The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-11

"Eh? how so p asked old Noah, turn
/ ing his chair.
eI'll tell YOU" said Walter, with spas
/ mOdic effort. - had some long entries TO
/ post this evening, SO [ remained in the
cOunting-rOOm after the rest had gone.
was still at work when Mr.. OsgoOd came
in and placed some papers on my desk,
saying as he did: Here, Walter, these are
yours and then he went out. When
had finished my work opened the papers.
The first was a sort of inventory of what
OsgoOd had owned in the business. and
mounted up in square numbers to S99. .S75.
The next pap, was deed conveying the
whole vast property TO me, and making
me partner in the concern upon equal
footing with the other twO!"
"Well," said the old man, humping his
foot upon the carpet, and keeping time
with his hands, 50 1 don't see any thing
very bad in that"
but | do" replied Walter. 1t is
cruel to trihe with me thus"
There was something in Noah's eye
again, but he managed 10 get it out, and
then he spoke thus:
I" Walter Adams, when young men used
TO hover about my child, believed they
were only after my gold and Ilnew that
in most cases | was correct. L believed
the same of you. knew nothing but the
love of money that could influence human
action. My heart had become hardened
by it, and my soul darkened. But it was
for my sweet child to pour tne warmth and
light into my bosom. 1t was for her TO
keep before me the image of the gentle
wife whom had loved and lost, but, alas.
who occupied place in that lOve&ecOnd
to my gold. 1t was for my child to open
gradually, but surely, the fount of feelings
which had been for lifetime closed up.
heard her pray for me-pray that she
might love me; and that was after | had
refused to let her be your wife. | saw her
grow pale and sorrowful, and / knew |
had done it-and she loved me still.
And still she prayed God help her
help her to what? Help her to love her
fatherl | was killing her, and she tried
to smile upon me. One evening | heard
you both conversing in the old hut. My
child chose misery with duty to her father
rather than break the duty in union with
the man she loved. And you uttered a
prayer. You prayed that might be
made penniless-stOp! hear me through!
You would then show your disinterested-
ness. | walked away and pOndered.
Could it be that had found man who
would love an old wretch like myself
with no money? fit was so then that
would break the last layer of crust from
my soul. | determined to test. you.
had gained a glimmering of light-my
heart had begun to grow warm-and
prayed fervently that might not be dis
appointed. | went to the bank and drew
out $500, 900 in bills. That night my mis-
cradle nut was set en- fire-or-a-caught
fire. | always think my candle did it.
But the old shell burned down, and room
was made for better building. | came
out with wrong trunk and the other
trunk was burned up. But the money
wasn't in il. No, no, | had that safely
stuffed into my bosom and deep pockets,
and all buttoned up; and the next day
carried it all back to the bank,
and had iU put with few thousand more
which had not disturbed. And so my
experiment commenced; and found the
full sunshine at last. Aye, Walter, |
found YOU the noble, true man | had
PRAYED for. Eou took me into your house
and loved me when you thought me pen
niless, and you took my child 10 your
bosom for just what God had made her.
And now, my boy, I've been doing bit of
work i'm the dark. I've paid Mr.. OsgoOd
500 600 in cash for his share in the busi-
ness, and it is all yours. And let ME tell
you one more thing, my boy, if your
partners can raise 100000 more to invest,
tell 'em YOU can put in $4,000 more at
twelve hours notice. Tell 'em that. my
boy! Tell 'en old Noah amt quite ashore
yet. Tel. 'em he has found a heart-a
heart. my boy! Come here, AgHes-come
here, Walter. God bless you both-bless
YOU as you have blessed me!'
Nobody pretend that they had NOTES
in the eye now, for the occasion of the
weeping was too palpable.