The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-08-05

bank of copper cOlored clouds had arisen
in the northeast, and was slowly drifting
in our direction against the lower current
of wind. So I accepted the young wheel
wright's advice, and took my umbrella
4 We then walked briskly away together
followed by tender glance from Maria
Eeyes, which was more eloquent than a
score of spoken fareweils.A
On the road questioned David con
corning his farmers condition,and learned
he was rapidly sinking. Some months
before, while engaged in his usual field
labor, he had been smitten with paralysis
The stroke was very slight, and after an
intermlsslon of a week or two, he had
been able to resume work; but since then
one shock had followed another with in
creasing violence, until it became evident
that his earthly career was drawing to a
speedy close. = ~, as
Fathers very anxious to see you, sir
said David, /" because he's afraid he may
lose the use Of his tongue, as he has al
ready lost the use of his limbs. He's got
little enough to leave, poor soul, Heaven
knows; but he wants that fairly divided
betwixt Reuben and me. You know, sir,
that Reuben's temper isn't always the
best 2"
"Indeed lido, David" answered. 1T
would be well that your father should
put his wishes IN writing, if possible"
"That's what was thinking, sir, and
now's the best time to do it. left Doctor
Webb in the cottage, and Reuben and his
back. I should like the will to be made
in the presence of everybody who has
anything to gain by it, with you, sir, and
Doctor Webb as witnesses and then there
can't be any dispute afterwards"
Perhaps David I said, sit will save
time-and time in the present case may
be especially precious If ask you what
property your father has to leave?"
"Oh, nothing sir, that gentle folks
would think it worth while to make a
stir about. The furnitures the principal
thing, and some of that, such as the chest
of drawers and the clock, value chiefly
because they've been in the Dymond fam
lily time out of mind Reuben and his
wife will only think Of the price they'll
fetch. And there's shelf of bookSthough
mostly all religious books"
Sim afraid said "that poor Reuben
won't dispute with you about the books
8" No, sir, don't think he will He's a
better scholar than | am, but fathers
books amt much to his fancy"
By the time we had reached the door
of John Dymond's cottage, the sky had
grown very dark, and large heavy drops,
the fore-runner of the deluge about to
follow, had begun to patter down. I was
not sorry, therefore, that I had listened to
David's advice, and brought my umbrella
aea e CHAPTER H..
THE THUNDER CLAP.
1t was touching sight to see the wor
thy old day laborer, worn out with the
weight of years and excess of toll, as he
lay on his humble bed, TRANQUILITY await
ing the summons which would call him
to another and a happier world The
SHOWS of many bitter winter had lent
their hue to his scanty white locks,
while remorseless Time had ploughed
nearly as many burrows in his wrinkled
weatherbeaten features, as he himself had
marked out, in his youthful days, in his
masters fields. There was nothing terri
BILE or tragical about such a death bed,
for the old man was ready and willing to
depart; but there was something pathet-
ic in the thought that after half century
OF patient, untiring toll, after life of
perpetual endurance and self-denial, such
a man should have so little to leave be-
hind him. His worldly goods consisted
for the most part of the humble, yet high
ly cherished heir-looms that had been
handed down to him by his forefathers,
land it was to make an equitable division
Eof these between his two sons that he had
Especially desired my presence on this
solemn occasion.
John Dymond had lost his second wife
some years before, nor had any of his
daughters survived to the period of which
am writing, so that there was no female
hand of his own kith or kin, to smooth
j his pillow. Reuben's wife might certain.
ly have offered to undertake the task, but
she excused herself on the ground that
she had young family Of her own to
look after; her place was efficiently sup
4 pied, however, by motherly widow
woman who lived in the adjoining cot.
E tage. When David and entered the sick
chamber, which was indeed the principal
room OF the house, the nurse was sitting
at the head of the bed on one side, anc
Doctor Webb on the other. At the foo
of the bed, close TO the table, on which
were placed various articles of food ani
medicine, sat Reuben Dymond and hi
i wife. mention the exact position seYe
rally occupied by che various person
: present, for reason which will appea
! hereafter AS for myself I sat next t,
David, at the end of the table, but 81
near the bed-for the whole apartment
was of very small dimensions that
j could shake the sick mans hand ant
catch the feeblest accents of his voice.
need not describe the doctor and th
nurse, but ] must say few words concern
ing the personal appearance of Reubel