Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-11-13


and the anticipation of this made him
half repent of what he had done, and
almost wish that the collector would
forget to notify the Office of his wish
to have the paper stopped. But, the
collector was a prompt man. On the
second Saturday morning. Ashburn
went to the post-otiice as usual. The
postmaster handed him letter, saying.
as he did so
Il can't find any paper for you to-
day. They have made a mistake in not
mailing it this week.
No" replied Ashburn. II have
stopped it."
Indeed! The Post is an excellent
paper. What other one do you intend
to take:'
IL shall not take any newspaper this
year." replied Ashburn.
Not take a newspaper, MIR. Ash.
burn = said the postmaster, with a
look and in q tone of surprise.
mo. must retrench. l must cut
off all superfluous expenses. And |
believe l can do without a newspaper
as well as anything else. Its mere
luxury: though very pleasant one, l
own, Int still dispensable."
Not a luxury, but necessary, |
say, and indispensable" returned the
postmaster. 81 don't know what l
wouldn't rather do without than a
newspaper What in the world are
Phoebe, and Jane. and Margaret going
to do"
"They will have to do without.
There is no help for it,"
"If they don't raise storm about
your ears that you will be glad to allay,
even at the cost of half dozen news
papers, am mistaken" said the post
master. laughing.
Ashburn replied, as he turned to
walk away, that he thought he could
| face all storms of that kind without
hincbing.
Give me the Post, papa said
Margaret. running TO the door to meet
her father when she saw him coming.
Il haven't got it, replied Mr.. Ash
burn, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"Why! Hasn't it Gomez"
mo; it hasn't come"
Margaret looked very much disap-
| pointed
at has never missed before" she
said, looking earnestly at her father.
No suspicion of the truth was in her
mind but, TO the eyes of her father,
her countenance was full of suspicion.
Still. he had not the courage TO con-
iess what he had done.
The Post hasn't come! :" he heard
Margaret say to her sisters, few
minutes afterwards, and their express
sions of disappointment fell rebuking-
! " upon his caIs.
1t seemed 10 Mr.. Ashburn that he
heard of little else. while in the house,
during the whole day, but the failure
| or tile newspaper. When night came,
even he, as he sat with nothing to do
but think about the low price of wheat
for an hour before bedtime, missed his
old friend with the welcome face, that
had SO often amused, instructed, and
interested him.
On Monday morning the girls were
very urgent for their father TO ride over
10 the postofiice and see if the paper
hadn't come but, Of course, the far
mer was ''too busy" for that On
Tuesday and Wednesday, the same
excuse was made. On Thursday,
Margaret asked a neighbor, who was
going by the office, to call and get the
newspaper for them. Towards even
ing, Mr.. Markland. the neighbor, was
seen riding down the road, and Mar
garet and Jane ran down eagerly to
the gate for the newspaper.
'Did you get the paper for u.s."
asked Margaret, showing two smiling
rows of milk-white teeth, while her
eyes danced with anticipated pleasure.
Mr.. Markland shook his head
WHY" asked both the girls at
once.
The postmaster says it has been
stopped
stopped" How changed were
their faces and tones Of voice.
"Yes. He says your father directed
it to be stopped
THAT must be mistake" said Mar
garet. "He would have told u.s."
MIR. Markland rode on, and the girls
ran back into the house.
Father, the postmaster says YOU
have stopped the newspaper" ex.
claimed his daughters, breaking in
upon Mr.. Ashburn's no very pleasant
reflections on the low price OF wheat,
and the difference in the return he
would receive at ninety cents bushel
to what he would have realized at the
last years's price of dollar twenty
FIVE.
"It's true" he replied, trenching
himself behind a firm, decided manner.
But why did you stop it, father!"
inquired the girls.
because l can't afford to take it.
It's as much as shall be able to do to
get you enough 10 eat and wear this
year"
Mr.. Ashburn's manner was decided,
and his voice had repelling tone.
Margaret and Phoebe could say no
more; but they did not leave their
fathers presence without giving his
eyes the benefit Of seeing free gush
of tears. 1t would be doing injustice
to Mr.. Ashburn's state of mind to say
that he felt very comfortable, or had
done 50, since stopping the Post, an
act for which he had sundry times
more than half repented. But. as it
had been done, he could not think of
recalling it.
Very sober were the faces that sur
rounded the supper-table that evening !;
and but few words were spoken. Mr..
Ashburn felt oppressed, and also fret
ted to think that his daughters should
make both themselves and him unhap.
py about the tride of a newspaper,
4 L.