Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-12-30

The old man silently .cogtated the re-
ply, with eyes poring on the fire.
Pardon the liberty. he said sudden
Iy, sbut what might your profession be?''
Il walk the hospitals returned the
stranger, quietly.
Nursing the Union soldiers p
Union and rebel, was the answer.
al hope, said the old man, after a
moments pause, kindling and flushing
a little with faint misgiving.s Il hope
that you stand by the country, sir. Sir,
this IS a loyal house. One son only, my
boy that once was, Rupert-but we
never mention his name here, sir, never,
for he's in the ranks of the rebels-he
only brings dishonor on the breed of old
Elkanah Dyer, But we strive to atone
for if. My boy John served in the Union
army, and he's going again. My boy
Tom wants to go, and shall. Wait, lad
die, said a year ago, till your bones
harden little more; you'll fight the
better for it and the times come for
him. My boy George his voice fal-
tered-'fwas lostat Fredericksburg-an
blown to bloody atoms on the field of
battle, or alive rotting in some rebel
prison, I'm content and proud, for it's
In the service of his country. And
myself, old as I 2m, I'm going too. The
young eyes that saw the bright flag
dance SO long when every thing laughed
with promise, shall see it, now they're
old, flap defiance to the last as all goes
down in war. There but one flag. one
country in the world for me. / stand
by them both forever"
What YOU say IS well, - answered the
stranger. 81 like what you say"
''Well - retorted the fiery old man,
s'is there any thing better ?"
There is nothing better than what
you say, " replied the other firmly.
Elkanah cooled down instantly, a
little perPiexed with the air the stranger
had of cherishing some equal, perhaps
more comprehending, truth.
Il don't know what it IS draws me so
to you, and makes me SO free-spoken
on a short Acquaintance, he said pres
emily, IN, a kind Of marvelIng way. "If
it was the Good Man himself, couldn't
feel more open-hearted and like telling
you all my troubles I've told you some
already. You'll stay with US this even
ing? Pray do - he said hastily. "Spend
the night. Stay some days. Well make
you welcome. want to know you bet
Ter, sir"
~ thank you, said the stranger, but
I can only spend little time with you,
and must go my way this evening"
Elkanah looked rather rueful.
''Well, he said, Frightening, you'll
spend the evening, anyway. There'H
be a lot of people in, by-and-by, from
round about We're to have a grand
jollifcation in the old house. All, me
The last-the 1astt"
The stranger looked at him inquir-
ingly.
II nil tell you, said Elkanah hur-
riedly, hitching up his chair closer. "See
here, he doomed in his undertone !;
II haven't told any one yet, but I'll
free my mind to you, for feel to do it.
Hish I'm a ruined man. A specula-
tion-no matter what. It's failed.
The strangers lips parted, and his
serene face looked almost reused.
81 shall have a little left. Not much, !"
said the old man mournfully. 'But
we'll have to sell this place where I've
lived so many years and begin the
world again. In my old age-seventy
years old, sir-seventy years. It's hard. %
The stranger laid his gentle hand up
on the old mans arm. Elkanah quiver-
ed, his lip trembledi and his eyes grew
dim.
rs there no resource, said the car
penter.
None, replied the old man, with
sardenic bitterness. Unless its to sell
old miser Dyzer's picture. Internal old
doddrpoljolt head! Old crack-brained,
crazy noddy-peak I used to laugh over
It, but for the last week it's been like
wormwood and gall to me.
what do you mean p said the car
spenter.
"Ill tell you. Another story"-re-
turned EIkanah, half savagely. al men
toned that old Peter Dyer left me this
place. I was a young fellow, rather
given to pleasure, and It was uncle's
notion that farming would make a man
of me- Well, it did: own that l came
down here from Pennsy1vania--n1y
State sir my State; I worked hard and
got well off by my own exertions. At
forty I married. Well, except a scant
five hundred dollars, the place was all
old Peter left me. Now, farming's. like
any other business; the more capital
you put in, the more profit you'll get
out. And, save the five hundred, I'd
no ocapital. had to put in work. 1 didit.
What did your uncle do with his
money p asked the carpenter
"He hadn't any, replied Elkanah in
a glowering, muff1ed roar. "Old miser
Dyer, as. they called him, wasn't as rich
as people rumored him. He left all to
me-this place and all it contains, the
will said Well, the place itself was all.
All If with his shrewdness and close
bargaining, he'd made any money, l
suppose he gave it to loafer Tomeny for
pictures, and the miserable old billi-
xeezee drank it up in apple-brandy."
And what about the picture p asked
the carpenter.
20 jiller-poo bIurted Elkanah, with
utter contempt ''My good sir, pray
read what he wrote and left me in this
handbook. I was reading it this after
noon. Read it aloud, sir, if you'll be SO
kind
The stranger slowly took the little
bank book, bound in dingy red, which
the old man had produced from his
skirt-pocket, and read aloud what was
written there in stiff, bold hand:
@NIR. ELKANAH DYER.
"Resbeeted Ne6HezO:.
81 Leave you All. Keep the Straight
Line. WOIk ana ger Wealtn. a Man
not worth Money, is the most Miserable
Dwell in the World, excepting Always
a Man who is worth Nothing Else.
maintain Open Fires. None of Count
Rumford's New-F angled Stoves for Me.
Putt Fires on Every Hearth on Christ
mas Eve and Day, if your Means af-
foord, call in your Neighbors and
and Draw Wide your Curtains
that your Light may be Seen of All Men.
Dress the Apartments with Plenteous
Holly. You Cannot have ANY too
Much.
''Stand Fastsby the Great Republic.
Live and Die in the Principles of Thom-
as Jefferson, the Greatest Birth of Time
in this Country, and his Thoughts and
influence of Rich Importance to us All
it Mattering Nothing what the
Federalists, the Tories, and the Divells
of Hell do Say.
mo Slaves. All Men are EQUAL.
Pay Wages for your Labour. Vote and
Act with Any Party that Aims to Liber-
ate our Bondmen, and Make Democracy
the Absolute Law of our Country. We
mist ('11t I nose from All tba T-b51I1;yore