Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-03-27
!fliscellamu.
From the ST. Johnsbury Farmer.
Wallace McGregor's Revenge,

BY FRANKLIN r. GAGE.


brothers emigrated to the Green Noun
tain State, and settled up the banks of
the Connecticut. There was quite lit
tie colony of Scotch people settled in the
same vicinity. This was at time when
the brothers we're young men. 1t was
when Wallace was a little boy not more
than three years old.
Wallace's father and mother were very
careful of the training of their children.
Wallace was trained up to perfect hon.
esty, and great reverence for the sacred
scriptures. These early lessons were not
only inculcated by precept but they we're
strengthened by daily example. Under
such training Wallace, being of a
thoughtful, studious temperament, grew
up to be mode of integrity and virtue.
About the time Wallace become of
age his father and mother died. Having
but little to keep him in the home of his
nativity, and having fatteIing letters
from the new world, he resolved to emf
CRATE and join his brothers. So he came
over the ocean, and arrived safely at his
brothers house. Here he found the 9th.
er brother had died only few days pre-
vious. The brother still living, Donald
McGregor, had settled on farm, near
the little village which had sprung up,
and had gone to housekeeping.
Ia temperament Donald was very diff.
ferent from Wallace. Although strictly
honest, he was very penurious. His wife
being equally SO they had managed to
save money besides buying and paying
for the farm. He had three children, Of
which Donald was the oldest, then about
ten years old.
Wallace was engaged by his brother
to work on the farm. He was robust
and willing to work. For five years he
worked on and gave his brother satisfac-
tion. No one was considered better
hand on the farm than he. He was
loved and respected by all who knew him.
Farmer Bryan lived near Donald Nc
Gregor. He had daughter Mary, near
Wallace's age. In the course of events
it was natural that Wallace should ad-
mire Mary, for she was girl fair to look
upon. Nor was it more unnatural that
Mary should admire the strong, hand
some Scotch lad, who bal crossed the
ocean from her fathers native land. AT
length it was resolved that Wallace
should buy farm, and then he and
Mary would marry. So the sixth year
after Wallace touched the soil of the new
world he found himself on farm, at the
end of the village opposite his brothers,
and Mary Bryan had become his wife.
Ten years had passed away and they
were prospered. Wallace had fine
farm and he was clearing and improving
it year by year. They had three chill
dren. Wallace McGregor had dealt hon
estly with all men in the fear Of the
Lord, and the Lord had prospered him.
But now came change. One night,
in the spring of the year, the fire des-
troyed all his buildings. The cause of
the fire could never be discovered. But
Wallace was not disheartened. 1t was a
great loss to him. But he commenced
to rebuild, and soon had house to shell
ter his family and barns for his stock.
1t is said that misfortunes never come
singly. 1t was certainly so in this case
A long. lingering sickness fell upon
one of the children, and at last she died
This was soon followed by the sicknes:
of another. After long months of suf
faring the same result followed. The
brave, beautiful boy had followed the
first girl, and both had been lain away
into the house of darkness. This was 6
great sorrow as we'll as great expense
to them, but Wallace bowed humbly tt
the stroke and still clung with unshaker
faith to his reliance on the goodness O
Divine Providence. But disaster soor
followed him. For two or three year
his crops failed. Then two men bough
his years stock of produce and failed
and he lost the whole amount. So tb,
years slipped away, and when Wallac'
, was fifty five years of age he found him
, self in possession of farm worth twelv'
: or fifteen hundred dollars on which hi
brother held mortgage for five hundred
dollars.
: Just at this time his brother died
When the estate was settled tae mort
E gage on the farm fell into the hands o
his son Donald.
Donald MeGregor was even more pc
nurious than his father. He had entere'
into mercantile business in the village
J and had become what Is termed "wel
) off," He had good business talents an
D was accounted. strictly honorable, alway
re fulfilling all his engagements, and bein
honao. in deal evan to the last farthing.