Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-29
SILAS BEONS0N'S OIL INVEST.
MENT.
Ply ERSKTNE NJ. HAMILTON.

"Weli,n drawled Silas in his weak un-
certain way, "maybe don't know beans
folks say don't, an mored likely they
know; but then faint my fault if / don't.
was born that way an l 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, tum-
be-down affair, very much awry, and
is uncertain about his standing in the
world. And the surroundings were in
keeping with the house. The fences
seemed y possess the same helplessness,
and struggled about without regard to d.
vision lines, while the garden.patch was
laid out with the mathematical precision
Of chaos.
No, faint my fault" continued Silas;
81 did the best | knew how with the
money"
NO, We 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. eye
did know better. Ye had sense enough to
know your family were out of clothes, the
house an place needed fixin' up, an We
Kept promisin' ye'd get all these things
Nhen We got some money. But We didn't
get the money an We never would have got
u II Providence, as it were, hadn't a Just
chuckcd 1t into your face by that uncle
dyn' off there in California an leavin We
thousand dollars. And then, like a born
i,4Iol, you must needs give it all to Judge
ray to sink in that oil well of his'n, " here
YEN never hear ont again"
Wen, | did as well as could" again
pleaded Silas.
=. or course We did ueN!" emphasized
4iIs, bronson, with an unconscious pun.
nat old oil well will keep the money
lg enough, | reckon; yen never get it
inca Mrs. Bronson said no more, and
"S was quite willing to keep silent on a
o,lgIeeable subject. A well meaning but
'Aess man was Mr.. Bronson, not in
,..ae" TO work, with little knowledge of
mess, and no practical sense to direct
".a. knoWledge he had. On Mrs. Bron-
Ihi! the real burden, and had it not
ior her sagacity and executive ability
ol.aS would have Jared badly. In
OF her efforts, however, the fortunes
ne family were getting at low ebb,
w. Htr complaints of her husbands anna
' inability were becoming frequent
azure frequent than Slas liked.
DON'T be always a-frettin'. Maria he
'.', one day. "Luck's agin US, | allow,
w III change pooty soon"
A. Not onlesS We work fort" answered
'"!a, not relishing such serene resirna.
W.. . They do say that Providence takes
.-.e OIL lazy people and fools, but | dom
no great store on't.n
"1' luck did change after a while.
a'' uncle of Mr.. Bronson died convenient.
1 :, on IN California, and, among other be-
1 he -gsI, let 81 900 to his nephew. Then
/ ~ ~. ,h1Fonsoon's face frightened. Visions
nome liked up, of comfortable cloth
l @ herself and family, began to fit
,-,- 's her eyes. But they proved to he
-.! Visions after all When the letter
l -e containing the long looked for check
' vent up TO the village bank to get the
l and there he fell in with a Certain
1 &c ray. That smooth, glib-tonrued
4 -.slor met Silas just as he was comm o
4 q The bank and Immediately button
1 Aailoo, Bronsonl How do Won do,
| 4 20 meet you just the man wanted