Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-09-02

4 tell you no, Agnes. won't have
it. The fellow only wants my money.
l know him-I know him. l know
all these dandified jimcracks. They
hang round bag of gold like crows
around carrion. / won't have any
such thing. Now you know
Father, you Judge Walter too harsh
ly. He is a good, honest, industrious
man
Industrious, you say? I'd like to
know what he's got to show for his in
dustry.'
He has a superior education, faith
err
Education! fidlesticks! Can he live
on his education? Cam make mon.
ely of it?'
yes, he can live on it. He has al
ready obtained a good situation as
clerk
and will earn just enough to keep
him in the fine clothes he wears. |
know these fellows. But there's an
end ont. If you choose him rather
than your poor old father you can do
so. | can live alone-I shan't live
long-you can
'Stop-stop, father. You have no
right to talk so. You know l could
not leave you And Agnes Bremen
threw her loving arms around the old
mans neck and kissed him and left
the room.
Its curious how these young fools
act, the miser muttered to himself af-
ter his child departed.
There's been twenty of the sharks
after that girl-all of 'em lowering
around her like man-eaters after dead
body. Don't know what they want?
Can't I see? Anal can't l though?
It's my money! But Agnes has new
er loved one of 'em till this Adams
came along-the jackanaper! And
now she wants to get married at once.
Nonsensep
'fhe old man bowed his head as he
spoke, and he saw drop upon the
back of his hand! 1t was a bright
drop, and the rays of the setting sun
frightened it.
She cried when she kissed me- he
whispered, wiping the tear from his
hard hand. i don't see what makes
her SO tender hearted. She never took
it from me. But she may have taken
it from
The old man stopped, and a cloud
came over his wrinkled brow; there
was pang in his heart. He remem-
bered the gentle, accomplishing being
who had once been his companion
the mother of his child. He remem-
bered how she became his wife, even
when the bloom of manhood had pass
ed from him; how she loved him, and
nursed him, and cared for him and
how she taught her child to love and
care for him, too. And he remember
ed how she had never complained,
even while suffering, and how she
had died, with smile and blessing
upon her lips, though the gold Of her
husband could bring her no dying
comforts.
Noah Bremen bowed his whitened
head more low, and in his heart wish
ed he could forget all but the joys of
his life. But he could not forget that
it had been whispered how his wife
might have lived longer fshe had had
proper clothing and proper medical
attention.
'But it would have cost so much! |
saved money!
All the reflection. would not hide
the pang. The other memory was up
permOst.
Noah Bremen had passed the al
lotted age of man, being over three
score and ten, and his had been devo-
ted to accumulating money. He had
denied himself every comfort, and his
heart had been almost as hard as the
gold he had boarded. But as his hair
grew more white and spare, and the
years grew more heavily upon him,
he thought more reflected more. The
sweet image of his dead wife was do
ing it's mission now, and the pure love
of his gentle child was continual re
membrance to him that there were
better hearts than his.
AT length the miser rose and passed
out from the room. He would have
have left the house, but as he reached
the little entry way, he heard voice
from the garnet. 1t was his child's.
He crept up the rickety stairs and
looked through crack in the door
He saw Agnes upon her knees, with
tears rolling down her checks, and
her hands clasped toward heaven.
And she prayed:
ooh, God! be good to my father, and
make his heart warm and peaceful.
Make me to love him with tenderness
and enable me to do well and truly
the duty,I pledged my sainted mother.
| promised her to love and care for
him always. Father IN heaven. help
mel
The old man crept down the stairs
and ont of doors, and for whole hour
walked alone among the trees. He
thought again ofhis wife, again of the
| cnllu, anu LueH VI MS SO1u' AHu thie
was not the first time he had walked
alone there He did not know him
self the influence his child had over
him.
Agnes-purs, good, beautiful Agnes
-wept long and bitterly in her little
garret; and when she had become
calm and her cheeks were dry, she
came down and got supper. But she
was not the smiling, happy being tina
had fitted about the seanty board be
fore.
| A few days after this, as Noah Bre
men approached his cot one morning
he heard voices from within. Peep
ing through rent in the coarse pape
curtain, he saw Walter Adams witt
his child. Her head was upon Wal
ter's shoulder and his arm was abou
| her.
Walter was an orphan, and ha'