Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-28
Is NO.
NO. 100.

|
ground, and turning somersets in his torn
clothes. "Ha! hal ha! But I'm not
proud" he added, rising and looking
grave. That's the reason lay with the
dogs; and the boys and geese laugh when
/ roll in the straw" & Bose
| The idiot seemed so contented that none
cared long to dwell upon the great wrong
he had suffered; and so his uncle Robert
| was left in undisturbed possession Of what
he had fradulently acquired. Pity for the
friendless fool was not deep enough TO
arouse opposition against the influential
uncle
But it was not long before Daniels wood
was thoroughly swept away, leaving him
but the barren surface Of the rocks on
which to rest his hopes Of support; and
hunger compelled him to beg at the doors
of his neighbors. for his uncle forbade him
to cross his threshold-averse to the pres
ence of such standing reproach to his in
iquity, and thinking to drive him upon the
| pauper maintenance of the town. la
Alas the lord of the house was pita-
BILE sight to see, as he wandered half max
ed, from door TO door in Daleford, offer
ing shares in his rocks for bread, and with
no more of those vacant smiles which had
shown his elation in his time of imaginary
| wealth. Distress had now joined hand
with idiocy, and the dream Of comfort
had vanished from the FOOLS brain The
haggared skeleton, in his life of chance,
found casual sustenance enough to keep
his soul with his body still but that ghast-
ly aspect of human life was more mocking
than even his sterile apology fora farm.
Slow and sad was the step Of the saunter-
ing scarce-crow through the town,--the
melancholy cynosure of the pointing fin
ger the desolate victim Of shameless re-
lationship, and shattered brain. Alas
for the spectral land proprietor! Had
Heavens all embracing glance no ray to
guide his listless feet?
One day, as instinct sent him begging,
after food, a summer storm darkened the
heavens and the earth, and peals of thun-
| der startled all animated things. The
| flowers bowed in terror, and the invisible
milliners who deck the bonnets of nature
flew to their most secret haunts. But the
fool stalked abroad in the pelting rain,
and lifted his lack lustre eyes to the furi-
Gus source of the intermittent fires.
Suddenly shrek was heard along the
road and, looking backward, he saw up
on frightened horse young maiden, of
the village, clinging to the name of the
galloping animal, which, snorting with
alarm, approached him.. a4ag
Daniel Mosgar was fool-but he was
a man. A wise one might have stepped
aside in fear, but Daniel seized a broken
bough by the wayside, and brandishing
the huge weapon for moment, darted
| into the middle of the road; and, as the
wild careering steed came laundering on
with his insensate burden. with a well-di-
| rected force the limb was brought in con-
| tact with the horses head The concus-
sion was tremendous, and the animal, pant
ing and quiyering, with swelled veins,
fell heavily to the ground.
Happily for the girl, whose hold was
upon his name, she was hanging upon the
opposite side to that on which he fell; and
before the half stunned animal could strug-
gle to his feet again, the idiot, inspired
by the emergency, sprang forward, and
pulled the maiden from her perilous posi-
| ton. The shouts of approaching men,
| one of whom was her father, now attract
ed his attention, and in a few moments,
the girl, still unconscious, was in her
parents arms. s
''Well done Daniel! God bless you for
saving my daughter lifer' was the CRATE
full exclamation of Mr., Fontley, as the
party, bearing the girl, and leading the
now passive horse, proceeded to his house
near by. ''You have done that which l
shall never forget, and will do what I
can to repay, poor fellow but he does
not understand me-" added the father,
shaking his head, as the fool, unheeding,
followed them, proudly brandishing the
huge branch with which he felled the
horse, and smiling at it. What agents
the Almighty sometimes chooses for his
works !" continued Fontley. "a fool has
been the means of saving my only child
from a ride to bloody grave -.
Helen Fontley was but fifteen on that
day of her great danger, and was return
ing home from customary jaunt when
overtaken by the storm. Her father was
wealthy, and centered in her all his most
cherished hopes. The heroic deed of
Daniel affected Fontley deeply, and filed
him with active compassion for the young
man. He resolved to be his friend, and
he was so. Out of the mouth of the thun-
der followed blessings for the fool.
Having inquired after his affairs, on the
next day Mr.. Fontley rode over to the
fools farm" and made brief survey of
it-Daniel and a few others accompanying
him. 3 Aaa ad
What do you think of the division of
the property ?" was the question of one.
"Was it not cruelp" aa
''Daniel, come to my house. Cruelp-
no !" replied Mr. Fontiey, his face bright
ening up with meaning smile, as they
left the sterile uplands.
''Robert Mosgar did a greater favor to
his nephew by the division than his igno-
rance intended, if am not much mistaken
But we will see, soon, how it turns out"
From that day Daniel was amply pro-
vided for in the house Of Mr.. Fontley, and
meanwhile the secret of the latter's words
became revealed. The experienced eye
of Fontley had detected in the course Of
his visits to it, indications which had es-
capped the notice of all others, and which
subsequent prospecting proved true.
Those barren undulations of soil contained
a mighty mine of coal, and the wealth OF
the grateful and delighted Fontley devel-
oped the black treasure for the benefit oil
Daniel.
Numerous workmen were soon employ
ed upon the before derided waste, and