Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-01-30
GALS a'rD SybetfRes. s
From the Baltimore Weekly Sun.
THE FARMERS BAD LUCK.
BY }. ii. HEWITT.

Gregory McCamp5ell was an industrious
maker of Scotch descent, and consistent
member of the Presbyterian Church. His
grandfather was che of the early pioneers
of the valley of the Shenandoah, and pur-
chased a small tract of land in Rockingham
county, Va, which, after contesting his
right in many a bloody battle with the
Shawnee tribe of Indians, he managed to
cultivate and improve, and then leave to
his son, Roger McCampbell, when he
''shuilied off this mortal COLI Roger in
turn passed away, and his son Gregory
became sole proprietor of the little farm.
Gregory had learned the mysteries of the
shoemaking trade; not so much for the
benefit of the public generally as for the
convenience of the plantation, for, as the
speculating Mrs. TooGles would remark,
at was so convenient to have a cobbler
ready to mend the soleS, if not the man
ners, of the family and farm hands,
Gregory was born under an unlucky star
Heavy rains cut gaping gullies through his
fields or washed his corn, wheat and pota-
to crops away. Long and scorching
droughts parchcd his cover and blighted
his fruit trees, while murrain sieZed his
cattle, and one by one they died. Year
after year this bad luck tripped up his he els
and crippled him, but his trade was his
bower anchor, and by hard work he man
aged to make enough 10 provide for his
little family.
II am weary, good wife," said he sor-
rowfully one day while leaning his brawny
arm on his lapstone and allowing his ham,
mer to fall at his feet. Its hard strug-
gle we are having, and if it wasn't sinful l
wish | were dead"
Pooh, pooh, Gregory" replied the wife
with CHEEKY smile aad rapidly plying her
knitting needles, you're strong aud hearty
yet, and hope the Lord will turn his an
ger from us some of these days. Andrew
is getting to be big boy, and we've got
the old mare and her colt to work, besides,
Jennie helps me good deal in fixing the
house, making bread and feeding the poul-
try''--
The poultry groaned Gregory.
We've sot but three hens and rooster
out of about two hundred as fine chickens as
could be found in Rockingham county.
And, as for old Bess, she's been spawned
for the la. year, while the colt has gone
stone blind. Andy works, it is true. but
it's an uphill business with him. He ran
a splinter into his foot last month and came
neal having the lOckjaw. He won't get
over it for a month to come, and the pota-
toes want hoeing. Poor Jennie, she does
not work with a cheerful heart, for she
knows that her education is being neglect
ed. and she can't 90 to church for the want
of a decent frock. tell you what, Susan,
am discouraged, and can't help tits
natural like
The wife sighed, and for while discOn-
tinued her knitting, while her watery eyes
were fixed in profound meditation upon the
rough ragcarpet that covered the floor of
the little room. She knew that she could
not gainsay what her husband advanced,
and thought seriously of the gloomy future.
| The old homestead must be sold and work
| at the hammer and awl for the rest of his
weary days, and the daughter, too, a beau
tiful and sweettempered girl, growing up
in ignorance there's where the mothers
heart was most painfully pierced.
"Well," at length, said Gregory, untying
the string of his apron, and putting on a
light homespun blouse, 81 think I'll 60 up
in the mountains and see if | can't start
some game. Sam Goldman told me that
the squirrels were thick, and there was,
! likewise, right smart chance o. rabbits. -
'Don't stay over night, Gregory" urged
the wife, with much solicitude you know
how lonesome l feel when you are away
Gregory promised, and taking his gun,
shot pouch, and powder horn, while he slyly
Sid small flask of whisky into his ample
pocket, sailed forth from the house, ac-
companied by an old raccoon dog that
knew what was to be done when he saw
his master equip himself.
He slowly clambered up the rocky slope
of the towering mountain, breaking his
way through the tangled underground, and,
! at intervals, stopping to survey the mighty