The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-15

| pldCe. ne got DOWN nearJeQ, ana SOlQ
out for good figger; but it turned out
the article handsomely afterwards, and
the deacon's that mad he could jump
into a bramble- bush. But sometimes,
you see, it's all poor fellow can doSto
sell out when he amt got capital to work
it. The destruction of the poor is their
poverty so the Scriptur tells u.s."
"Yes?" said Ben, his eyes following
Rosy on her way from the milking-shed
with two foaming pals.
Ben could hardly have told why he
stayed on in Little Bassett from day to
day; whether the neighborhood of such
oil as must have burned in Aladdin's
wonderful lamp or the subtle persuasions
of Landlord Cramm kept him spell
bound in the rustic village, with its
pretty river trickling to the sea, and its
background of spicy woods, where the
tinkle of cow-be.ls seemed like music
blown from fairy-land. At least he did
not put the question to himself. He had
been making tour of the different oil
wells one afternoon, and, coming home
through the Bassett woods, he fell in
with Rosy.
"After flowers'" asked Ben. "Isn't
it growing dark? Hadn't you better
turn back with me?"
Il must find Jetty first, replied Rosy.
And who may Jetty be-"
"Jetty is the COW; she strays away
and gets lost in the woods. Last year
couldn't find her till after nine one
night"
hour?"
1T was bright moonlight"
And supposing there had been no
moon?"
81 must have stayed till found her,
moon or no moon. Hank! did hear her
bell?"
perhaps we may find her sooner to-
gether. May l go with you?"
Yes, suppose you may" They
strolled on, the moon casting weird
shadows and peopling the wood with fan
tastic shapes; and sometimes they for
got why they were there, and sometimes
frightened bird brushed the dew from
the tangle, or the faint melody of a bell
stirred the silence and quickened their
steps. 1t was after eight when they
drove old Jetty home, and Ben had been
surprised more than once by the speech
that fell from Rosy's pretty lips. She
knew the old poets, whom young ladies
of the period disdain to cultivate. She
was at home with Scott, and familiar
with the tenets of the elder theologlans.
You told me thatyou had never been
to school,, said Ben, but ebody has
taught you. There is no royal road to
knowledge"
eyes; Parson Psalters wife taught me
to read and write, and she gave me little
presents for learning verses by heart.
She used to borrow me of Mrs. Cramm to
read to her when her dear old eyes failed.
Yes, and when she died she left me all
her books"
Ben was more than ever interested in
the subject of oil as the days went by.
He listened to the enthusiastic raptures
Of all Little Bassett, and was persuaded
that this was the tide which leads on to
fortune. So he stayed on and on, learn
ing the minutie of this method of coin
ing money, helping Rosy carry her brim-
ming pals to the dairy, or bring the but
ter-for Mrs. Cramm was not one to allow
milk to sour on her hands, whatever the
prospect which the oil well afforded.
Ben had inherited certain amount of
money from distant cousin, who, with
his child, had disappeared from the sight
of men years ago; now he informed Mr.
Cramm that he wished to invest it in oil.
"rll tell you what I'll do by ye," said
that disinterested soul. "I've took a
mighty liking to you, and so has Miss
Cramm; there's my well. Pm thunder
ing poor man, Mr.. Bates, and Pm work
ing it at disadvantage. Pm awfully in
debt, to tell the truth. Pm mortgaged
up to the chin, and | don't hev no peace
for fear of keeper in the house, and
a-being brought to disgrace afore my
neighbors-and these womenfolks to look
after. Now, mark my word, somebody's
got to make fortune out of that ere
well, and I'd rather it d be you, Mr..
Bates, than anybody, as it won't be Jim
Cramm; if you've got the means, you
couldn't do better than to take this ele-
plant off my hands"
Thanks, said Ben. "I'll think about
it." Whereupon the merits of the Cramm
Well were so adroitly celebrated that Ben
began not only to think but to talk about
it.
One evening, week later, when Ben
went to his room, folded slip of paper
under his candlestick attracted his atten.
ton. Thinking it might be delicate
fashion of Landlord Cramm to present
his bills in this way, he opened and read:
Mr.. BATEs--DO not buyHe "Cramna We'll"
70" ciU be sorry if you do.
A KIND FRIEND.
Mr.. Bates smiled broadly He would
show it to Mr.. Cramm at breakfast, and
have a laugh over the device of some
rival striker; but morning brought wiser
counsel. Was it not woman's hand?
Perhaps Rosy's; and, if so, might it not
deserve attention? When he went forth
to smoke, after breakfast, he encountered
Rosy in the garden patch, picking peas
for dinner.
All, here is my kind friend, NJ he
hazarded, holding out his hand. Rosy
started and blushed Glow came you
to send me that warning, Rosy?" he pur-
sued. " What do you know about the
Cramm Well?"
II" she asked, with ill-feisned sur
prise. "What made you think sent
itY"
"Did YOU not?"