The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-16


on have rendered us great service,
he began, "and as said TO your mother
| came to make some little acknowledg
ment of it. OF course l know that none,
cannot fully compensate for an act lik
yours, still money is very conyenien
thing TO have, and one cannot get alOn!
very well without it." smiling benignly
'And L propose to put u certain sum a
your disposal, either by placing it in you
hands directly, or by some safe invest
ment, as you shall choose"
During this speech Andrews face hat
been growing redder and redder, ant
now, with slight deprecatory motion, a
he saw Mr.. Cove taking out his pocket
book, he said
. | beg your pardon, sir, but l couldn'
think of taking money"
" You prefer the investment, then p
restoring the pOcket-book to its place
Every well. IFS all the same to me, anC
on the whole l believe your choice is
wise one. for there is always temptation
to spend money"
"YOu misunderstood me, SIR" said An
dy, nervOusly. 81 meant that | woult
rather not accept any thing at ALL"
"Well, reallN!" and Mr.. Cove took 8
hasty survey of the scantily furnished
apartment, Il had received the impress
ion that you were not above the want Of
money-nO offence intended-few of us
are, you know"
Your impression is correct, sir. We
are indeed poor, and have nothing but the
labor of our hands to depend upon; but
while am young and strong, could not
think of placing myself under such obi
gatiOns."
You forget that in rejecting my aid
you leave me under obligation to you.''
"None at all, none at all, SIR" hastily
interposed Andy.
"Under very great obligations" repeat.
ed Mr.. Cove, with emphasis, (which IL
would be very agreeable to me to be al,
lowed to discharge in some way. if any
way can be devised which does not con-
fiict with your pride. Though confess
| see no occasion for any pride in the mat
ter. You are, believe, in pursuit of an
Il am"
Il might assist you, then"
" | should be sorry to have you think
me proud or ungrateful, and thank you
for your kind offers with all my heart, but
| cannot accept money which | have never
"Strange boy" said Mr.. Cove, not a
little piqued at this persistent refusal. /"
hope you are not standing in your own
light; but if at any time you conclude you
are, you have only to let me know, for my
offer is still Open.''
Poor and proud" he said to himself as
he left the house; but the sigh that he
heaved meant" What would | give if my
son were like that boy" His son was a
graceless prOdigal.
No sooner was Mr.. Cove out of sight
than Mrs. Truman hastened to Andy's
room, which was in reality the one spare
room of the house. to learn the result OF
the interview, for she had guessed that the
great man had meant by "a little acknowl-
something more substantial
han words. Deep was her modification
% hear what had taken place.
80 Andy" she said, if I'd thought
you'd "a been so silly, I'd "a stayed in the
'oOm myself and helped you along but |
lid think you had little grain of common
,ense. You're just like your poor father.
lie never knew which side his bread was
There was times and times
when he might have made fortune if he'd
aiken my advice, but he never would, and
now here we are. Yes, you're Just like
him, clear Truman there aint might OF
Iridley blood in your veins. The Gridleys
vas always thriving folks; but | did
hink you'd have little consideration for
ne, if YOU hadn't any for yourself"
Pm sorry to disappOint you, mother,
)ut | couldn't take his money. What
nan can't earn he ought not to have"
"Sake's alive, child, you hare earned it
f getting burned most to death, and spill
ng your best coat, and losing four weeks
for anybody, amt deserving of
/ little money, | should like to know what
Il didn't do it for him" murmured
Andy, but in her excitement Mrs. Truman
allied TO hear the remark, and returned to
Ter COW a much aggrieved woman. Find
ng her milking-pail upset, she picked up a
tick and applied it to the COW, with a re-
Ounding whack, accompanied with the
observation
so you'ge got the Truman blood in your
'eins, too. you brute !"
After that she felt better. But do not
uppOSe because Mrs. Truman gave way to
little freak of temper, that she had bad
lature, or tailed to appreciatesher son. No.
'he had tender heart. Ishould not Won
Ter if she made it even with the COW that
cry night, by an extra quart of meal and
S for Andy, she simply lived for him.
n him was centered all her ambition, and
hat made it all the more aggravating to
ee him (as she thought throwing away
lis advantages so recklessly.
''Taint likely he'll ever take any more
Iotice of yOu," she more than once said to
Andy, when speaking of Mr.. Cove: but
n this she was mistaken, for in few davs
le came again, bringing Isabel with him,
he having been even less injured than was
t fir t supposed The only gift she offe
d Andy was bouquet of hOt-house
lowers.
The attentions Andy received during his
Ilness were enough to have turned weak
ead, and they afforded him such satisfac-
ion, that he afterwards referred to those
weeks as among the happiest of his life.
here was scarcely one of his schOolmates
Who did not come bringing him some lit
lie offering, and Philip Owen and Seth
trong called many times.
When he again returned to school there
Tas decided tendency to liOniZe him, but
he same good sense which had enabled
i'm to bear himself bravely under ridi-
ule, also helped him to bear himself mod
silly now.
And Andy prospered. Step by step he
7On his way through his preliminary
curse to the highest honOrs his alma
,ater could confer; the time never came
7hen he thought he had stood in his own
ght in rejecting Mr.. Goye's assistance.
Peacefully and happily passed away Mrs.
'ruman's latter years in her sons COM
)rtable home, and when congratulated,
5 she often was, upon his successful ca
eer, she would say
Yes, Andy's done well, and no thanks
} nobody; if there's anything | admire,
IS independence the Gridleys all did,
nd Andy's clear Gridley; he's the image
{ his Uncle Eben that was drownded off
ape Horn.'
On one occasion Andy said to his moth
r.
Z" have some news for you; l am going
bring you daughJer-in-law"
"WhO is it," she asked.
" A lady who once did more for me than
can ever repay-Isabel Cove"
. L didn't know she ever done ANYTHING
'r you more'n to bring you bunch of
overs once, but Isabel's fine young
ldy, and her father used to be a member
COngress-dOn't know as you could do
etter. Pity about that son of his, but
hen he never'd been anything if he'd a
we'd, and / shouldn't really want to own
i'm for a relation."-Youth's Companion.
a IL 80 - II