The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-06-09
NVl'lfslsR 1e.

happened to come A3oo VIII soRk0t sol
1orses in stheIf train Joun needed a
horse to supplyoid Jenny splss, SO he
oargained with the eipsies, and made, as
be thought, q very rheap purchase:
The next day he tried the qualities Of
the horse beforeassihgIe ENagBniaaefelt
quite pleased with the horses gait and
general carriage, and he began to aatter
himself that be had for once obtained .
great bargain. But while regarding the
steed with considerable pride and salts
faction, be came to tlse brew - - e(
hill; John spoke soothingly to the horse,
and drew up the reins tightly; but, from
some unaccountable cause, the hitherto
gentle animal began to !. makeA -spme
doubtfulmotions, and before JohnIcould
recover himself the vicious beast caught
the bit between his teeth,tthrew his head
down against his breast and bolted.
He had taken John at such great
disadvantage that the poor was Ut
terly helpless. Down the hill they went
at fearful rate John with difficulty
preserving his balance, as, the wagon
swayed about,and saving upon the seins
with all his might. Unfortunately the
horse wandered frop. the road near the
bottom of the hill, and brought the
wagon in, contact with large, stone.
John was thrown to the ground with
violence. He was taken home in an'in5
sensible condition, and upon examination
it was found that besides receiving
bruises, one arm, was broken aud one Of
his knees severely yiciujured.li Mrs.igGray
ministered to her husband with an afecs
tionate wife's care and tenderness, and
she soon had the satisfaction Of seeing
him recovering from the shock Which his
system. had received. ). But the wounded
knee remained tender and sore, and after
several weeks Of careful nursing che cad
truth forced itself upon them that hel
was permanently crippled.
This was the most severe aftction
that John had yet experienced; but yhe
did not complain, as much as one might
suppose he would; his grief Was too
deep for that He felt as though his cup
of afniction was full, and he yielded to
bis fate with sullen resignation .,ie
81 don't know how it is going with us
now, Martha" he would say e"we have
had hard row to hoe all our lives and
now that am knocked under-but may
be the good Lord won't Utterly fofsake
us."so w6.S e sieeg 81 II iHslsr8
"Never fea., Joha,' wass the dvifs's
cheery answer Gwe amt half so badly
off as good many people In the world.
You know that I am not one ofthe eort
that borrows trouble So long as We
don't know what is in store for US, let us
I icontemplate our future cheerfnlly then. /.
if Joy come, we win meet II half way;
but if sorrow be our portion, We will
, oppose to it its most powerful antidote- I
John made no reply, ut'the thought
of his heart was, ''Poor Martha how
much better things are you worthy Of
than are in store for you"
"I'll tell you one thing, Martha said
John after pause. "Old Raddle spoke
Ito me some time ago about buying tour
big pasture lot that lies between his land
and the creek I suppose that what we
could get for that would pay the mort
!, gage on the farm. If we, were only out
of debt there might be some hope Tor
us ''niefni qaf M; f<la.1 ,ijIIE~~
81 know, john" replied his wife,
'sthat the incumbrance on the farm is the
most serious thing that we have TO cob.
tend against; but have aiiplan in my
, head for the management of the farm
/ which the selling ef-the pasture lot
), would completely oneHhrow e aehn
( looked at his wife very curlously, .na.l
; '.You know ,John," continued Martha,
/, "that there is gooa deal OF rough land
ION our farm which Is good for nothing
> but grazing. We have plenty n0fsgeed
spring water, which might be made to
i run through the housesi Now myplan
I is to have q dairy A portion 81 the
3 work will be brought into the house,
| which will give the girls and me aigood
chance to contribute toward ourecbm
e mon support You know that ttWas
brought up on dairy farm. so that ws
5 will not be in danger Of failing through
e lack of knowledge" "nssatu5id d7sz
John shook his head -douhtfglly,,.oY
eDon,t you know. Martha, that ! tried
E a dairy farm once, and lost money b,
lit?" 5.Fii istStoS fHis isss..9i 9s's. 8 lol
a eyes, John, and / know that yon tiiee
|. great many other things, and lost I mon
9 ey by them all. 1t won't do. for US t.
!, trille any longer, John; we have got t
set to work, and work in right way
It Our children are growing up, and the.
i must have good schoolings and it'mus
II be very evident Ito yourself that, unies
'r there is change in the management Q
e affairs, we shall soon be steepeo in pos
1t erty. Now just put the control OF thing
i, in my hands, / will soon show you
a, different reckoning" 'en 80 ISsao
r. "John Gray looked upon his wife i
astonishment. She had always been 8
d, cheerful and hopefu.,that he thought sh
<, never. ,rightfully appreciated their rel
is circumstances. She now spoke with suc
g energy and confidence that Johns pit
was changed to profound respect Th
0: need of change was apparent to JohI
and having great confidence in his wife
r good Judgment, he did NOT further OF
m ject to this proposition,
/ Mrs Gray set to work with all the er
r ergy of her nature, and borrowed MOI
ID ey, stocked her farm, and made the NJ
er cessary alterations id the house@ And
,e1 was not many weeks before she foun
,n her dairy in successful operation la
All the family became time-tuned vii
Is Mrs. Gray's enterprise. Tile boys ma
is aged the out door work with skill ar
If energy, the girls showed an equal di
i'll gence in the household affairs, Viii
d John made himself generally useful,
at far as his crippled state would allow.
ap Gradually they emerged from the
lst impending debt; and as prosperity b
wv gan to dawn upon them, Mrs. Gray foul
en- herself able to ful6lfher cherished desi
in of giving her children good educatio
John, though not reclaimed from b
cd grumbling habits, exhibited grown
NC inclination to look upon the bright
les side He took peculiar pleasure in
- counting the series of misfortunes whi'
he eliminated in the runaway that made hi
at cripple for life, generally ending wi
if the reflection, II always was an unlucl
.f