The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-06
PROF. HALsTEAD's GIRL.

FhOF. HALSIEAD'S GlRL.
A crotchety and contrary old chap
was Shellenbarger, rich farmer, as
mulish as the donkey in his barn. He
made his way in the world by the dog
gedest obstinacy-seizing hold of what
ever came in his way, and retaining
his holt as if his life depended upon
it. Joels mulishness had literally
been the making of him, though you
might not have considered the little
pot-gutted, thick-skulled old man as
much of make after all. Joel had
one son; handsome, clear-hearted,
active young man tall, straight as
young larch, and as set in his way,
when he chose to have it, as old Joel
himself. This son as he grew up, had
proved great assistance to his father
in working his farm, and his services
had been the most made of, the old
man managing to keep him at home
with him some time after he ought to
have been doing for himself. Not an
acre of the fathers possessions was
ever called the sons; he owned moth
ing in the world save horse, which
some neighbor had given him when it
was a sickly colt, and some sheep OBJ
tanned much in the same manner; and
the old man grudged him even in the
keeping of these.
Joel Shellenbarger and his son An
son differed often, but there were two
points on which the difference amount
ed to something serious. The first
point concerned education, for which
the old man had profound contempt
and the son had not. There was a
college some dozen miles from the
Shellenbarger farm, and thither, hav-
ing thoroughly prepared himself, in
spite of fatherly opposition, Anson
betook himself in spite of the same
continued opposition, and by one con-
trivance and another, and helped out
by his mothers small marketing, kept
himself there till he graduated. Joel
Shellenbarger contested the ground
inoh by inch, but afraid in his selfish
ness to do any more than to be obsti-
nate, lest his son should leave him.
That was the first point of difference,
and that was how Anson settled it,
The second point was not likely to be
of so easy an arrangement.
At college Anson had found some.
thing besides graduating honors. He
had CHANGED upon very charming
combination of brown curls and azure
eyes; a red Tipped, dimple-cheeked
fairy daughter of one of the profes.
sors, who, instead of curving her dain.
ty lip at the homespun suit which his
poverty and his fathers niggardness
compelled him to wear, never seemed
to be conscious of anything or any.
body else when he was by.
In short, Anson had found some one
to love, somebody that he wanted tc
marry, as he gravely informed his
father. You should have seen the old
mans eyes, it was mercy they were
fast In their sockets. Here was graft.
tude! This Anson, having already
defrauded his father of SO much of his
time, was going now to set his seal
upon his absurdity and disobedience
by marrying a "town girlw BAD
enough to marry any one, seeing his
father wasn't through with him yet
but town girl. He should never
consent, and every Shellenbarger acre
should go to strangers before Ansor
should have one, if he persisted in al
idea so ridiculous.
And pray, what harm is there il
being a town girl?" questioned Bar
bic Halstead, when Anson told her
half laughing, half vexed, and alto
gether rueful, for without assistanc,
from his father he could not MARI,
Barhie for long time yet. Ansor
laughed again, but with some embar
rassment, saying:
"My father is afraid that daughte
of Prof. Halstead would not make
very good farmers wife,"
~Does he think--?" Barbie hesi
tated, Looking with smiling perplex
ity at her little white hands.
"That these pretty hands dom
know much about brewing and bak
ing, etc.? Exactly: I believe h
thinks just that"
"Then he thinks wrong" said Bar
bic, reddening, and looking up at he
lover with q comical little pout.-
"Did I not hear you say you needed
servant at homer I've mind to g
! down and offer myself for the place.
Anson laughed again.
eve need one bad enough, but m
father will not suffer one inside of tn
.houss,"