The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-06

it."
What were they?"
That l would never part with it vi
der any circumstances, unless it was
give it again in his charge, and-an
-"
well, what else?"
THAT when every other source ofhel
and comfort failed / would go TO it
don't look 80 angry, Stephen"
81 think 1 have a good cause to b
angry; it was like prophecy of ill-fol
tune. Why should he forespeak sorro'
for you? And why should he suppos
that you would need help and comfort
could give you? Ifhe had given you
thousand pounds, it would have bee
more to the purpose"
Maggie looked quietly up.
She had meyer heard such a sentimen
from Stephens lips before.
Then she laughed gaily-
"A thousand pounds, Stephen. Why
what on earth could We do with somucl
money!"
Buy and drain Dru's Moss, Maggie
Maggie drew her eyebrows together
and looked wonderingly at Stephen, WIN
had risen and was pacing the floor will
rapid thoughtful steps.
why, love-" she said an1iously
what can you mean? Druis Moss
What is that worth?"
"a few leeches and wild birds now
Maggie, but acres and acres of colder
wheat and rich meadow grass, if it wa.
drained. was talking with Thwaites
about it to-day. Both our uplands are
worn out. The Moss lies betweeen us
1 would give five years Of my life TO OWL
half of it, and money sufficient to drain
and cultivate it"
@How much money would do Ste
phen?'
"a thousand pounds. l could drain
part and then save the proceeds to drain
the rest. But where could l get the
money!"
q was thinking of uncle. Would YOU
let me ask him?"
Nothing is so wonderful as the growth
of masters passion.
In a few hours the desire for this par.
ticular piece of land had strengthened
itself so that Stephen began TO consider
whether it might not be worth while tc
let his wife go borrowing for him.
The longer he talked the more eager
he became, so that at last Maggie fell
hurt to see what trifie he made of hel
feelings, and of the risk that Joseph
would run.
However, next day she went to see the
old man, and as they sat together over
their tea. said:
stephen wants TO join Squire
Thwaites in buying the Druis Moss
uncle"
"What for??''
Why, they talk of great wheatf elds
and meadows
at will need sight of drainage. and
that means sight of money. | should
not think Stephen had idle cash sufii-
cient."
He wants to borrow it.
Joseph's face clouded.
Wonders never cease. / thought
Stephen Gray would starve before he
would borrow or owe money"
Don't cast up the past, uncle. Ste
phen thinks if he could borrow thou
sand pounds, he would make it ten in a
few years; and uncle 1 came to day to
ask you TO lend him it."
"You came useless journey, Maggie,
forby 1 don't like that pride that makes
others stoop for its conceit."
Squire Thwaites said you had plenty
Of money in the bank"
IF had money, I'd never trust it in
any bank but 1 make no more than /
need now. l am getting an old man.
Maggie"
stephen will be sorely disappointed.
"He has no call To be so. / told him
you would have no fortune, and he quite
scorned at the thought of the money
with you; he had his choice between
you and Kate Croft, with the Croft
at her will
The old man was quite gloomy after
this talk, and Maggie was almost glad to
escape from the silent hearthstone to the
hustle of her own busy farm and noisy
welcome of her husband.
Stephen took the refusal very proudly,
but the idea had now become paramount,
and Joseph Hawickls refusal had only
made him the more det 'rmined to carry
put the project
He had fierce struggL with his pride
md his independence, but the next day
ne made arrangements to aise the mon
~ by mortgage ON the IA rm that had
been unincumberedf for h, undred years.
In a few weeks all arran, sements had
,een made, the Moss had b cen bought'
and divided. and the partners
n its drainage went to work.
1t soon paoYed itselfa drair age of two
xinds. After many hundred of pounds
,ad been spent to vary little purpose,
more experienced, surveyors had to be
ent for, and entirely new means and
used. Too much had been
brown into the moss to abandon the
,roiect, and yet the constant cry for
noney was fast exhausing the patience
md purses ofboth Thwaitesa and Stephen
tray.
The former, more able to bear iis loss
,ecarae, after two years labor, quite in
Iifferent, talked of the affair as hopeless,
nd was half angry 81 Stephen Tor per-
isting.
But something iR desperation ami
mated the young farmer. for he had SO
ar mortgaged his home and estate that
heir redemption was hopeless if the
doss failed him.
Poor Maggie, with two little babies to
are for, srove to help him by taking