Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-09-13


his ears-then over his head-went into
it all over.
Byand by camemutterings of disaster.
The Hamtown Mining and Manufactur-
ing Company had been looked for, and
had not been found. The only respon-
sible member of the company known on
Change was David Popham.
Another mutter as it came to light
that the Deep-Bottom Copper Mine had
never had any bottom at all. Its only
depth was its profundity of non-eStiUe-
ness.
But the climax of disaster came with
the falling through of the Pawnee and
Flatfoot Silver Lode.
That was one climax-the business
climax. Another climax came when the
sheriff placed a keeper in David Pop
hams big house up town, and advertis-
ed David Popham's house and furniture
at "sheriff's sale!"
What crash it was
David Popham came home, and found
his three daughters weeping.
"We must take smaller house down
town, he said. "My darlings we must
take very small house."
Three days later Lydia, speaking for
all three, asked papa if he could not get
house out in the country.
"We cannot stand the slight that is
put upon us. All our friends have cut
us"
"You mean," suggested papa, "that
your acquaintances have cut you. You
have not been making true friends"
One evening David Popham summon
ed his daughters, and told them that he
was going out West. Of the result of
former speculations he had managed to
save noble farm in Minnesota, very
near to st. Paul, one boundary of which
was the Mississippi River.
At first the girls shrank. from such
change; but there was no help for it.
"We cannot hold up our heads here"
said Susan. "Let us CO."
And so David Popham, having paid
the last dollar he honestly owed in the
great city, moved with his three daugh-
ters to the new home in the Far West.
1t was truly a noble farm, and the
buildings were good and comfortable.
1t was spring-time, and David Popham
took off his coat, and rolled up his
sleeves, and went at work. By and by
all that was true and good in his daugh-
ters came to the surface, while the
false and the cumbersome wore away.
Before the season of harvest came they
could work, and sing at their work.
Their cheeks were round and ruddy,
and the dresses they had brought with
them from New York would not meet
around their strengthening forms.
Once more David Popham was happy.
When winter came his garners were
full, and his herds were sleek and fat
And, would you believe it, the girls
had learned to make butter and cheese.
Their father had made them understand
that he expected them to make them
selves useful, and they had unexpected
ly found real comfort and Joy in being
useful.
That winter two young men crept
into the society of the Popham family,
They were from New England-John
Lowe and Philip Granger.
We don't care to make love story of
our speculative sketch. Suffice it to
say that for the first time in her life
Lydia experienced the heart -throbbings
of true and pure love. John Lowe
was strong and manful, and she both
loved and respected him.
And so it was with Hittie. In Philip
Granger she found q man upon whom
she could lean for support, and in
whose honor she could lovingly con-
fde. And, moreover, she felt that she
could help such man in the battle of
life.
David Popham offered no objection
when these men asked him if they
might try and win his daughters. He
only said to them,-
eff you take them, you take them as
they are.
And that was all they wanted.
But-the luck was not yet exhausted.
The man of vim and energy had drawn
around him many worthy friends. With
the coming of another spring a third
youth appeared upon the domestic
stage-a George Harvey, who had come
from New Hampshire with his parents
when boy, and who had worked his
way up to fair and honorable position
in the legal profession He came and
fell in love with Susan, and finally
gained her for his wife.
And so the three girls were married,
and confessed themselves happier than
they had ever been.
One evening in May, shortly after
Susan's marriage, they were all assem-
bled in the great sitting-room of the
farm house.
Lowe and Granger had been talking
of sale that was to take place on the
river.
"It's great thing" said Lowe.
Immense, acknowledged Granger.
ct suppose it will fall into the hands of
a big company"
together" said Lowe.
"About the FIGURING and Lumber
Mills" answered John. " You know
they were to be sold? p
Popham said he had heard of it.
eyes" explained Philip, "the death
of Mr.. Sanger, and the election of Mr..
Burroughs to Congress, has necessitated
the sale of the whole concern, as the
remaining members of the firm are not
able to carry it"
"What is the property worth ?"
"The mills, with the water-power,
and the stretch of land above-two thou
sand acres, more or less-are- held at
half million"
"In the hands of men who understood
the business, I should say the property
was worth that sum-"
1T is, certainly" said Lowe.
"You have both worked in the mills?"
eyes" replied John. And headed,
with smile,-" We might say that we
were brought up in them, Philip in