The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-08

left 'em all to little Agatha. She has
been kind, thoughtful child to the old
man, and l will help her and Hugh
toward housekeeping
What will, uncle 2 eagerly gasrsd
Mrs. Jefferson, leaning toward him, more
surely to catch the incoherently articulat-
ed words.
The money. There is bill laid
smooth between every fold for little
Agatha. | had no other place to keep
Icy money, and [ knew it would be safe
there. 1t is for Aggie and Hugh-that
is what the will says.
Mrs. Jefferson sat rigid and aghass.
And she had sold this precious pile to an
itinerant ragman for the petty considera-
ton OF four cents pound
The old man, the one haunting secret
off his mind, seemed to drift peaceably
into quiet sleep. Not SO his niece by
marriage. She sat by his bedside pallia
|, and despairlng, rocking herself to and
fro ever and anon, ike one lowering on
the verge Of insanity If she had only
been content to take the advice of Moses,
her husband, or even listened to Agatha s
innocent pleadings!
ooh, my poor girl = she walled rushing
down stairs, when at last the familiar
click Of the front gate latch sounde,', an
nouncing the return of her daughter and
husband. I m worse than Jacob and
Rebecca I've throwed away your birth
right [ have sold it for four cents
pound to miserable, cheating ragman =
what do you mean, Clarissy? 2 de-
manded her husband. staring at her in
open mouthed astonishment.
She wrung her hands historically to-
gether as she related the sad story.
/ could tear my hair out by the roots
when [ think Of my mad, selfish folly I
she cried.
Moses Jefferson looked gravely at his
daughter, who had stood listening in per-
feet silence.
Take your mother into the house, my
dear he said. L viii go over and see
Hugh Darwin about this business
Half an hour later, as Mrs. Jefferson
sat by the kitchen fire. still wringing her
hands and bemoaning herself, Moses
walked in, escorting figure in a long
skirted coat, with a NANCY fur cap titled
over its eyes, and its mouth tied up in a
red cotton OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Why, it S the ragman!' she eiaculat-
ed, springing to her feet with little cry.
And all of a sudden the DISCUSSES drop
ped off, and Hugh Darwin stood laugh
ing before her.
No, it amt the ragman, Mrs. Jeffer-
son, it me ! he cried, .iovially. Agatha
and l., We thought it was a shame to sell
the poor old mans boarded papers, and
he dying by inches, so turned ragman
with Squire Jones hand barrow and the
sleigh bells, and bought them myself,
and they are all safe in the garrett cham.
Der over home
And the money! gasped Mrs. Jeffer-
son.
The money is all there-seyen hun
dred dollars, ehimed in honest Moses,
who stood by, beaming with satisfaction.
And our little Aggie can get married
now whenever she likes. Hey, mother
we outwitted you arter all, didn't We?
L never was so thankful for anything
in all my born days 7 calculated Mrs.
Jefferson, clasping her hands and sinking
back into the cushioned rocker.
Uncle Philemon died very peacefully
that same night: in fact he never en-
tirely wakened from the sleep into which
he had fallen when Mrs Jefferson sat by
his side; and consequently he never
knew that his beloved treasures, with
their precious inclosure of bank bills, had
been bought and sold.
A plain white head stone CLEANS above
his last resting-place now. Hugh and
Agatha Darwin are keeping house, as
happy as any crowned king and queen,
albeit their palace is nothing but little
brown cottage under the hill, and their
royal robes are but of calico and holden
gray. And Mrs. Jefferson, the domestic
autocrat, is forced to admit that just once
In her life she was wrong.