The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
VOLUME 4.

No, never, MleIfuP'eu ooIeho'
don't want to get married. l am going
TO be nun, and work on the farm"
"No you WON'T" said Horstio. "You
will get married, and-and want you
to marry me-"
Gazena stopped suddenly, looked up
at him with flashing eyes. "You are q
bad boy! Don't you know you should
MT talk so to me?" she said hotly and
fast. Then she ran away and left him
alone on the road.
Some owl must have heard this con-
versation, and told the story, for Aunt
Ermy said to Mr.. Brown the next even
ing: $50 we're go'n to have weddin'.
/ s'pose they'll have to come and live
here"
"Who is coming to live here?"
"Why, haven't you heard Ratio has
proposed TO 'Zena Hartman. OF course
she'll have him."
Farmer Brown was 80 angry at first
that he could not speak But be got
over that in few minutes, and spoke
his mind pretty freely to his son. 81
won't have IL" he said! "You shan't
bring Dutch girl into this house where
your mother lrns lived-not while
live"
"Who said would?" said Horatio.
quietly enough; and he too was very an
cry and disgusted with every body, Gaz-
eha included.
When Mr.. Hartman heard the story,
it made him laugh, and he only said:
"Vat? Gif mine daughter to Won lazy
man? Not moochw
Gazena did not laugh at all. She cri-
ed every night when she was safe in her
bed. "Oh, what bad people they are"
she said. IL wish l could get chance
Of speaking my mind to somebody"
She had her wish. One afternoon she
met Farm Brown as he was going to
his fields. They were alone on the road
and he spoke first.
"Look here. my girl, you had better
be careful what you do. You are not
wanted at my house. You understand"
Gazena's face turned red, then white,
but she answered bravely: EARN Brown,
| aint your girl, so you needn't call ME
20. And don't want to live with proud
folks, and work for my husband. We
are as good as you be, my father isl"
And away che ran.
Farmer Brown was 40 surprised at
this speech that instead of going to his
fields, he went home and went to bed,
declaring that he was sick and should
die. That was a way he had. 1t was
one of his oddities.
When he was more than ordinarily
troubled about his affairs he always
thought he was going TO die. Sometimes
he made few last remarks, then took .
dose of rhubarb, and then-the next
; morning he was as well as ever.
So when Aunt Ermy called out
"Come in quick, boys! Your father
thinks he is dyin'~ the boys went into
) the house without hurrying very much
> They had seen their father in the same
condition before.
The scene was quite impressive. Mr.
!, Brown lay on his bed, dressed in hi
Sunday clothes, his head dropped up OF
, several pillows.
q "Come here, boys" he said, in veal
voice. ~ am going to die for good thi
time, and want to speak to you"
"a The boys stood by the bed, and Aun
Ermy stood down near the patient, VIII
spoke thus:
q "Ermy, you have been good sister t
h me, and it is my wish that you shoul
stay here till you die. You hear, MAJ
:, Gus? Take good care of her. The hous
a is yours, my son, and the land; tn
q whole farm is yours, because you hav
been a good and dutiful son. Horatic
10 come here. l haven't much to say I
l. you. Here are fifty cents. Go an
"a buy a rope to hang yourself with"
Horatio took the fifty cents with yer
IL faint thanks. If he had any doubts b.
% fore, he was certain now that his faith,
"a was not going to die. He did not eve
=, stay to see. He put on his hat an
!. marched out o: doors in a transport
mingled wrath and modification.
Iv Alone, in the open air, he begun
plan what he should do. He would
m to a large city, and become a gre
preacher, a great lawyer, great
"No, I WON'T" he said, stopping su
,oo denly. II will stay here and work,
- will be great farmer, and marry Ga
ena Hartmann Then we shall see wi
will buy rope and hang himself All
A., / will keep that fifty cents for go'
-, ' luck" (taking out the coin and holdil
." it up in his fngers). "There, that's 8,
4" tied"
He went back to the house and to |
IAN room, slept a few hours, got up very eft
ted ly, made q bundle Of his clothes, a
not left the house before any one was avail
At broad daylight Farmer Brown G
AID up, we'll and strongsas ever-of conr
But it was some time before he disco
rry cred that his son had gone.
The next day the whole village
' Tusculum was all a-buzz with gr
e' news. Ratio Brown had left his ia
~ er's house and had gone and hired hi
Ps self for year to Mr.. Maynard, of w
Farml Wasn't it queer? And how lc
would it last?
red,
The 1t lasted a whole year, to begin wi
a., Then it was said that Farmer Mayn,
p found Horatio so handy that he had
-, ed him for another year, and paid b
'uu w good wages, all of which was true. D
ing the first and even the second y
Horatio was not once seen in Tuscull
But one bright day, when Mr.. Hartn
e was enjoying his after dinner pipe, s
49, rounded by his women folks, there VI
very d. - y ..;, M. II--
Horatio came in.