The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-04-07

JuOb pOlOiO We hOiO tiCi
father lived on to ripe old age. Eve
ry year he grew richer in dollars,
tougher in fiber, and harder in heart.
Last Monday he was eighty-fvc years
old. On Tuesday he died
is your grandfather dead p asked
Mrs Granger in surprise.
why don't you cry, father?' said
little Harry.
4 know, promptly returned the
daughter. Cause great-grandfather
was bad man.
lie died suddenly, of apoplcxy, and
without a will, said Harvey the elder.
Is it possible !! exclaimed Mrs
Granger The children tried to look
surprised, but were simply puzzled.
He had will enough while he lived,
anyway said the boy at last.
That's true, Harvey. lie never
meant | should have a dollar of his
property, but he was so strong that he
put off settling his affairs from year to
year. He thought death wouldn't
dare come for him till he was ready.
and he made an appointment with
Squire Perkins for Wednesday last,
Just one day to late. My mother was
his only child aid am hers; so it all
comes to me-
Mrs Granger brushed the tears
from, her eyes. The children were
more outspokcn in their emotions. 'Oh!
father, are you rich? Won't you buy
us lots of things?' both exclaimed at
once.
4 am rich enough to be comfortable
but not to spoil you If anybody is
to be spoiled it is mothers turn first.
Tomorrow is Saturday and | have
promised Perkins to be at his place
early in the week. 1t seems best that
he should take out letters of admins
tration, but he wants to consult me
about. the house and furniture and
some other things
Is the house one that we shall like
to live in ? asked the mother.
Il don't know, dear. | never was
inside, but it looks somewhat grand
and gloomy. In any case we shall
stay here till the spring opens, accor-
ding 70 agrooment And now, chicks,
go and finish up your playing for the
night Your mother and | want to
talk over business matters, so that our
minds may be quite at rest
The children left the room, and Mrs
Granger closed the open front of the
stove, which till this time had revealed
glorious glimpses of the warm heart of
the maple log.
70 Lucy, why have you shut in
that splendid prospect! l was going
to put out the lamp that we might en-
joy it more fully
we shall want the lamp, because
you have papers to look over, and
while we have our backs to the fire it
may as well burn little more slowly.
You have long since forgiven me for
saving in little things
That was in the old times when we
had only little things to save. You
know was always prudent on large
scale; mine was only a homeopathic
profusion the half dimes slipped
through my fingers, as you said Just
now. l always felt that to dwell upor
such trihes was narrowing to the minC
and | don't mean to do it any more
The narrowness of your mind wa.
never caused in that way returned
Lucy, smiling, but the smile covered
something like a sigh.
The wind had risen as the sun wen
down. All night long it piled tn,
thick falling snow in shapeless drifts
and moaned over the trouble the,
would cause. The morning was gra,
and bitterly cold. 1t was rather Int
when Harvey Granger, neither gray
nor cold, left his room with the kindl,
purpose Of building a fire in the kitch
en- stove In the excitement of tn
night before, he had omitted to prepar
kindlings as was his won't, and h
could find nothing that was not NOR
or less damp. He used match afte
match in lighting feeble flames tina
smoked and sputtered and went out.
Light a lamp, Harvey, said hi
wife, who watched him from the ope
door. 1t saves matches wonderful
in damp morning
Il don't care for the matches. Didn'
| tell you | wasn't going to have m
mind narrowed by petty savings afte
this p
But really, Harvey, there are yer
few matches in the house, and if "
are going to be snowbound we must
prudent till the roads are OPEN
Just 50, my dear. There goes tn
last one in this box, and don't grude
it particle, for | think have starte
a fire at last.
Just then a wild blast swept dow
the chimney rushed through the stove
pipe and out at the open door, putin
smoke and cinders in the good humore
| facad nf tho snaaGa, Thon .bo ,.,;,,