
fast-and it is cherished as confrma
tiou of their jolly old ancestors story.
Some years after that adventure, an,
when the good -humored philosophy o
Old Tilly had become proverbial, he wa
absent from home several months, ,leavin,
an extensive farm of his in charge of
man who, for.some OF no reason, neglect
ed to have it planted. The consequence
was, no harvest; and, on his return, h
found it was loss of several theusan
dollars to him.
Sympathizers crowded about him, am
pointed at the barren fields deploringly
"The ground will be the stronger mex
year for it, said he.
"But that won't repair your loss"
slt will incline that way; by SO muc
as it tends to scarcity this year, it vii
tend to raise prices next year. So that
see two benefits to begin with"
/ Sand what of others, in the name c
patienes?"
| "Well-others will raise less next yea
than if their grounds had rested thi
year; that will tend to help me also.'
"See anything more?"
"Yes; | shall pay extra attention t
my grounds. to retrieve the loss as far a
| can
"And then what?"
AZ have learned valuable lesson-nc
to trust too much to the fidelity of a
agent.
"Qulte crop of blessings. Any ott
er?"
"My loss is somebody's gain, thi
year. 49,
j "Some more, if you please" ;"
"Plenty. I have saved the mans wa
ges, and the wear and tear Of animals an
tools; it is lesson to bear disappoinI
ment; lesson 70 appreciate the goodnes
of God when. I do have harvest; ant
finally, it was the will of God-and S