The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-06-21
THE DRAINING OFDRU,s MOSS.

ana ne luEu6u AWAY VIII uoAIL AllAA bJL6l
And he never was seen not none no more.
Burlington RalCk-Eye.
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THE DRAINING OFDRU'S MOSS.
Stephen, I wish, dear, you had been
a little more civil to Uncle Joseph"
Nonsense, Maggie, darling. don't
like Joseph Hawick and his ways, and I
I'm not going to pretend 1 do"
His ways are very good ways No
one can say wrong of him, Stephen"
That is just it; they are too good.
I rather think am old enough to know
what am doing, and what I want.
don't owe a penny, and never mean to
ask a favor except of you, or of my hands
If l palavered over Joseph HawiCk he
would be the very first to say he
wanted the trile of money he may have
saved"
Maggie sighed, and then looked up into
Stephens handsome face and smiled.
Stephen, of course, was right; man
with such eyes and such a figure could
not, in loves sight, be wrong.
He was brave and confident, too, and
had that way of assertion which only
cool and sensible people can resist.
Joseph HaWick loved his niece with
wise and tender affection, and she had
not chosen the husband that he would
have chosen for her.
Stephen Gray was indeed " well-tO-do," "
and had fair character, but the keen
old man saw radical defects in it.
"He listens to no one but himself,
and so he hears no advice but q fatter-
er's," Joseph had said " besides, Maggie,
he is so proud, that am afraid that he's
| bound to have tumble"
But, uncle, he has big heart, and
he's a good farmer, and even you can see
/ that he's the handsOmest man in the
Dale"
''That is all true, girl, but God does
not measure men by inches"
However, in spite of all disafectiOn,
Maggie Hawick's wedding with Stephen
Gray came off with great and wide
spread hospitality.
! Joseph Hawick had been for forty years
the physician and friend of all the Dale
families, rich and poor, and not one Of
! them missed an invitation.
But all were merry and full of good
wishes for the pretty bride and her
| handsome husband.
The number of bridal presents Maggie
received testified toit.
Stephens sideboard and buffet would
be bright with silver tokens, and his
presses full or snowy damask and fine
spun linen and blankets.
But upon the whole, it rather mOrti-
fed him.
He could not feel the loving kindness
that sanctifed the gifts, and the object
was not pleasant to the selfsuficient
young man.
He had assured Joseph HaWick VOlun-
| tarily, and with rather unnecessary pride,
that he wanted nothing with Maggie
neither gold nor gear-and yet for all
! that he looked rather anxiously for the
old mans Offering.
Joseph Hawick was believed in spite
of his eccentric attentions to poor pa
tients, to "have money" and Stephen
/ felt that a handsome cheque would not
be out of place, for he had been at some
expense in refurnishing the old farm
house, and he was very anxious to try
some new scientific experiments on his
WOrnout land.
But Maggie said nothing about her
uncie's present and Stephen was far too
proud to ask her until nearly a year
after their marriage
But one day he had a long talk with
old Squire ThWaites about thigh farm
ing" and then the two men drifted
into the discussion of some scheme for
the draining cf Dru's Moss.
Then Stephen, thinking it all over as
he smoked his pipe, saw untold wealth
of harvest from the rich alluvial soil,
and fabulous wheat fields growing
where men now caught leeChes or shot
wild fowl.
If he only had money.
If ne only had a thousand pounds in
cash, ThWaites and he would buy and
drain the Moss.
He sat dreaming over the project and
counted the acres and bushels over and
over, until be began to look upon Dru's
Moss as the one thing upon earth he
desired.
Maggie" he said suddenly to the
little wife sewing beside him, " Maggie,
what did uncle give you for a wedding g
present? You never told me-"
L thought you would not like it,
Stephen"
Every likely not, but nevertheless,
what wasit?'
GA Bible"
"Just like him and we had two family
ones to begin with, not to speak of the
little ones you have in every room"
C In tho nav Stanhan TnOuIa
gave us napkins enough for three genera
tons, and silver mugs enough to serve
all our friends. Uncle's Bible was by no
means an ordinary one"
How not P
"It has been in the Hawick house
hold since 1916, and contains the family
register for more than two hundred years.
am the last of my branch; uncle
thought I would like to have it. tits
queer old book, with great brass
clasps made uncle two solemn prom,
ises Overit."
"What were they"
"That I would never part with it un-
der any circumstances, unless it was to
give it again in his charge, and
and"
Well, what else u
"That when any other source of help
and comfort failed would 90 to it
don't look so angry, Stephen"
Z" I think have a good cause to be
angry; it was like prophecy of ill-fOr-
tune. Why should he fOrespeak sorrow
for you? And why should he suppose
that you would need help or comfort
could give your If he had given you a
thousand pounds, it would have been
more to the purpose"