The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-02-08


let him ever leave them again. The sup
pile sons were all penitence and affection
directly. Brian at last consented to stay,
but stipulated for certain chamber with
key to it. "For," said he, 81 have
got my strong box to take care of, as well
AZ myself
They pricked up their ears directly at
mention of the strong box, and asked
where it was.
"Oh it is not far, but can't carry it.
Give me two boys to fetch it.
"Oh Guillaum and Shamus would
carry it on anything to oblige long lost
father"
SO they went with him to the farmers
cart, and brought in the box. which was
pretty large, and above all very full and
heavy.
He was once more king of his own
house, and flattered and petted as he had
never been since he gave away his estate.
To be sure, he fed this by mysterious
hints that he had other lands besides
those in that part of the country, and
that, indeed, the full extent of hispos-
sessions would never be known until his
will was read which will was safely
locked away in his strong box-with other
things.
And so he passed pleasant time, i'm
bittered only by regrets, and very poig-
nant they were, that he could hear moth
ing of his son Garret. Lurcher also was
taken great care of, and became old and
lazy.
But shocks that do not kill undermine.
Before he reached threescore and ten,
Brian Taafe's night work and troubles
told upon him, and he drew near his end.
| He was quite conscious of it, and an
nounced his own departure, but not in n
regretful way. He had become quite a
/ philosopher ; and indeed there was sort
of clIuckle about the old fellow in speak
ingof his own death, which his daughters
/ in-law secretly denounced as unchristian,
! and, what was worse, unchancy.
Whenever he did mention the expected
event, he was sure to say "And mind,
boys, my will is in that chest"
Don't speak of it, father" was the
reply.
When he was dying, he called for both
his sons, and said, in feeble voice GO
was strong farmer, and come Of honest
folk. Yell give me good wakin', boys,
an gran funeral
They promised this very heartily.
So there was grand wake, and the
virtues of the deceased and his profes-
sional Importance were duly howled by
an old lady who excelled in this lugll.
brious art. Then the funeral was hur.
ried on, because they were in a hurry tC
open the chest.
The funeral was joined in the church.
yard by stranger. who muff1ed his
! {a Il, t1,n not oil
upon that grave. After the funeral he
stayd behind all the rest and mourned
but he joined the family at the feas
which followed; and, behold it was
Gu'ret. come q day too. lat.1s Ie was
welcomed with eXuberant affection, mo-
being down in the will; but they did no
ask him to sleep there. They wanted tC
he alone. and real the will. He begget
for some reminiscence of his father, ant
they gave him Lurcher. So he pu
Lurcher into his gig, and drove away t.
that good farmer, sure of his welcome
and praying God he might find hin
alive. Perhaps his brothers would no
he had made large fortune i'll America
: and was going to buy quite slice of The
county.
On the way he kept talking to Lurch
er, and reminding him of certain sport
they had enjoyed together, and feats o
poaching. Poor old Lurcher kept priclSin!
his ears all the time, and cudgeled hi
memory as to the tones of the voice tina
WIS addressing him. Garret reached tn,
farm, and was received first with stares
then with cries of JOY. and was dragged
into the house, so to speak. After tn
first ardor Of welcome, he told them III
: had arrived only just i'll time to bury hi
father "And this old dog" said lie
sis all that's left me of him. He wa
mine first, but when / left, he took t,
, father He was always a wise dog.
1--WE know him, said the wife: h,
has been here before" And she wa
: going to blurt it all out, but her MAJ
said, "Another time, and gave her
look as black as thunder, which WASH
his way at all, but he explained to he
| afterward "They are friends, thos
three, over the old mans grave. w
, should think twice before we stir il
blood bet,me EN-" So when he stoppe'
! her, she turned it off cleyelly enough
! and said the dear old dog must have hi
: supper Supper they gave him, and
: new sheepskin TO lie on by the great fire
: So there he lay, and seemed to doze.
! The best bed in the house was laid fo
: Garret, and when he got up to go to il
. didn't that wise old dog get up too wit
| an effort, and move stif1iy toward GaI
ret, ana lick his hand; then lay dow,
again all of piece, as who should say
"Im very tired of it all. HE know
> me now at last. He was always Won
derful wise dog"
e In the morning they found Lurche
g dead and stiff on the sheepslSin. 1t wa
a long goodnight he had bid SO quietl
S to the friend of his youth.
l Garret shed tears over him, and said
5 eff L had only known what he meant
e I'd have sat mp with him. But l neye
2 could see far. He was deal wiser fo
a dog than l shall ever be for man."
a Meantime the family party assemble
a in the bedroom of the deceased. Ever
q trace of feigned regret had left thei
= faces, and all their eyes sparkled wit
JOY and curiosity. They went to ope
: the chest. 1t was locked. They hunte
u for the key first quietly, then fussil!
S The women found it at last, sewed up
i the bed they cut it out and opened til
chest.
b The first thing they found was a k
;, OF stones. They glared at them, and I'll
color left their faces. What deviltry WI
9 this i?
}. Presently they found writing ON OF
n stone: Look below" Then there Wi
J, reaction, and a loud laugh. The o.
fox was afraid the money and parchmen
g / a. h. n I