The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-16
GhG:Gntelkiael1tsn.
OLD ABEL'S MILLSrONE.

From TlnAeJb NaSnElne'I
"Understand me, Abel, both my father
and myself arc perfectly satisfied with
the amount already Faid."
nMany thanks to you, sir, for tho say.
,pv OF il; but nothing short Of the full
sum will satisfy me. AT the time leigh.
ycar, ago next midsummer) it was reck.
oncd at a hundred aud fifty pounds in
round numbers. mean to pay y every
fsr.hing, please heaven live long enough.
II die niorc, l hope PoIly'll keep up the
payment regular.
agu,, really, Abel, don't like taking
lhii money, / am sure these payments
nu.t cripple you terribly
"Never mind that, Mr.. Baker, junior.
feel something on my conscience which
/, worse than hunger or cold, and It won't
be- easy until I've paid you all. There's
i've pound ten, cir; not 30 much az last
hsli.yesr, because OF POlly's illness in
the spring; but 1 hope to make 1t more
next lime. II you enter the sum in this
book and add il up, you'll find 1t makes
ninety pound"
"Sinety pounds exactly. Well, If you
insist on my taking the money, | suppose
| must. Is your daughter married yet,
Webb"
"Not yet, SIR"
Likely 10 be2',
"Wel, I'm afraid it's higher than !
ike"
"What you disapproye Of her choices"
"Oh, no, not bill. Tom Smiths as
good fellow ascvcr lived. He'll got on,
that boy will. He's sober, honest and
msuly; and that'll toll In the long run.
Bu. III rather she hadn'. anybody after
her-leastways until the debts squared
,wixI you and me"
"A debt that, as you know, We already
considered discharged"
"Bu. which don't, Mr.. Baker, junior.
However, I'm a.keeping you. Goodnight,
sir; and many thanks for your kindness"
With that Abel Webb retreats, hat in
hand; and bowling to Baker, junior, with
every backward step he takes, finds him
'elf6y aud by at the half glass door opening
10 the outer office. Arrived here, he once
more thanks the young partner OF Baker
& Baker, Wholesale druggists OF Ipecacu-
ana.lanC, AIdermanbury, and at last en-
erges into the crowded throughfare.
1t Is tho dusk OF IN October evening,
and brisk dapper young men are hurry.
lug along the narrow courts and alleys,
bent upon the delights OF home or the
intoxicating pleasures they expect to find
elsewhere. Tho large warehouses are
closed, and the gas burma dimly in the
srimy chambers appropriated 10 those
whose duty it is TO remain in the prem.
aes after business hours. Abel Webb
lakes scant notice OF what is passing
around him. He Is little man, poorly
clad, upon whose shoulders So years Of
lnremilting toll, anxiety, trouble and
heavy disappointment weigh heavily.
Ills hair ia as white as the hoSr.troSt
lnd the wrinkles upon his forehead and
the dark hollows beneath his eyes make
him appear far older man than he re.
Allyi1; but despite his puny stature, his
WeAther.beaten aspect, and the wrinkles
Of uge, he is as hopeful in spirit as ever,
while there rests upon his features an
expression Of patience and quiet deter
nlna;ioH, giving token tina. Abel Webb |
sill thinkS himself capable Of many a
'us,le in the struggle for lie.
Generally speaking, Abel can not bel
considered 4 good walker, neither does
he ordinarily whistle stirring national
melodies as no elbows his way through
the terming streets. Yet, whenever he
pays his hali.yearly visits to Baker,
junior, he seems TO become imbued with
fresh life. fresh hope, and increased
strength. The patient old man recog.
mixes the change himself, and joytully
eela that the milestone OF debt, which
hiss Tor so many years hung about his.
heck, is less heavy than before.
Away from the close thoroughtares OF
The city on to the Thames embankment.
Hiswalk has been long and fatiguing,
aud resting his arms upon the stone bal
uitraIie, he pauSaS for few moments
With his eyes Fixed upon the dark, silent.
flowing river. "A hundred and fifty
poundI'" no murmurs, as no looks out
upon tho sweep Of waters before him
a lot Of money, a lot Of money! Easily
;q11andered, but how difficult TO save
a, l9t'ane u men like mel Honest Abel
Webb the boys used to call me at school;
honest Abel Webb | have been 10 my en-.
P'oyeF,, and honest Abel Webb III Try to
10 to The end Q! my days.n
The Changing tones Of "Big Ben" woke
Abe! Webb from his reverle. With the
sudden thought that his daughter Polly
would he home before him II he didn't
make great haste, he set of at brisk
No', Fe'uming bis CHEEKY whistle as hC
Sent along.
And, sure enough, homU she was.
HOW cory tho little place looked 1t
s"a pattern Of ncntneSs and domestic
comfort. The table was laid fol, supper,
nice crisp loaf being aanked by a
p;sco oil cheese (placed upon small
p'aie 10 OFdcg to make /. look more than
really wa'), and, yes really gigan-
W cucumber. Polly, who was kneeling
si9'e the fire, vigorously applying the
seaYS' aud melting the Goals TO a per.
Ss' Jury Of flame, had not lighted a can.
S.Sr ana ceFtainlynone was wanted. The
fright elaEa brought into full Wow the
GTsNISgeianinm occupying the table in
nom OF the window; Il liz up the photo.
EaPa UiIhe uild'looking woman (Polly's
Io'as,l on the other side Of the room; It
,aoNea tho brass knobbed piece Of furni-
~ 70 outward view u bureau, but TO
'ss initiated trGquCnter Of Abel's apart.
'asaH 3othing moro nor less than a turn.
1eaa'ead, in which tho father himself
n.y. Sna II reflected its brightness upon
Nv s'uGooa!d, with Its ornaments OF
Ns' a lew books and the old fashioned
+, 1VI ht, containing SO many relics dear
.,i AoSI aud his daughter, among others
' I"ny 9aeysSboc, Onee worn by that bow
nov dead on whom Abel bs3 lsvi.hs3
'a Sw TEeaIth Of paternal love.
GOV, WY, your rather late father aip't
y, w, -, inquired The girl, ,prinEing 10 her
w. ana giving old Abel such 4 sounding
Ss',J mat a. IT might almost have been
SoiV S oa the pavement outside, il any
i N,rs been home long lime W '''''"'
b,rE tH' Folly, I've been 10 the savings
Won Er aao sisssWaEd to AldOrmanbury-l
ina N WS where, | took Ave pound len:
M ~ NJ w Baker, junior, spoke 40 Eindi2
S.IseSSs YIN, tins clipped BY, and twas seven
VIVA "ote Know where Wai Gmost y