The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-05-06
All is Well.
BY ERSKINE NJ. HAMILTON.

well" drawled Silas in his weak, un-
certain way, maybe | don't know beans
folks say l don't, an more'n likely
they know; but then faint my fault if |
don't. l was born that way, an don t
see as how | kin help it."
Mr.. Silas Bronson was standing on his
portico, or what passed for one, when he
uttered the above. The house to which
the portico belonged was a tottering,
tumbledown affair, very much awry, and
looking not unlike man intoxicated
who is uncertain about his standing in
the world. And the surroundings were
in keeping with the house. The fences
seemed to possess the same helplessness,
and struggled about without regard to
division lines, while the garden-pateh
was laid out with the mathematical pre-
cision of chaos.
mo, faint my fault" continued Silas;
81 did the best | knew how with the
money"
mo ye didn't" answered Mrs. Bron-
son, sharply, from within the house,
Mrs. Bronson, a care-worn sharp-featured
woman, seemed to be greatly disturbed,
and her fingers worked nervously as she
gathered up the few dinner dishes "Ye
did know better. Ye had sense enough
to know your family were out of clothes,
the house an place needed fxin' up, an
ye kept promisin yed get all these
things when ye got some money But We
didn't get the money, an ye never would
have got it if Providence, as it were,
hadn't just chucked it into your face
by that uncle dyin' off there in California
an leavin' ye a thousand dollars And
then, like born idiot, you must needs
give it all to Judge Fay to sink in that
oil well of hisn, where yell never hear
ont again"
well, did as well as l could" again
pleaded Silas.
"Of course ye did DeHF' emphasized
Mrs. Bronson with an unconscious pun.
That old oil well will keep the money
safe enough, | reckon; yen never get it
back"
Then Mrs. Bronson said no more, and
Silas was quite willing to keep silent on
a disagreeable subject. well-meaning
but shiftless man was Mr.. Bronson, not
inclined to work, with little knowledge
of business, and no practical sense to di-
rect what knowledge he had On Mrs.
Bronson fell the real burden, and had it
not been for her sagacity and executive
ability poor Silas would have Jared badly.
In spite of her efforts however. the for
tunes of the family were getting at low
ebb, and her complaints of her husbands
amiable inability were becoming frequent
more frequent than Silas liked.
Don't be always a frettin', Maria" he
said one day. "Lucz's agin US, l allow,
but it'll change pooty soon"
mot onless ye work fort" answered
Maria, not relishing such serene resigna-
ton "They do say that Providence
takes care of lazy people and fools, but 1
don't set no great store ont"
But luck" did change after while
An rJOPla Of Mr. did
niently off in California, and among 9TH
er bequests left one thousand dollars to
his nephew. Then Mrs Brouson's face
frightened Visions of a home fixed up,
OF comfortable clothing for herself and
family, began to fit before her ewes. But
they proved to be only visions after all
w hen the letter came containing the
long looked for check Silas went up to
the village bank to get the money, and
there he fell in with a certain Judge Fay.
That smooth, glib-tongued speculator
met Silas just as he was coming out of
the bank and Immediately button -holed
him.
"Halloo, Bronsonl How do you do?
Glad to meet you; just the man wanted
to see"
"Pooty well, thank ye," answered Silas,
smiling weakly. He felt considerable
awe of the Judge, and began to wonder
what possible business that great man
could have with him. But the Judge did
not seem to notice his embarrassment;
he locked arms with Silas, and began
talking in very familiar and confden-
tial manner as they walked along.
How are your family, Bronson2 By
the way, those are mighty smart children
of yours-mighty smart Wish mine
were equally So My children frequent
| ly speak of that little boy of yours; they
attend the same school"
81 haven't any boys; they're all girls;
it's Jennie maybe ye mean" mildly sug-
gested Silas.
"Oh-yesl Jennie; so it is. Strange !
should forget the name when | have
| heard it so often" answered the Judge,
| flushing little And then as they came
to a small building on q corner, he added,