Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-06
OLD ABEL's MILESTONE.

Understand me, Abel both my father
and myself are perfectly satisfied with the
amount already paid"
"Many thanks to you, sir, for the saying
Of 1t; but nothing short of the full sum will
satisfy me. At the time (eight years ago
next midsummer it was reckoned at hun
dred and fifty pounds in round numbers.
l mean to pay it every farthing please
heaven live long enough. If die afore.
hope Polly'll keep up the payment regular"
but, really, Abel, don't like taking
this money. | am sure these payments must
cripple you terribly"
Never you mind that, Mr. Baker, junior
feel something on my conscience which is
worse than hunger or cold, and it won't be
easy until I've paid you ALL There's five
pc und ten, sir: not so much as last half-year,
because Of Poly's illness in the spring. but
| hope to make it more next time. II you
enter the sum in this book aud add it up,
you'll find it makes ninety pound"
NINETY pounds exactly. Well, if you
insist on my taking the money, | suppose L
must, Is your daughter married yet, WebbH'
"Not yet sir"
Likely to be? ?"
"Wel, I'm afraid it's higher than l like
"What you disapprove of her choice ?"
"Oh, no, not a bit. Tom Smiths as good
fellow as ever lived. He'll get on, that
boy will He's SOBER honest and manly /;
and that'll tell in the long run. But Id
rather she hadn't anybody after her-least-
ways until the debts squared 'twixt you and
me-"
"A debt that, as you know, We already
consider discharged"
"But 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 himself
by aud by at the half-glass door opening to
the outer Office. Arrived here, he once
more thanks the young partner of Baker &
Baker, wholesale druggists of Ipecacuanha-
lane Aldermanbury, aud at last emerges into
the crowded thoroughfare.
! 1t is the dusk of an October evening, and
brisk, dapper young men are hurrying along
the narrow courts and alleys bent upon the
delights Of home or the intoxicating pleasures
they expect to find elsewhere. The large
warehouses are closed, and tho gas burns
but dimly in the grimy chambers appropri'
ated to those whose duty it is to remain il
the premises after business hours. Abel
| Webb takes scant notice of what is passing
around him. lie is little man, poorly
clad, upon whose shoulders So years Of un
RENTING toll, anxiety, trouble and heavy
disappointment weigh heavily. His hair i,
as white as the hoar.frost, and the wrinkles
upon his forehead and the dark hollows be
meath his eyes make him appear q far oldel
man than he really is; but despite his puny
stature, his weatherbeaten aspect, aud the
wrinkles of age, he is as hopeful in spirit a
ever, while there rests upon his features al
expression Of patience and quiet determine
ton, giving token that Abel Webb still think
himself capable Of many tussle in the strug
gle for life.
Generally speaking, Abel cannot be con
sidered a good walker, neither does he ordi
narily whistle stirring national melodies a
he elbows his way through the teeminJ
streets. Yet, whenever he pays his hall
yearly visits to Baker, junior, he seems h
become imbued with fresh life, fresh hope
aud increased strength. The patient ole
man recognizes the change himself and JOY
fully feels that the milestone Of debt, whic
for so many years hing about his neck,
less heavy than before.
Away from the close thoroughfares Of til
city on to the Thames embankment. Iii
walk has been long aud iatigueing, and rest
ing his arms upon the stone balustrade, h
pauses for few moments with his eyes fxe
upon the dark, silont-AOwiDg river. 81
hundred and fifty pounds" he murmurs, a
he looks out upon the sweep Of waters beloI
him--"a lot of money, lot OF money
Easily squandered, but how difficult to save
/, A fortune to men like me. Honest Alb
Webb, the boys used to call me at school
honest Abel Webb, have been to my en-
ployers, and honest Abel Webb, pllstry
be to the end Of my days"
The changing tones of "Big Ben" wok
p Abel Webb from his reverie, With II
sudden thought that his daughter Poll
would be home before him il he didn't NAL
great haste, he sot of at brisk trot rosun
ng his CHEEKY whistle as he went along.