The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-08


man in the battle of life.
David Popham offered no objec
ton when these men asked him i
they might try and win his daugh
ters. 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 exhaus
ted. The man of vim aud energy
had drawn around him many worthy
friends. With the coming Of an.
other spring third youth appeared
upon the domestic stage-a George
Harvey, who had come from New
Hampshire with his parents when
a boy, and who had worked his
way up to a fair and honorable po.
sition in the legal profession. He
came and fell in love with Susan.
and finally gained her for his wife.
Aud so the three girls were mar
ried, and confessed themselves hap
pier than they had ever been.
One evening in May, shortly
after Susan's marriage, they were
all assembled in the great sitting
room. of the farmhouse.
Lowe and Granger had been
talking of sale that was to take
place on the river.
"It's a great thing. said Lowe.
"Immense," acknowledged Gran
ger.
"I suppose it will fall into the
hands Of a big company
"It must if the whole property
goes together" said Lowe.
"About the FIGURING and Lum-
Der MiIls,' answered john. "You
knew they were to be sold?'
Popham said he had heard of it.
eyes, explained Philip, 'the
death of Mr.. Sanger, and the elec-
ton of Mr.. Burroughs to Con
gress, has necessitated the sale OF
the whole Iconcern, as the re-
naming members of the firm
are not able to carry it."
"What is the property worth?'
"The mills, with the WATERPROOF
er, and the stretch of land above
two thousand acres, more or less
are held at half a million. ~" I
"In the hands of men who un-
derstood the business, I should say
the property was worth that sum"
"It is, certainly" said Lowe.
"You have both worked in the
mills So a
eyes," replied John. And he
added, WITH assmiles -"We might
say that W wee brought up in
them,- m,-PhiA Kthe saw mill, and
Lin the Touring mill. "'.m., -.
sand you understand the bust
ness?" ..: .'.,. .n g.... .....
"We have such confidence in our
knowledge and ability, sir, that we
have resolved to apply for the stu
ations Of superintendents, if the
new purchasers should require
SUCH"
"Well-now look bere.' said
David Popham, with brusque good
nature. II think I can help you,
and help others at the same time.
If you say you can manage those
mills, with such business assistance
as a good square business man can
render you, I think I can find the
party who will own them. What
say you %
The young men hardly knew what
to say. David Popham was not q
man to make an idle promise, and
the prospect thus held out almost
toop their breath. But John Lowe
who was a far-seeing, clear-headed
man at last ventured,-
"If you have friends who are
able to purchase, let them under
stand the advantage they Will gain
in owning the land up the river. l
know the expense will be enor-
nous, but the land and the timber
are not only valuable, but through
that ownership the water may be
held under control" ;"
"You couldn't make room for
George, I suppose?"
"Such a company must have al
attorney and clerk. Look at the
post which Mr.. Burroughs vacates:
What an opening for an educated
young man. r'
"Well, now,-we'll all meet here
tomorrow evening, and TIL theli
tell you what M friends will do.'
On the following evening they
were all assembled again, and Da-
vid Popham announced that the
whole mill proparty had been
bought. -,
"And," he added, with a gather
ING of bright moisture in his eyes,
"the owners are those three girls OF
mine"
The mans look was too solemn
and sublime to be a joke; and
they gazed upon him in speechless
wonder.
"My dear Children" resumed
David, brushing his eyes, "I'l 81;
make a short story OF it. The
sHumtown,' and the Deep Bot
tom,' and the 'Pawnec and Flat