Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-05-06
No. IS.

Iiousiy from TINS Wy aterloo OF his scientific et-
forts. And the next day, all Brickerton knew
that farmer Parley's bound boy had run away,
alter FIRST .demolishing all of Mrs, ssParley' s
china, out of sheer. revenge, because she had
boxed his ears the day before. =.
"I' always knew that boy wouldn't come TO
no good, said Deacon jones
s'rhere was a vicious look in his ewes. :"
croaked Miss Lavina Denham, land 1 only
wonder he didn't set fire to the houses or
burn you all'ini your beds"
IS But little Alice cried bitterly, aud treasured
more tenderiy than ever, goggle-eyed doll,
with arms out of all proportion, and feet
several degrees larger than her head, which
was-the last wooden exploit Julius had pre-
sented to her
''I'll never have another bound boy." as>
serted Mrs. Farley.
'.Well, WE'LL" sighed the farmer, show
time does slip away from us, to be sure i
Alice is nineteen to>day, and it don't seem
right she should be away from us on her
birthday. She's been three months in the
city now, wife,"
Yes, said Mrs. Farley, nodding her head
sagely, 'sand ] don't believe she'll come home
alone, neither
"Eh'l" the farmer opened wide his blue
Mr. Clinton 2''
"You men are so slow to pnt two and two
together" said Mrs. Farley, with conscious
smile. I've suspicioned it this long while
and Mrs. Carter writes that it'll be snlendid
match, and half the young ladies in Boston
are envying our little country girl. Only
think ! won't it be nice to have our Alice n
rich lsdv, living in big house in Boston ?''
Mr.. Farley stared steadfastly at tho fire.
"Who is he, any way ?'' he asked in
troubled voice. '.She's all tho child we've
got, wife. We can't give her to man with>
out knowing who, and what he is"
1ou needn't worry" said his wife. with
the superior calmness of one who is posted.
''He's as steady going as you be yourself-at
least, so Mrs. Garter writes-and he's an in
ventor, whatever they may be- ANY wav.
he made great fortune out of a patent he's
sold to the government. Alice won't have to
work all her days as hard as I have done.
and that's ono comfort"
And when Alice's shy letter, which i'm
piled far more than it told, intimated that
she was coming home under Mr.. Clinton's es,
cort, the old farm house was duly swept and
garDishcd for the reception of the houored
guest. Mrs. Farley. put on her best black
silk, and the farmer donned his butteruut
suit, which seemed to him as gorgeous as it
had been on the day he bought it. twenty
good years ago.
II wonder which train they will come in."
said Mrs. Farley, refeclively "I should
hate the worst way to have that turkey spoiled"
But such catastrophe was happily avert.
ed. for the travellers arrived as tho stormy
twilight made the glow Of the great wood FIRE
doubly grateful-there was the crunch of
wheels in the deep snow without, the open
ing of the door, and then Alice was in her
mothers arms. In the background tall
figure stood stately and digEfed and self
contained, with jet black hair and grave vio>
let gray eyes. and the farmer made his best
bow as Alice introduced 'sMr. Clinton" with
deep red flush upon her cheek
s'You must like him very much. father.
for my sake" she said, because have prom.
ised to be his wife,
When the hospitable meal was over. and
Mrs. Farley came in from the kitchen. pull
ing down the sleeves that had been rolled up
above her elbow, and tying 90 clean checked
apron, Alice sprang TO her feet
"Mother," said She with her face all smiles
and dimDlcs, "Mr. Clinton has brought you
present."
''A PRESENT." cried Mrs Farley.
"And father must get hammer and screw.
driver and open it very carefully, for it's
china"
s..Ghina ?"
s'Yes, real china, imported from Canton
so transparent that you can look through it
in the colors of life. Oh, it's so beautiful 2"
She stood by, gleefulIy clsppod her hands
as the treasures were uDpacked. and enjoyed
her mothers delight as the beautiful, fragile
things, one by one made ,hoir appearance
from countless wrappings of silver paper.
Intu l. =. SNIs
said Mrs. Farley, looking up with beaming
eyes. II always did set store by china"
'Not kind at ALL" said the Young man
quietly. ii. is simply the settlement of a very
old debt"
''A dNbt!'' repeated the farmers wife,
with puzzled eyes. '.T don't think l fairly
understand you, Mr.. Clinton"
He smiled
alt is to replace the set which l broke.
trying experiments. twelve years ago"
Mrs. Farley started. beginning to have uu-
comfortable doubts as to the entire sanity of
her daughters lover. And then, as he smiled
agaio, a sudden light broke in upon her brain.
at amt, never"-she begau, and then
stopped short.
Eyes it is. mother" cried Alice, radiant
ly. Its Julius-.you Julius g"
Whose ears you have boxed deservedIy SO
many times, laughed the young man.
And he has made his fortune, mother,
and he is a great man now; and 1 always
knew it would be so," went on Alice, flushed
and excited. "Aud it all came from the ex-
per'ments he was always trying
''Weil, | neverI" cried Mrs. Farley, while
the farmer rubbed his spectscles. and laughed
low chuckling laugh, which expressed his
perfect coDtentmens better than all the ad-
Jectives in Webster's Dictionary could have
done.
And the chill December moon. shining
through the far-off window beyond the orbit
of the frs. beamed upon no happier houses
hold in all the land, than gathered that night
around farmer Parley's bearthstone.
An eastern reporter accuses another of