Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-06-30
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 80, 1866.


sees you in his house, he hates you so."
"He is too sick for that" replied Mr.. Sell
den, and taking the comforts which his
wife had prepared, he went over to the
gloomy old house, sending his little son for
the doctor. 1890 7..ai tG 'tt
Pitiful indeed was the scene that met his
gaze on entering the room where old Jake
lay tossing on his bed, without fire, without
light uttering wild, delrious cries, and then
sinking back, exhausted, into kind of
stupor. Mr.. Selden tried to make the old
man little more comfortable, lighted q fire,
sent home for shaded lamp and book or
two, and prepared to pass the night in the
sick room. The doctor anticipated crisis
Of the disease during the night, but it did
not come till the next day, just at evening.
nurse had meanwhile been procured,
Mr.. Se.den offering to guaranty him com
pensation for his services but he himself re-
mained with the sick man most of the time,
as more than one person was required to
hold Jacob in the fits of delirium. At
length, after fearful paroxysm, he sank in
to troubled sleep, which gradually became
more peaceful, and continued for some hours.
When awake he was conscious, and saw.
some one sitting by the fire reading. He
lay quietly awhile, trying tn think where he
was, and who could be sitting by his fire,
for as Mr. Selden sat with his back to the
bed, in large, high-hacked chair, nothing
but the top of his head was visible.
who are you, and what are you there
for y growled he family at length.
MIR. Selden quietly turned round saving:
"You have been very sick, and came in to
take care of you"
Old Jake tried to raise himself in bed. but
fell back helplessly, his face Gardening with
rage at his own weakness and at Mr.. Selden's
presence.
''Go away" he cried; show dare you come
here to insult me when | am sick ?' and the
old man tried again to rise, and again fell
back.
"You must keep quiet, my friend" said
Mr.. Selden gently; 81 came here to help you,
and not to insult you, and as soon as you
are better, will go away"
The old man snarled an inarticulate reply,
and turned his head away After little
while MIR. Selden Approached him again, and
offered him some jelly. The old mans ewes
frightened at it, and in spite of his hatred
of the otierer he could not resist the desire
to taste it. ....
Mr.. Selden fed him little while, and then
Old Jake asked where it came from.
my wife sent it to you.' was the answer.
turning his face to the wall. he closed his
eyes, and remained quiet for an hour or
more.
Mr.. Se!den thinking lie had fallen asleep
again, was about to leave the room and
awaken the nurse, who had gone to lie down,
when Old Jake called him Mr.. Selden
went to the bed room and asked him what
he wanted
81 say, neighbor,' said the old man, you're
Christian"
~ hope" said Mr.. Selden, astonished at
such word from Old Jakcs mouth.
II know you are" Jake went on; "I've
heard preacher enough III my day, and 1t
didn't do me no good, neither; it's mighty
easy to say what's right to do, but why the
ID you come here to take care of an old
cuss like me, that hasn't done anything but
torment you for years, Is more than can
make out, unless it's because you're Chris
tian."
"Why couldn't see you sick and let you
suffer, you know" said Mr.. Selden.
mo, don't know no such thing" per
sisted old Jake. II should have treated you
mighty different, swear"
"Never mind that, neighbor," replied Mr..
s., swell be good friends after this, hope.
Try now and be quiet, so as to get WELL
ally bursting into tears, till I've said my say.
I've been thinkin' it over while you thought
| was asleep, and now I've been wrong all
the way through. If you'd only paid me
back for some of the mean tricks I've done
you, it wouldn't be so hard; but to have
you come and take care of me, tel you it
hurts" -
Mr.. Selden tried to soothe and quiet the
old man, and finally, worn out with excite
ment, he dropped asleep and Mr.. Selden left
him, feeling deeply thankful that he had
come to the gloomy old house.
Old Jake got we'll more rapidly than could
have been expected at his age. His good
disposition toward Mr.. Selden did not van
ish, and his whole department changed.
Though always penurious, by a habit too
| fixed to be easily broken, yet he was less
miserly than betore--clothed himself and
kept his house decently, sometimes went to
church, and even gave cold bite now and
then to hungry beggar. Toward Mr..
| Selden he seemed to feel unbounded graft
tuGe, and tried to make reparation for his
previous injuries. He would offer to dig in
his garden in the spring, and to weed it in
the summer; once he brought pretty little
dog to the children and one morning Mr.
Selden was astonisbed to see fine Alderny
cow grazing in his yard. Going on. to see
how she got in, he founG the gates all closed
and card tied on one of the horns with "a
present to Mr. Selden" written thereupon
He knew well from whom it came, and
though he was too delicate to make any
reference to the gift.in the presence of his
neighbor, he took care that old Jake should
have his pail of milk every morning.
So ended the hatred of the miser and the
lawyer who loved his enemy.