The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-03

it. I've known them 10 send out as
much gas as would kill an OK if he were
confined in the atmosphere. Now, sir,
don't you feel like fool "A
"Come now, father" replied my
grandmother, +" don't be so severe on the
boy "-she called me boy to the day OF
her death she only told you what he
heard no doubt, and of course every one
is liable to mistakes, especially apont
such matters"
"That puts me in mind, continued
nv grandfather, "of asking you how you
are coming on with your piano-playing
friend2"
81 scarcely see her, except on Sun
days"
"Humph I" returned my grandfather,
clearing his throat. / didn't like the
ejaculation. had often heard it before
and regarded it with the same appre-
hension that mariner does an ugly
cloud that rises to windward.
Humph!" he continued, blowing a
column of smoke toward the china orna-
ments on the mantel piece, "what are
you good for2" He looked squarely at
me as he asked the question.
He evidently expected a reply, so l
answered him by saying that as yet L
didn't know.
"That's candid, at all events" he re-
pied. "Pve been thinking good deal
about you of late, ard it occurred to me
that you might make poor lawyer after
all. And you know what poor lawyer
is. You remember Simmons, the man
that used to board about upon the
farmers during the summer time9 Well,
he was what they term poor lawyer.
He hadn't brains enough to make his
profession support him, and was ready
to do writing OF saw wood to help exc
out livelihood.
"Our grandson has brains tartly IN
terrupted my grandmother. "My side
of the family contained no fools and
yours, father, were what were termed
'cute men.
"There's beginning everywhere, -
returned the old man. putting vigorous
ly at his pipe. "There must be a be-
ginning" Having delivered this re-
mark with an emphasis that left no
doubt that he believed it, he went on
"Can you take that clock to
pieces" there was an old-fashioned
clock standing in the corner of the room
-" and put it together again 2"
"Im no clockmaker," L replied.
"That is to say" rejoined he, "you
have no mechanical ingenuity. One
need not be clockmaker to do that. /
have done it and can do it again, and i
am no clockmaker.
"How unreasonable you are, father,
suggested my grandmother.
He did not appear to notice her re-
mark, but continued "Can you turn a
somersault?"
81 never tried" l replied.
"Then you are not as expert as q
clown. For the life of me / can't see
what good you are going to do in the
world.
"And can't see," said my dear old
grandmother, "what occasion there will
be for the boy to mend clocks or turn
somersaults. To hear you talk, one
would think you had nothing to leave
him but your advice, but that is not OF
the most encouraging nature"
a young man should rely upon him
self, returned my grandfather, f" Riches
take wings. I've managed to hold my
property together pretty well, but how
do know he will do so when you and |
are gone? He'll marry Miss Miller.
What sort of wife will she make him !
Smart with her heels, no doubt. MIN
BILE with her fingers at the old organ, but
these won't serve to keep family frem
going headlong to destruction"
Sally Miller is very prudent and
useful girl, replied my grandmother.
81 dom see what you find amiss in her. "
"Don't you!" he returned. Then he
relapsed into silence and smoked and
looked into the fire.
By-and-by he got up and walked out
of the room, and then my dear old
grandmother took my hand and held it
in her own, and told me not to fret, that
she would bring my grandfather to think
better of my sweetheart | thanked her
ever so much, but / had little hope that
she would be successful.
About this time my grandfather was
selling some property in the town where
| was reading law, and it became neces-
sary for him to go there to sign some
deeds and receive the money for the sale.
At his request l accompanied him.
1t was nearly evening when his bust
ness was finished and we set out on our
return home. -Four thousand dollars,
the proceeds of the sale, my grandfather
carried in bank notes on his person, es it
was too late to make deposit in bank.
The old gentleman was i'll good humor,
and talked pleasantly as we drove along.
My mind was full of schemes just at that
time, as to how L was to support Sallie
Miller if / married her before my grand
father died. 1 little dreamed that ere
we should arrive home a way would be
opened to me. We were going down a
steep hill and it was now quite dark,
when the horse stumbled and in an in
slant a shaft was snapped in twain. /
sprang out of the wagon and grandfather
quickly followed.
The horse, in his fall, had become en-
tangled III the harness and lay helpless
upon the earth. The moon was Just ris-
ing and gave but uncertain light, for the
sky was full of feecy clouds, but still
1t was bright enough to perceive grand
father drop the package of four thousand
dollars as he stopped down to free the
horse. There it Law at nv feet and no