Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-16

W tHe lndn, WHO, leaving HIS tedtn,lIeI
her half way. They were nearly
furlong distant, but Jacob was quite
sure that she pointed to him, and that
the man looked in the same direction.
Presently she set off across the mead
ow, directly towards him.
/" When within few PAGES of the
fence, she stopped, and said: "Good
day to your
Jacob was so amazed to see a bright,
fresh, girlish face, that he stared at her
with all his eyes, forgetting to drop
his head. Indeed, he could not have
done so, for his chin was propped up
on the top rail of the fence.
You're a stranger, see" she ad-
ded.
Yes, in these parts" he replied.
"LookiEg for work %
He hardly knew what answer to
make, so he said at venture, "That's
as it happens" Then he colored a
little, for the words seemed foolish to
his ears.
times precious" said the girl, $50
I'll tell you at once we want hel lp.--
Our hay must be got in while the fine
weather lasts"
an help your Jacob exclaimed,
taking his arms from therail and look
ing as willing as he felt.
"pm so glad But | must tell you
at first that we're not rich, and the
hands are asking a great deal now
How much do you expect ?"
4Whatevcr you please" said he,
climbing the fence.
"No, that's not our way of doing
business. What do you say to a dol
lar a day and found?'
"All right" and with these words
he was already at her side, taking
long strides over the elastic turf.
Il will 90 on with my moving" j" said
she, "and YOU can rake and load
with my father. What name shall l
call you by ?"
Everybody calls me Jake"
Jake! jacob is better. Well ia
cob l hope you'll give us all the help
you can"
With a nod and a light laugh she
sprang upon the machine. There was
a sweet throb in Jacobs heart, which,
if he could have expressed it, would
have been a triumphant shout Of I'm
not afraid of herr
The farmer was kindly, depressed
man, with whose quiet ways Jacob in
stantly felt himself at home. They
worked steadily until sunset, when the
girl, detaching her horses from the
machine, mounted one of them and led
the other to the barn. At the supper
table the farmers wife said; Susan,
you must be very tired"
Not now, mother" she cheerily an
swered. :" was. | think, but after |
picked up Jacob | felt sure we should
get our hay in"
Its good thing" said the farmer,
Jacob don't need to be told how to
work"
Poor Jacob! he was so happy he
could have cried. He sat and listened
and blusheda a little, with a smile on his
face that it was pleasure to see. The
honest people did not seem to regard
him in the least a stranger; they dis
cussed their family interests and hopes
and troubles before him, and in lit
tie while it seemed as if he had known
them always.
How faithfully be worked How
glad and tired he felt when night came,
and the hay.mow was filed, and the
great stacks grew beside the barn
But alb the haying came to an end,
and on the last evening, at supper,
everybody was constrained and silent.
Even Susan looked grave and thought.
/ full.
Jacob" said the farmer, firmly, "
wish we could keep you until the
wheat harvest; but you know we are
poor, and cannot afford it. Perhaps
You could
He hesitated; but Jacob, catching
at the chance and obeying his own
unselfsh impulse, cried: 40 yes,
can. I'll be satisfied with my board,
till the wheat's ripe"
Susan looked at him quickly; with
a bright, speaking face.
ats hardly fair to you said the
/ farmer.
but like TO be here so much !!
Jacob cried. Il ike-all of your
ave DO seem to suit" said the far
mer, "like as one family. And that
reminds me, we've not heard your fam
lily name yet"
"Flint."
Jacob FlintI' exclaimed the farm
er's wife, with sudden agitation.
Jacob was scarlet and troubled
They had heard of him, then, and who
knew what ridiculous stories -? Susan
noticed an anxiety on his face that
she could not understand, but she un
knowingly came to his relief.
why, mother" she asked, "do yor
know Jacobs family ?"
"No, l think not" said her mother
'only somebody of the name long ago.
His offer, however, was gratefully
accepted. The hot summer days
came and went, but no flower of July
ever opened as rapidly and richly
and warmly as his chilled. retarded
nature. New thoughts and instinct:
came with every mornings sun, anG
new conclusions were reached with
every evenings twilight. Yet as th,
wheat harvest drew towards the end
he felt that he must leave the place
The month of absence had gone by
he scarce knew how. He was free t.
return home, and, though he might otfel
to bridge over the gulf between whea
and oats,as he had already done be
tween hay and wheat, he imagined
the family might hesitate to accep
such an offer. Moreover, this life a
Susan's side was fast growing to be
pain, unless he could assure himsel
that it would be gone forever.
They were in the wheat field bus
with the last sheaves, she raking an,
he binding. The farmer and younge
children had gone to the barn with
: load. Jacob was working SILENT
and steadily, but, when he reached tn
ll of olo-1 L.