The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-30

my grandfather, "of asking you how you
are coming on with your piano-playing
friend"
II scarcely see her, except on Sundays"
"Humph!" returned my grandfather,
clearing his throat. I didn't like the
ejaculation. I often heard it before, and
I regarded it with the same apprehension
that a mariner does an ugly cloud that
rises up to the windward.
"Humph!' he continued, blowing a
column OF smoke toward the china Orna-
ments on the mantelpiece, "what are you
good for?" He looked fairly at me as he
asked the question.
He evidently expected a reply, so an
swered him by saying that as yet l didn't
know.
"That's candid, at all events" he re-
piled. "I've been thinking good deal
about you of late, and it occurred to me
that you might make a poor lawyer after
all. And you know what poor lawyer
is. You remember Simmons, the man
used to board upon the farmers during
the summer time? Well, he was what
they term poor lawyer. He hadn't
brains enough to make his profession
support him, and was ready to do writing
or saw wood to belp to exc out liveli-
hood"
"Our grandson has brains,' tartly in
terruptcd my grandmother. my side
of the family contained no fools, and
yours, father, were what was termed cute
men,"
"Theres beginning everywhere" re-
turned the old man, putting vigorously at
his pipe. "There must be beginning"
Having delivered this remark with an
emphasis which left no doubt that he be-
leved it, he went on:
"Can you take that clock to pieces
(thcre was an old-fashioned clock stand
ing in the corner of the room) and put it
together again?"
I'm no clock Maker replied.
"That is to say" rejoined he, "you
have no mechanical ingenuity. One need
not be clock maker to do that. I have
done it, and can do it again; and I am no
clock maker"
"How unreasonable you are, father"
suggested my grandmother.
He did not appear to notice her re-
mark, but continued.
"Can you turn sommersault?"
II never tried,' replied.
"Then you are not as expert as clown.
For the life of me can't see what good
you are going to do in the world"
"And I can't see," said my dear old
grandmother, "what occasion there will be
for the boy to mend clocks or turn sum-
mersaults. To hear you talk, one would
think you had nothing to leave him but
your advice, and that is not Of the most
encouraging nature"
"a young man should rely upon him.
SELF" returned my grandfather. Riches
take wings. I've managed to hold my
property together pretty we'll, but how do
I know he will do so when you and are
gone? He'll marry Miss Miller. What
sort of wife will she make him? Smart
with her heels, no doubt. Nimble with
her fingers at the old organ, but those
won't serve to keep family from going
headlong to destruction.
"Sallie Miller is very prudent and
useful girl" replied my grandmother.
"Don't you?" he replied. Then he re-
lapsed into silence, and smoked and
looked into the fire.
By and by he got up and walked out of
the room, and then my dear old grand
mother took my hand and held it in her
own, and told me not to fret, that she
would bring my grandfather to think
better of my sweetheart.
thanked her ever so much, but I had
little hope that she would ever be success
full.
About this time my grandfather was
selling some property in the town where I
was reading law, and it became necessary
for him to go there to sign some deeds
and receive the money for the sale. AT
his request accompanied him.
1t was nearly evening when his bust
ness was finished, and we set out on Our
return home. -Four thousand dollars,
the proceeds of the sale, my grandfather
carried in bank notes on his person, as it
was too late to make deposit in bank.
The old gentleman was in good humor,
and talked pleasantly as we drove along.
My mind was full of schemes just at that
time, as to how was to support Sallie
Miller if I married her before my grand
father died. I little dreamed that ere we
arrived home way would be open to
me: We were going down a steep hill
and it was now quite dark, when the
horse stumbled and fell, and in an instant
a shaft was snapped in twain. I sprang
out of the wagon and grandfather quickly
followed. ..;d>v. =. &. f..
The horse in his fall had become en-
tangled in the harness, and lay helpless
upon the earth. The moon was Just ris.
ing and gave but an uncertain light. fol-
the sky was full of fleccy clouds, but still
If LIGHT onouor1, IN ,>oroo;1,o