The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-04-11

81 have 4 letter for him." replied
Ned.
"Who from ?"
81 don't know :" and then aoung
Cutie told his story.
At this moment Mr. CurdOy entered,
ard the letter was duly handed to him
by Ned. He read it eagerly, smiled,
and, putting his hand into his velvet
walstcoat pocket, threw Ned a silver
dollar. Ned felt no longer sheepish,
for he regaled himself on mutton chops
and ale
Next night Ned was at the theatre
door again, hoping to earn anOtherdOl-
tar Well, reader, such things do hap
pen. Mr.. CurdOy did come out of the
box office with letter in his hand, and
again sent Ned on his errand to Beacon
street. The result was another silver
dollar and more mutton chops and ale.
TWO weeks after Ned Cutie was
ROman-aive Roman in armor behind
the foOtlights, with lance and armed
cap-a-pie. Ned had turned super
Two years after, our farmer boy was
billed as Marcellus. Five wears more,
and he was at the st. Charles under
the baton Of Mr.. Manager Curloy, en-
acting the role Of LaerteS. Good for
Ned Cutie.
Itwas the I4th of April, 1862 Ned
Cutie was playing that night his fare
well engagement. He had never set
foot in his fathers hotfse since the day
Of that awful beating. Hehad written
to his friends and told them he was do
ing well, and that was all.
Asa Cutie and Martha hiswife were
now dead. Charley had gone to China,
and \ gncs was married and lived in the
old house. The barn still stood, and
the spike held good in the rotten beam.
Ned had selected the part Of Roy Roy
as his Blowing exit before the public.
He had just dressed himself when q let
ter was handed to him. 1t simply CON
tanned these words: The hundred
years expire tomorrow at midnight" "
Gray-hcaded Ned Cutie entered the
home of his boyhood after an absence
of torty-four years. 1t was but little
changed The actor proposed TO obey
the wishes of his dead ancestors
Watch i'll hand, and axe uplifted, he
stood there ready to strike the blow,
his sister Agnes and her husband
standing by.
1t was twelve o'clock, one hundred
years ago since grandfather Cutie had
placed that spike in that beam with the
intention Of committing suicide. The
first blow was given. The iron did not
move. \ second and a third were re-
peatcd, and the rusty spike snapped in
two, leaving part embedded in the
old wood. The beam was then removed
from its position, chopped i'll two, and
the remaining portion removed.
In giving the final blow, a piece of
| leather not bigger than a cent-piece
| fell out from crevice in the wood.
| Ned picked it up. He examined it
carefully. He saw that it had been
sewn together, and was, in fact, two
| pieces of leather cut in circular shape.
Opening them, he found a piece of tin,
and on it these words: Dig three
feet beneath the spike"
Somewhat puzzled to solve the mean
ing Of these words, the three ut last un-
derstOOd that they signified that they
were to dig three feet beneath the
! ground, perpendicular line from
where the spike had originally been
| placed by Grandfather Cutie. 4
! aI,ade and ricl= hoing rroomr"d. tho
spot was hit upon, and the two men
set to work. The ground was pretty
hard, but at length their cXertiOns
were rewarded. The actor found tin
box, with a paddock and key attached;
| but the hinges were worn away by
time 1t was full of English gold
On a piece Of parchment was written
these lines:
Il. Abraham Cutie, bequeath this sum
of gold to my eldest grandchildt to be living
when it is found. If not, to the next i'll
age in succession male or female. 1t was
! placed here two weeks after attempted to
! take my life. | found this money, | never
could discover an owner for it. L request
| that it be expended i'll building small
school-house on the site where this barn now
stands, and that it shall be known as the
Cutie School-house. May God bless You
all. ABRAHAM CUTTLE.
The actor rigidIy carried out his
grandfather's wishes, and thus, reader,
ends the curious story of a spike.