North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-01-23

great many city notions to the place with
him.
He had kept his business to himself, and
this bothered and perplexed the gossips.-
His wife had way of attending to her own
concerns--her own business; she had been
brought up where people hardly knew their
next door neighbour. If she wanted a new
dress or new bonnet, she never deemed
it necessary to consult her neighbors re-
garding her ability to afford it, or about
the style and material.
Poor Ms. Maxwell? her star began to
decline. She was no longer leader IF the
TON, and her heart Was bursting with envy.
Her first demonstration was to her husband,
whom she found no difficulty in convincing
that Mr.. Burton must certainly be ruiird
by the extravaganza of hs wife, and unless
he collected his debt he would be certain to
lose it. ..s
As soon as she had done her washing on
Monday, Mrs. w. made some Calls and
embraced the opportunity of commenting
pretty freely OH that '.new cloak The
women told their husbands that Mr.. Bur-
ton would certainly fail /; and before three
days had elapsed there was quite an ex-
citement la the village. r. .
The careful old farmer, to whom, in the
course of trade, he bad become indebted
for produce which he had Sent to Boston,
began to be alarmed about the rumors. Ii
was III the State of New Hampshire, and
at the time of whlci, | write, the grab law"
was in active operation; it may be still
for ought know. .ea..
Que morning, as Mr.. Burton returned
from a journey to neigl boring town,
he found his stock attached Oh the claim of
farmer WaxweIl-sud all on account of
the new cloak Ills wife wore to meeting the
preceding Sunday. ...
He lad not the means to pay, that mo
ment, and while he WAS considering plan
to extrlcate himself from the dilemma, the
news that his goods had been attached
spread all over the place. All the credi-
tors were 10 haste to follow the example of
farmer W., for it was first come, first
served" and in less than two hours doz-
en had fastened upon the stock of the store
to get their dues.
This was a tremendous result to follow
in the train of the thirty dollar cloak and
gossipping old woman.
"What do you think now, Miss Viney?'
asked Mrs, MAXWELL, a, they met soon aft
er the storekeeper's disaster had been made
public. .....
81 hope Mr.. Burton will be able to pay
his debts"
But he won't though, just know he
won't"
"Probably if they had given him any
notice of their inteDtior to demand the pay
m, Mt OF their claims, he would have been
prepared to meet them"
II guess Mrs. B. will not feel so stuck
up now
Il hope you have done nothing to bring
about these sad results"
"But / have; | made my husband sue
his note, and when he put on others fol-
lowed. A thirty dollar cloak, indeed ~
- am very sorr. you have done this, -
You may ruin Mr., Burton by doing it,"
That is just what wanted to dol" aud
Mrs. Waxwe Is malignant expression be-
trayed the jealousy she had So lorg har-
bored.
You did il I! 1t was very unkind and
and ungrtteful in you, replied Miss Vim
ey indign antly. .-. -.
Hnmph.'
"Any trader would be likely to come
out badly if all hls creditors pounced upon
him without giving him time to collect his
debts"
81 don't believe he has anything to col
lect."
Even your husband, as we'll off as he
is, might be embarrassed if suddenly called
upon to pay his debts" and Miss Viney
looked significantly at her angry compan-
ion.
"I doubt it,"
"Ile may have trial." said the maiden
la.ly, and she moved on towards the store.
What can she mean by that p thought
Mrs. Maxwell.
Miss Viney had some property of her
own, and it was all in the bands of farmer
MAXWELL. Who had, on his own account in
vested the greater part of 1t in raIlro ii
stock. This was what she meant. She
would claim the three thousano dollars he
OWcu nCI duu COlu luIt pd7SCu
her veins as the thought struck her. Far
mer Maxwell was rich in his houses, land
and stock, all of which yielded him pret-
ty fair income; but he. had not three thou
sand dollars in money. and might cost him
trouble to raise it
"What will people think -
"What will people think when l pay
them all. The whole amount is not more
than $780," -
Just then Miss Viney entered the house.
In few words she explained the circum-
stances which had led to the sudden strike
among his crrdi'ors. Mrs. Burton, kind
soul, shed f,od of tears when she heard
how cruel Mrs. Maxwell had been-sbe
whom she nursed with all the tender"ess
Of mother, when all her neighbors fed
from her contagious disease!
"Never mind it. We may expect al
moot ANYTHING from medI,r. n gossip and