The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-12-27

I
"Humph returned my grandfather.
ejaculation ! had heard IL before and
regarded Il with the same apprehenlion
that a mariner does an ugly cloud that
rises up TO the windward
! "HumphV he continued blowing a
/ column Of smoke toward the china orna-
ments on the mantelpiecc. what are you
\ good for 2 lie looked at me Squarcly
as he asked the question.
He evidently expected a reply. 20 ] an.
swered him by saying that a. yet ] didn't
That's candid. az all events" he re-.
/ piled. "Ivo been thinking good deal
about you Of late, and IL occurred 10 me
that you might make poor lawyer after
all. And you know what n poor lawyer
Is You remember Simmons. the man
/ who used 10 board about upon the farm.
ers during the summer timer Well, ho
was what they term a poor lawyer lie
hadn't brains enough 10 make his pro-
iession support him. and was ready 10
do writing or saw wood TO help 10 exc
out livelihood.
"our grandson has brains. tartly In.
terrupted my grandmother. MY eide
Of the family contained no fools. aud
yours, father, were what was termed
cute men"
There's beginning everywhere" 70.
turned the old man, putting vigorously
at his pipe.
There must be a beginning"
Having delivered this remark with an
emphasis which left no doubt that ho
bclisved Il, he went on
Can you take that clock 90 pieces
(thero was an old.iashionod clock stand.
ing in the corner Of the room) and put
IL together again 2
I'm no clock maker replied.
That is TO say, rejoined he" you
have no mechanical ingenuity One
need not be a clock maker 20 do that I
have done IL, and can do IL again aud
am no clock-makcr."
"How unreasonable you are, father"
suggested my grandmother.
lie did not appear 10 notice her 70.
mark, but continued:
Can you turn a somorEaultT'
II never tried. I replied.
Then you are not a. expert a. a clown.
For tho life OF me / can see what good
you are going 10 do in the world"
And ! cant see, said my dear old
grandmother. what occasion there will
be for the boy TO mend clocks or turn
somersaults. To hear you talk. one
would think you had nothing 10 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 well, but how
do | know he will do so when you aud
are gomez He'll marry Miss Miller
What sort Of n wife will she make him1
Smart with her heels. no doubt Nimble
with her fingers at the old organ. but
those won't serve 10 keep a family from
going headlong 10 destruction
sally Miller i n very prudent and
useful girl," replied my grandmother.
Il don't see what you can find amiss In
her"
Don't your be returned. Then he
Felapsed 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 Il ia her
own. and told me not 10 fret, that she
would bring my grandfather 10 think
better Of my sweetheart.
I thanked her ever 30 much. but had /
little hope that she would be successful |
About this time my grandfather was /
selling some property in the town where /
was reading law, and IL became neccs. i
sary for him 10 60 there TO sign some 1
deeds and receive the money for the /
sale. AZ his request accompanied him
II was nearly evening when the busi.
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 ID
was too late 10 make a deposit in bank
The old gentleman was in good humor.
and talked pleasantly as We drove along
Ny mind was full Of schemes just az that
time as TO how ! was 10 support Sally
Miller II married her before my grand.
father died. ! little dreamed that ere
we arrived home n way would be open 10
me, We were going down a steep hill
and il was now quite dark, when the
horse stumbled and fell. and in an in
slant q shaft was snapped in twain. !
sprang out OF the wagon and grandfather
quickly followed.
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, for
the sky was full Of ileccy clouds. but still
il was light enough 10 perceive grand
father drop the package OF four thousand
dollars as he stopped down 10 free the
horse. There il lay at my feet Another
instant had picked il up and was hid
ing il behind me. irresoluto how 10 act
You will understand that didn't mean
to steal IL. but somehow or other I had
an instructive idea that could make the
occasion subserve my aims. There was a
large Hat stone by the roadside / had
trapped a rabbit there once. and knew
there was a considerable cavity beneath
t. An instant later, and the four thou.
sand dollars were deposited In the hole
The shaft being tied up, we got on our
way again. but IL was midnight ere We ar
rived at home.
Grandfather had not been within doors
Eve minutes ere he discovered the loss Of
his money. lie didn't get angry, but he
was frightened. lt was the first time In
my life | had witnessed him alarmed.
i've lost my money he exclaimed. as
he drew his hand from his coat pocket
Then be slid down like a helpless child
into a chair, and the cold perspiration
broke out In large drops on his forehead.
His face became very white Grand.
mother was standing by his side.
For an instant my heart reproachod
me. and I was almost ready 20 confess my
trick, for my grandfather looked tho pic.
ture Of despair.
"Tn 60 and saddle horse and ride
back | suppose you must have lost 10
when tha horse was being freed from the
harness. 'Tis only three miles back. and
the moon is now up. IL won't take me
long to ride IL
Il think Ill 60 with you. replied the
old man.
Don't think Of Il" ] replied. Trust
me, grandfather; Il I can't mend a clock
or turn q somcrsault you will acknowl.
edge / was always a good hunter. III
bet anything you have that Ill recover