Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-28
Gales aud Sketehes.
THE FOOLS FARM.


half range of rocky upland, from which
nature drew forth nothing save scanty, al
most worthless woods. The better half
of the farm was we'll stocked and well or
dered the farmhouse was the best in the
village of Daleford, and the out-buldings
were the envy of the neighbors.
John Mosgar had knavsh brother and
foolish son his only relatives. Rob
ert, the brother, by just dispensation of
providence, was man Of comparative in
dlgence, but his brother John overlooked
his faults, and saw only his poverty and
relationship; and when dying he called
Robert to his bedside, and placing the
hand of his son Daniel in his, adjured him
to protect the imbecile, for his fathers
sake.
The fool smiled, and the knaye smiled
too; the one tickled at the idea of having
a new friend, the other at having new
victim, easily plucked and rained.
81 will see after him, john" said Rob-
ert, with look of assumed affection for
his nephew. II will prove father to
him when you are gone, and will turn
the farm to the best possible account, that
your spirit, if it still hover about the earth,
may be pleased with what I shall do
Enough, Robert, adieu, We shall
meet again in heaven. Farewell, nv
brain-wrecked son." gasped the dying
man.
Good bye, father" grinned DAME
twisting his body awkwardly about.
Hope you'll have pleasant journey-he
he p
John Mosgar died. and Lawyer Twist
wells assistance was called in to settle
the affairs. 1t had been the expressed
will of Mr.. Mosgar that his estate should
be equally divided between his son and
his brother. "Half to one and half to the
other were his words, though the wis
dom which prompted them was not equal
to that of King Solomon.
Lawyer Twistwell, at the instigation of
Robert Mosgar, made q cruel construc-
ton OF the will, and awarded the better
half, all fertile and arabic, to the uncle
while the meaner portion, consisting of
meagre woodland and rocks, fell to the
share ofpoor Daniel.
The more heartless and unprincipled of
the neighbors laughed at the fool when
they heard Of the award, and congratula-
ted him upon receiving so much ''good up
land" He, too, was we'll pleased, and
capered about, singing mad songs, to find
himself master of so much land. He
thought his the better portion, and bound
ed over it with boisterous glee, climbing
the trees. tearing up and hurting the
rocks about, plucking up the bushes, leap
ing down decllvities, and drinking of the
stream, as if he would convince each in
animate object that he was the lord and
proprietor.
The rough waste that had been bestow-
Qd npOu tho u,f1occ fr.op1laco oroo%,ro
through the crafty connivance of the law
yer, Twistwell, suited the FOOLS taste to
charm for there he could wander in un-
disturbed solitude, in idiot meditation,
fancy free" unconscious of the wealth of
which he had been robbed by his uncle.
One little hut alone stood on it, and that
were supplied by such of the neighbors as
obtained their fuel from his farm.
1.-THE Lord will never prosper him who
steals his treasures from a FOOL" said one
of these neighbors to her husband.
He shrugged his shoulders with a
"hnmph % for he was conscious of having
repeatedly drawn more wood that he bar
gained for from ''the FOOLS farm" and
was unwilling to believe in Heavens an
ger thereat.
Heaven helps those who help them
selves" he dryly replied, casting an eye
for which he had paid but a trife in bar
ter.
His wife seemed to understand the look,
but she sighed as she poked the fire on
the hearth.
"Poor Daniel !" she exclaimed; 81 hope
he will never suffer from cold OF hunger;
h,f hn tr, hA in, f,s, -
with his uncle on one side, and selfish
enough as it was, and all that is good up
on it is fast dwindling away What will
he do when the wood is all gone?n
1--WE had better be thinking of our own
circumstances" said the husband snap
pishly, land let the town take care of the
fools. AS for Daniel, no doubt he is hap
pier now than many wise people,"
Happier than his uncle, I'll be bound, ;"
said the woman. ''wen off in worldly
goods though he be-" Old Mosgar al
ways looks distressed-suspicious and tim
id-as if he thought all the neighbors de-
spised him for taking advantage of his
nephew. And so they do. And though
everything looks well for him in worldly
way, there will come some change yet,
depend upon it."
'Perhaps so. and perhaps not" replied
the husband indifferently. ''But get the
pudding ready at any aate, for I'm in
hurry to be off"
So they smothered their sympathy with
pudding and forgot the fool.
Some one talked with Daniel about the
farm, and found him satisfied
"What will do with my rocks P" said
he. with vacant, self-satisfied smile.
"Pile 'em up. Make walls and forts.
They will last longer than wood, and
never burn up"
"But you have got no cattle Daniel, nor
crops"
81 couldn't take care of them if had.
l can get meal and milk to eat, and |
don't want to work. want to play with
the children and walk about. Uncle Rob-
ert can't do it. am much better eff than
he is"
"Your wood will all be gone soon
Then what will you do? You've got nc
money!"
1T will be time enough for me then tc
pull up my rocks and plant seed" said he