Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-05-25

he, with a vacant, self-satis6ed smile. "PIle
'em up. Make walls and forts. They will
last longer than wood, and never burn up. J."
But you have got no cattle, Daniel, nor
crops" .,,,
can get enough meal and milk to eat, and l
don't want to work. want to play with
the children, and walk about. Uncle Rob
ert cant do it. am much better off than
he is
Your wood will be all gone soon. Then
what will you do2 You have got no mon
ey.", 49,,
'1t will be time enough for me then to
pull up rocks and plant Seeds said he,
looking wise. "And Tn do it all myself,
so that the seed will know me when it comes
up, and bow to me in the morning, when |
walk in the fields o, don't care for any
thing or anybody, with my farm u he
chuckIed, fiinging himself on the ground,
and turning somersets in his torn clothes.
''Ha ha ha But I'm not proud be
added, rising and looking grave. That's
the reason | lay with the dogs; and the
boys and the ducks and the geese laugh
when | roll in the straw"
The idiot seemed SO contented that none
cared long to dwell upon the great wrong he
had suffered and SO his uncle was left in
undisturbed possession of what he had
frauaulently acquired. Pity for the friend
less was not deep enough to arouse opposi-
ton against the influential uncle.
But it was not long ere Daniels wood was
thoroughly swept away, leaving him but the
barren surface of the rocks on which to
rest his hopes of support ; and now hunger
compelled him to beg at the doors of his
neigkbors, for his uncle forbade him to cross
his threshold-averse to the presence of
such standing reproach to his iniquity,
aud thinking to draw him upon the paupcr
maintenance of the town.
Alas the lord Of the farm was a pitable
sight to see, as he wandered half naked,
from door to door offering shares in his
rocks for bread, and with no more of those
vacant smiles which had shown his relation
in his time of imaginary wealth. Distress
now joined hands with idiocy, and the
dream of comfort had vanished from the
FOOLS brain. The haggard skeleton, in his
life of chance, had found casual s,istenance
enough to keep his soul with his body still
but that ghastly aspect of human life WAS
more knocking than ever his sterile apology
for farm. Slow and sad was the strip of
the sauntering scarecrow through the town;
the melancholy cynosure Of pointing fingers,
the desclate victim of shameless relation
ship and shattered brain. Alas for the
spectral land proprietorl Had Heavens
all embracing glance 40 ray to guide his
istless feet?
One day, as instinct set him begging, after
dinner time, for the dismal miscellany of his
daily food, summer storm darkened
the heavens and the earth, the peals of
thunder startled all the animated things.
The flowers bowed in terror, and the invisi-
bic milliuers who decked the bonnets OF na-
a. III RtI
the fool stalked abroad in the peting rain,
and lifted his lusterless eyes to the furious
source of the tempest, half amazed, half de-
lighted. at the intermittent tres.
Suddenly shrek was heard along the
road, and looking backward, he saw upon
frightened horse young maiden OF the VII
lage, clingiDg to the name OF a .gailopIng
animal, which, snorting with arlarm, ap-
preached him.
Daniel Mosgar was fool-but he was a
man. A wise man might have stepped
aside in fear, but Daniel seized broken
bough by the wayside, and brandishing the
huge weapon tor moment, darted into the
middle of the road, as the wild, careering
steed came laundering on with his insensi
bic burden, with well directed force the
limb was brought in contact with the horse 3
head The conclusion was tremendous, and
the animal painting and quiverlng, with
swelled veins, fell heavily to the ground.
Happily for the girl, whose hold was upon
his mane she was hanging upon the oppo-
site side, to that on which he fell and be-
fore the half stunned animal could struggle
to his feet again, the idiot inspired by the
emergency, sprang forward and pulled the
maiden from her perilous position. The
shouts of approaching men,oue of whom was
her father, now attracted his attention, and
in few moments, the girl, still unconcious.
was in her parent arms.
well done, Dauielt God bless you for
saving my daughter life u was the CRATE
full exclamation Of Mr. Fontley, as the party,
bearing the girl and leading the horse, pro-
ceeded TO his house, near by. You have
done that which shall never forget, and |
will do what can to repay you, poor fel-
low but he does not understand me, adj
ded the father, shaking his head, as the
fool unreeding, followed them, proudly
brandishing the huge branch with which he I1
feled the horse, anu not smiling at all.
What agents the Almighty sometimes
chooses for his works" continued fontiey.
"A fool has been the means OF saving my
only child from ride TO bloody grave
Helen FontIey was but fifteen on that day
tf great danger, and was returning homo
from customary jaunt when overtaken by
the storm. The father was wealthy, ano
eente, I'd in her all his most cherished hopes
TIE he-oic deed of Daniel affected Fontley
deenIy. ana filed him with active compass
sion for the young man. He resolved to bt
his friend. and lie was so. Out OF the
mouth of the thunder followed blessings fo
the fool. With the passage OF the CLOUDS
on that day came sun upon the soul OF hi
fortunes.
Having inquired after bis affairs, the he mex !,
day Mr. Foutley rode over 10 the 1901
farms' and made brief survey oflt-Dan
iel and few others accompanying hlm.
What do you think of the division o
the property" was the question OF one
WAS it not cruel 20 ~
''Danielcome to my house. Cruel mo
replied Mr.. Fontley, his face brIghtenng VI
with meaning smile, as they LETT the ster
| lie uplands. ''Robert Mosgar did create
favor to his nephew by the division tina,
his ignorance intended, if l am not muc!
mistaken But we will see, soon, how
turns out" From that day Daniel was am
ply provided for in the house of Mr.. Font
ley, and meanwhile the secret of the latter
words became revealed. The fools farm
proved rich in coal The experienced ey
of Fontley had detected, in the course {
his visits to it, indica tions which had escaI
ed the notice of all others, and which sui
Il L.