Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-05-19
the STONE BY THE ROADSIDE

the STONE BY THE ROADSIDE.
Where the town of Randolph now car
ries on its busy traffic, Egbert Bacon's
farm was once located, Egbert Bacon
was my grandfather. His farm covered
more than seven hundred good acres and
he considered himself wealthy, as he un.
doubtedly was. lie started in life a Door
boy, and his honest accumulation was
the result of his toll.
Grandfather was a very peculiar man.
Many persons consider him penurious,
but he was really liberal and from the
fact that his charities were given with
secrecy, people supposed that he never
contributed to good works. 1t was in his
old age (and he lived to a great period)
that company of Spectators bought his
lanG, because of the fine water power that
I ran through it, and as soon as they erected
the mills the place began to go forward
until Hacon's farm was a thing of the
past. can recollect when the first mill
was built, and well remember my boy
ish curiosity in watching the mechanics
who worked upon it,
My grandmother was about the same
age as her husband. She did not long
survive hi: death, and I missed a good
friend and counsellor when she left me-
Grandfather expected me to be farmer,
but as | never had any taste for hard
work, my thoughts and inclinations went
another way. OF course he was not at all
pleased with my stubbOrnness, but my
good grandmother always stepped between
me and his wrath, and shielded me much
from his displeasure.
The old gentleman was a sturdy man
at seventy years, He invariably dressed
in brown clothes, and wore so broad a
brim to his low-crowned hat he might
easily have been taken for Quaker at
first sight. But get him angry once land
his irritability was easily aroused and he
would let fly such sharp and vehement
sentences :hat it was sometimes difficult
to imagine they were not profane.
was nineteen years old and was deep
in love with Salie Miller, the young
lady who played the organ at the Gross
Roads Church. and was the finest dancer
among all the girls in the country.
Grandfather had conceived dislike tor
SaIlie because she was a musician. He
had no ear for music, and was not
moved by discord of sweet sounds"
and nothing so quickly excited his ire as
to scrape violin within his hearing, or
strike ] chord upon the piano.
Much against my own grandfather's
inclination, be permitted me to enter the
law office Of Mr.. Smart, as student.
Had it not been for the good offices of
my grandmother ! should not have had
the wish of my heart gratifed. But she
smoothed the way for my grandfathers
consent, But he never ceased to ridiCuIe
me for my pretensions, and positively
refused to give me his consent to marry
SalIie Miller 1t would not have been a
wise thing in me to cross the old gentle
mans whims, for ! was his heir and he
could have found another without much
difficulty, so never urged my case but
humored him in every way | could
think Of
"What are you thinking about faith.
er," she inquired. She always called
him by that name.
II was thinking" he slowly replied, |
taking the pipe from between his lips and
dropping both hands upon his knees,
"that few years hence, and one won't |
see good old hickory logs burning upon
andirons, Stoves and CRATES, and that
internal coal that makes gas enough to
sufocate household, will supply the
place of our old-fashioned fires"
ought to have held my tongue, for
he was not speaking to me but ] want. |
ed to show off some.of my smartness, and
so | replied
"Ohl my dear sir, there is really no
occasion for having stove which per-
mits the gas to escape, We have now
gas consuming stoves, and one is not
troubled in the way You suppose"
"Pray, Mr.. Smartness, permit me to
inquire how long you have been possess
I'd of this valuable information? | ihaye
known it for some years, or rather have
heard it said, that these stoves were gas
burners, but it's all lie there's net
word OF truth in it. I've known them
70 send out as much gas as would kill an
TX, i he were confined in the atmos-
ohere. Now, sir, don't you feel like
ool?"
"Come now, father" replied my
grandmother, don't be so severe on the
ooy," (she called me boy to the day of
Ter death) che only told you what he
heard, no doubt, and of course every one
S liable to make mistakes, especially
lbout such matters"
THAT puts me in mind" continued
ny grandfather "of asking YOU how
you are coming on with your piano
playing friend
Il scarcely see her, except on Sun
lays
Humph!' returned my grandfather,
,Iearing his throat. | didn't like the
ejaculation, ] often heard it before, and
regarded it with the same apprehen-
lion that a mariner does an ugly cloud
hat RISES up to the windward.
" Humph !" he continued, blowing A
column of smoke toward the china orna.
nents on the mantelpiece, "what are
'ou good for W He looked squarely at
ne as he asked question.
lie evidently expected reply, 50 ! l.