The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-05-11
IOWA MAY II, 18


I do b'lleve."
mo there amt, Clarissy-now you're
exaggeratin'. Uncle Philemon has been
saving 'em for ten years, and there amt
over fifty two weeks in year rs ever I
heerd on"
"Well, there's more'n Iwant lumber
ing around, anyhow. It Is all folly and
nonsense. As long as the old man was
able to go poking about with his knot
ted stick, counting on 'em, and straight
ening the edges, didn't dare to touch
'em. But now he's bedridden and
fighty, and won't know nothing about
it, I'm bound to sell 'em."
"But, mother" pleaded Agatha,
breathless and eager, suppose he were
to want them brought up to his bed
side ?" .....
'Oh, he won't; and If he does we can
put him off with some excuse or other,
I'll venture, easy enough. Kiah Dar-
wins widow says paper is four cents
pound, and calculated I could get
new set of milk pans with the money.
Besides, Agatha wants the closet to
keep her clothes in, now that she's home
from the factory for good"
II can get along without it, just as
well, mother" said Agatha; land it
does seem wrong to 60 and sell all poor
Uncle Philenon's papers when he is to
ill to know about it,"
Nov you may just as we'll hold your
tongue" said Mrs. jefferson, shortly,
and with unmistakable emphasis, "I've
made up my mind to sell 'em--and sell
'em will, if you and your father keep
on talking till the day Of judgment.
Miss Darwin says there's man comes
round with a sort Of hand barrow, and
string Of fjingling bells, once in while,
and gives four cents pound for old
newspapers. So, If any one of you see
him, stop him."
And Mrs. Jefferson, having said her
say, founced out Of the room, to see if
her pickles were nearly scalded. Hon
est Moses, whistling melancholy psalm
tune under his breath, unconsciously
thereby producing the effect of high
wind grosning down lugubrious CHM
ney went up to the garret with his bag
of seed corn, there to deposit it with
other agricultural treasures, and Agatha
put Oh her little blue frilled sun-bonnet
aud gray shawl, and tripped across the
russell field, to tell Hugh Darwin, her
sweetheart, how very shabbi'y "mother
was going to treat poor old Uncle Phiie-
mon.' For troubles ceased to be troub.
les when Agatha had whispered them
into the sympathetic ear Of her true
love.
Now Hugh Darwin and Agatha JEFF
ferson had been engaged for three years,
and were likely to be engaged for thir-
teen more; for they were both poor,
Woodworking young people, without,
five dollars ahead in the world, aud
nothing to look to but their own skillful
right hands aud cheerful, hoping hearts.
For even the truest Of true lovers can't
afford to be married unless they have q
roof over their heads, aud daily bread to
eat, to say nothing of possible chance
of the attendant butter. But. in spite
Of this, they derived infinite consola
ton from long twilight walks, and snug
fireside gossips, and confidential talks
over their respective wicket gates, and
: looking forward with patient hope te
the far.off "some day" that was finally
to crown their hopes.
Hugh listened to AgatEa's story in
silence he was sorting apples in heap:
on the barn floor, and when she hac
concluded, he brought down his hant
on the biggest bin with an energy tha
would have abraded any less horny cut
icle. ~
"It's a shame!" was honest Hugh!
r emphatic comment. IL.
3 $50 it is" said Agatha, "and fathe
. thinks so too. You see Uncle Philemon
= brought father up, and took care of hin
when he was poor boy, and had NJ
other friend in all the wide world
1 and now that he Is sick and bedrid
, dem
= "Hain't he no money to leave ?" ask
, Hugh. "Seems to me I've heard folk
I say that old Philemon Smith was plett.
+ middlng well Off"
Agatha shook her head.
| Dear me, no! You forget how lonl
he has been sick and helpless under tn
doctors hands. Hugh. And-I wouldn'
d. tell any but you, dear--I think mothe
+, hasn't been yearly so kind and forbcar
!. ing with him since she made up he
= mind that this little store of money wa
> all spent"
a Hugh and Agatha talked together lonI
a and earnestly, and then they strolle'
v across the quiet fields, arm-in arm, AM
+ took Moses jefferson into their conf
a dence, as he wrestled with huge log G
}. wood on the wood pile, at the west en-
j of the house.
e "Father, Hugh has thought of some
y thing" chirped Agatha, as exultantl
T. as if thought were quite a novelty t
8 Hugh Darwin.
1--WE got plan, sir" said Hugh, an
y straightway proceeded to unfold it.
J, "We'l do it," Ioared Moses, smith,
It his thigh, with n prodigious laugh
which echoed through the frosty twi
light like warwhoop.
e "Yes, Hugh, we'll do it, sure's tn
n world"
e Mrs. Moses jefferson was busy skim
ming her cream the next day, i'm tn
h clear, cool milk room, whose window
II were netted with wire- work and shade