Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-21
MARK HEBER'S LUCK.
AN INDIAN STORY.

Mark Heber returned home from his
fathers funeral with the problem of his
own future pressing upon his thoughts,
and demanding prompt solution.
His home lad been, from his earliest
remembrance, upon a stony, worn-out
farm of fifty acres, situated upon the
Seneca Lake, in Western New York
His father had become so heavily in
volved in debt, that two weeks before
his death the farm had been sold by
foreclosure Of mortgage.
And now what was Mark to do2
he was lad of nineteen, slight and
boyish in frame, but with the strength Of
man in his sinewy arms. He had had
the usual advantages of education af-
forded to farmers sons.
He returned home from his father S
grave to the small unpainted story and
half house, and after him came his
fathers only brother, well to-do farmer,
who resided in the neighborhood.
This uncle, Mr.. William Heber, was n
man of sixty years, pompous and self
important. His soul was of the small
est pattern, and he had never been
known to do generous deed, while he
had done many mean ones.
Well, Mark, said his uncle, I've
sent my folks on home, so that | can
have q good talk with you. Morgan
tells me he wants the farm. He has
held off two weeks while George was
dying, but he wants to move in next
week What are you going to do?"
Il don't know, uncle. | am trying to
think What can | do?"
81 have thought the matter over"
said Mr.. Heber, and have thought upon
the plan. / am willing to take you,
Mark, and treat you as my own son.
You shall have home at my house, and
a seat at my table. What do you say2"
"You forget, uncle, that l have some
one TO provide for besides myself" said
Mark. Suppose | were to accept this
offer of yours, what will you do for Gay2"
"The girl is no relation of yours,
Mark.
The boy sighed.
"Poor little Gay" he said; hers is
hard lot. Do you remember how the
cii,ld came by her name? 1t is thirteen
wears this spring since lady stopped at
our door and asked leave to remain over
NIGHT. She staid on day after day, grow
inc weaker and weaker. 1t did not take
long to discover th:st she was insane
She called the child Gay and sometimes
which is Gays rue name
But she did not tell her surname, hor
anything concerning herself. Late that !
summer she died. No one ever came to |
inquire after her or the child.
Her mother was crazy tramp, and
nothing more. No wonder George was
behind hand, when his wife adopted the
child of tramp and broaght her up
lady, said his uncle.
Mark colored
al cannot hear word against my
mother, sir" he said" l shall protect
Gay while | live, and she shall not be
from me.
''Then wash my hands of you" ex-
claimed Mr.. Heber angrily. "You can
20 your own way, and get your own liv-
Every we'll, sir" said Mark quietly;
that is settled then"
In one week Mark had sold a pair of
,olts which he had raised himself, for
i've huudred dollars, the household fur
riture for nearly as much more, and was
N his way, with little Gay, to the far
Vest, TO seek their fortune.
The young travellers arrived at Leav-
,nworth after long and fatguing
Here Mark, while looking for a wagon
md yoke Of oxen with which to cross
he prairies, fell in with an old farmer
Ismed Whitman, who had been living in 4
Western Kansas, but did not like it, and
ras now on his way TO Nebraska. Mark &
oncluded to Join him, and Mr., Whitman
ssisted him in purchasing a suitable I
ut6t, and that same night Mark and 9
lay we're snugly esconced in their huge 1
raveIing wagon, outside Of the city, on
be edge of the prairie, where Mr.. Whit I
lan. with his wife and seven children, {
ad encauped Six other families we're
18th them-the seven wagons being {
parked" in the form Of a GiEcle-that =
!, the pole Of one wagon resting upoE
be rear of another, and the oxen, mules, &
orses, COWS, dogs aud pigs being gath .
red into the cirole thus protected: b
Outside the circle of wagons a great k
re was burning and as Marks wagon p
rove up, the conductor Of the train, j
Ir. Landlord, came forward and vel
omed the newcomers. n
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