The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-11

upon that scarcely commenced digging,
was not an easy patient to nurse her
child suffered from the change into this
noisy dirty house and petroleum-im-
pregnated air; she herself, besides the
fatigue of nursing under such disadvan-
tages, hated the life, and sickened for
the old freedom and quiet. And it was
for this that the little store so hopefully
gathered, so dearly valued, was to be
wasted Truly she was hardly tried !;
and | think it was no small virtue in
her that she never once lost her temper,
or approaching her husband with that
+" told you so T. which is so tempting
when ones convictions have been over
ruled as hers had been.
Things, however, did mend by the
help of time and patience. At last,
though very feebly, Patterson began his
work again. But, alas, the number Of
dollars in the bank had diminished by
more than half; and the hole he had
dug-how shallow and miserable it
looked had been partly filled by some
heavy rains which had fallen. 1t was
new trouble for his wife, when he, still
weak and liable to relapse would 20
and work in the damp soil, coming
home after an hour or two perfectly eX-
hausted, and keeping her in perpetual
restlessness day and night with the fear
of those terrible shivering fits coming
or. Stragely enough, however, he did
escape another attack, and was able to
work harder and longer every day.
He got help too, and the well grew
rapidly deeper. In short time it was
so deep, that when they walked to it
| together after work was over in the
evening, and Patterson held the baby
up to look into it, Mrs. Patterson trem-
bled lest the little one should fall from
her fathers arms into the darkness and
be killed.
But there was no oil. Other people
ali roundrthem had found oil before
reaching this depth. Some of the wells,
indeed, were deeper, therefore they did
not despair but so many were shallow
er, and money wasted so fast Many
things were wanted now, even for the
working of the well; and as to every
thing else, they had already carried
economy to the last point. They still
lived at the hotel, because there was no
place for them but they had moved
into the smallest and cheapest room the
| landlord would give them their clothes
were patched till they seemed to be
made of patchwork and if they were
clean and tolerable tidy, Mrs. Patterson
could have told how difficult it was 10
keep them so. And finally the last
twenty dollars was drawn out of the
bank.
Then it was that the poor wife made
her last remonstrance.
When these are gone, James," she
said, what is to become of us p
Wait till they are gone, my dear.
Before that, perhaps you will be a rich
woman.
Perhaps But if not? How long
have we been hoping now? Everything
is gone. If you spend all this, we shall
not even be able TO go back TO the
photographing We owe nearly half of
it now. Q, | wish you would come
away, and let us 90 back to the old life
which we did understand, and where
we could make enough to keep US.
And lose all we have spent? A wise
idea this is | tell you, ! am certain
we are near the oil. mean to 90 on
for another week, at any rate"
And how are we to live? You
would not let me try to get washing or
anything to do at first and now ! have
no way of doing it-neither house, nor
tubs. nor anything. And you must re-
member that everybody here knows
we are at the end of our money, and
that ii will be no use giving US credit.
Even Mr.. Clark will not trust us for
weeks board after this is gone, you may
depend upon it..
Don't you fancy any such nonsense,
Nelly. There's the well suppose things
came TO the worst, we could sell that"
" I'm afraid we couldn't. There's
Thomas's well at the other side of the
creek been standing for six months, and
nobody buys it; it has got bad name,
and so has ours
What ails you to-day old woman :?
You're pretty jobs comforter"
She broke down at that, and cried
outright, being weakened by anxiety
and actual privation.
go, James T. she sobbed, let us go
away. Let US give up this wretched oil
well, and go and earn our living again
honestly"
He put his arm around her and
kissed her consolingly. He was not un-
kind, nor utterly foolish only weak and
obstinate, or heroically persevering,
whichever you please but he would
not be persuaded. The last dollar went
after the rest. One day they were left
penniless.
Then began the misery of living upon
credit-a very short one with them, for
everybody knew their money was gone,
and nobody believed in the finding of
the oil.
- dare say its there" one of the
neighbors said frankly to Patterson
"but | don't believe you'll be able to
hold out long enough to find it and,
after all, it might not pay for the get
ting
During these last days, however, he
still worked on, and that with an eager
ness which was almost insane. His
slight figure seemed thinner and more
vehemently active his pale face and
brilliant eyes looked those of a man
devoured by the intensity of passion
L I