The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-30
" JUST BEFORE GOING TO BED, I
MARCH 10. 18-

"JUsT BEFORE GOING TO BED,
MARCH 10, 18-
MY Boy: We thought you might want
to go on a visit to your Uncle Isaac's
next week, and we inclose ten dollars to
pay expenses. Don't stay very great
while-not more than two or three weeks
for we want you to be here to take
your pick out of those Norman colts, and
to transact little business in which you
are interested. We shall expect you to
chop wood the rest of the week, Tommy,
and I'll fix up your shirts 80 that you
can start on the train Monday morning.
Good night, my own dear boy, and plea
SAINT dreams. MOTHER"
Tommy came pretty near being thun
derstruck. He had never been the pos
SCISSOR of $40, at one time, in his whole
life before; and he gazed at the bill as
siduously for not less than fifteen min
utes. At the expiration of this time he
drew out his wallet, folded the note care
fully, and laid it as smoothly as possible
in the deepest pocket. He then re-read
the letter, and. taking the lamp in his
hand, went out in the wood-house. After
some considerable fumbling among the
chips, he found an ak. Carefully scru-
tinizing the edge, he laid it down, say
ing:
"Confound her, she's dull but guess
I can make her do the rest of the week.
One of them colts, heyY" and he slap
ped his pocket triumphantly-" that's
gay, and no mistake And there's other
business in which I'm interested, too.
jolly but things looks lively, anyhow"
and the young gentleman slapped his
| pocket once more, which act put him
in mind of the ten dollars. So he set
, the lamp down on block of wood, and,
withdrawing his pocket-book, found the
identical bill safe and sound. He ex-
amined it full ten minutes by the watch.
Finally he got back in the kitchen. He
found the letter just where he left it,
and read it once more to see If there was
anything he'd skipped. He then felt
to see if his pocketbook was all right,
and opened it to see if everything was
snug inside. Seeing the ten dollars, he
drew it out, and examined it with great
curiosity for something like five min
utes, then he went to bed.
He arose remarkably early the next
morning-earlier than usual, although
he had retired at 80 late an hour. He
ate breakfast with an appetite, but did
not venture any remark in reference to
the letter he had received the night be-
fore. He felt that postmasters dis
tributed the mails without regard to
their contents, and concluded to keep
silent. Promptly at he shouldered his
ak and proceeded to the woods, where
he chopped all day with an energy of
purpose perfectly surprising. He worked
just as hard the next day, and the next,
and the next, and the next. But that
was Sunday. Well, he didn't chop that
day; but he thought good deal about
making money, and the visit almost at
hand, and that colt, and the $40, and
any amount of other things Just as bad,
you know.
Monday morning came at its regular
time, and Tommy was up before day
light. He was somewhat uneasy at the
thought of having to wait until after
breakfast; but he managed to pass away
the time packing his valise. When the
bell rang, he sat down and drank cup
Of tea, and then got up and put on his
hat. He wasn't hungry, and might
miss the train, and 80 good-by and he
was off. We would add, in order to pre-
vent anxiety, that Tommy didn't miss
the train. He was two hours ahead OF
time, and the train itself was one hour
behind. So he had to wait three dismal
hours. But he got away at last, and
was happy.
At the expiration of two weeks he re-
turned, and upon being requested to
take his pick of the four colts standing
in the yard, he did so. He selected the
best one. He was then given half
dozen sheep, one pig, one calf, and an
acre of ground, on which to plant what
he chose, the profits to be his and his
alone. Of course it was understood that
he should work for his father, as usual,
but that was minor consideration. But
at this point of our story Tommy came
out strong. Picture the amazement of
his parents when he told them, with a
knowing wink, that he was going
to set that whole acre out to late cab
bage.
Mr.. Deliver said to his wife:
BETSY, wonder if that boy got that
ridiculous idea out of that book on gar
denim he had here all last week? l
know we're close to good market, but
cabbage never has nor never will head
we'll on this farm"
Mrs. Deliver said to her husband:
"Well, Daniel, we'll hope for the best.
Cabbages pay we'll if they do succeed,
and he will likely get enough off the
land to pay for his labor at least.
But Tommy bought the seed and soon
had thousands of young cabbage plants
in fill blast. But they didn't occupy
his time by any means. He Suddenly
took to dong mans work Oh the farm
"a proceeding which filled his father
with delight. Up early in the morning,
until almost dark did he toll steadily
along until the corn was all planted.
Then he prepared his own acre, and by
the last of May was ready to set out his
plants.
At this point he asked his father
question. 1t ran something after this
fashion:
"Say, pa, I'd like to hire you to-day
and tomorrow. want you to help me
set out them cabbage plants"
Mr.. Deliver looked somewhat bewild-
cred, but finally made bold to ask what
wages he paid.
"Ill give a dollar and half a day,
and pay in ,oabbages, or in money when
l market 'em"
OF course no sane man could refuse
such a generous offer, and they went to
work forthwith. They may have been
engaged half hour, when two boys
about Tommy's age came into the field
in their shirt-sleeves and considerably
out of breath.
"All right, toys," said the gardener,