The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-04-11
THE STORY OF Il SPIKE.
BY MURAT.


Thirty miles north of Salem stood.
many Years ago, the house and barn of
Asa Cutie, farmer and cattle jobber
He was u rough specimen of his type,
but as true as steel. The world III his
boyhOOd had used him pretty badly !;
but the death of an uncle somewhat en-
riched him in this worlds goods. Cutie.
being naturally industrious and a hard
working man, cOntrived in six years
time to greatly improve the property,
and with the aid Of his two boys had
cleared Il good portion of the land. He
therefore stood pretty high i'll the pc
cuniarv and moral credit Of his section.
His eldest boy, Ned, was a strong,
healthy lad of sixteen, and Charley, his
brother was but a few years younger.
The remainder of CuttIe'S "Olive
branches" went down on 4 descending
scale from eleven to zero.
One day Ned and his father were i'll
the rnpiling up wooG for winters use.
Suddenly Asa Cutie puthis broad hand
on Ned's shoulder and said:
>,"Do you see that spike, Ned !''
YES, sir"
'Your father can tell you story
about that spike"
"What story :"
"Sit down, boy, and will tell YOU"
continued the farmer, filling his pipe
Ned quietly obayed, and wondered
what his respectable dad had to say to
him.
Your grandfather, Ned, was hard
drinker. lie sold his land, his house
his furniture, and lastly himself for
rum. It was your Uncle Morris that
bought the place up again after his
death. | was born here, as YOU were,
and always clung to the old spot. When
the Britishers had their tea pitched over
| in Boston harbOrt to feed the fishes with,
your grandfather went soldering. The
regiment he was in came this way, and
the house he lived i'll, being then de-
serted, he entered it. Rcmorse seized
him, and he picked up that rusty spike
| you see up there in that crOss-beam.
He was going to hang himself. Some
comrades entered at that moment, and
your grandfather did not hang. Re
| Election made him a better man. Re
turning to the house at night, he tied
piece Of wood TO the spike, on which
he wrote these words:
"'This spike is not to be removed
from its place until one hundred years
have elapsed
''Wcll, when Uncle Morris took the
| place, the barn wanted Il ncr oos,t-'
| What was to be done? Why, Morris
| took that crOss-beam out, rebuilt the
barn, and nailed the timber, spike and
all, as YOU see it now, over the new
! beam 1t is 1ifty-siX years ago to-day
since your grandfather placed that
spike up there and was going to hang
himself Now, Ned, it is not likely
that | will ever he ut the taking Of ii
out. You may be, or Charley may lie.
| Now, remember, don't you ever touch
it until the one hundred years are
passed. Do you hear!'
| Yes, SIR
And tell Charley and Agnes all
about it; do you hear Z"
! Yes, sirn
"Go ahead split and pile ;" and Asa
! Cutie filed the barn with smoke from
his black clay pipe.
In an evil hour Ned Cutie stole a
sheep. 1t was once q hanging matter.
! But civilization has somewhat pro
gressed since those days, SO that young
| Cutie escaped with as nice a beating rs
New England's boyhOod ever got
Shame drove him from his fathers
roof; and off went Ned to Boston with
all he had in the world, a bundle and
seventeen cents in good, lawful copper
Ned Cutie had been about thirty
hours without food, and felt preciOusly
sheepish. He was standing near the
theatre door, wondering where all the
gay-dressed, laughing crowd were go
ING to, when voice said:
Young man, take this note for me
to Beacon street run as hard as yoI
can and bring the answer here"
The man was gone before Ned cOulC
speak He performed his errand, anC
was back, painting, in half an hour. He
looked around for his sender, but coulC
mot see him. He next looked at tn,
superscription on the letter-Mr, Fran
els CurdOv, St Charles Theatre, thread
Boldly went Ned to the box office anC
inquired for Mr.. CurdOy.
..Whatdo you WANT" said the ticket