The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-06
Sslsrt Story.
THE DRAINING OF DRU,S MOSS.

stephen, l wish, dear, you had beer
a little more civil to Uncle Joseph"
Nonsense, Maggie, darling. 1 dom
like Joseph Hawick and his ways, and
am not going to pretend do.'
"His ways are very good ways. NJ
one can say wrong of him, Stephen"
THAT is just it; they are too good.
rather think am old enough to know
what | am doing, and what | want.
don't owe penny, and l never mean tc
ask favor except of you, or ofmy hands
If palavered over Joseph Hawick he
would be the very first to say he wanted
the trifie of money he may have saved.
Maggie sighed, and then looked up
into Stephens handsome face and smiled
Stephen, of course, was right; a man
with such eyes and such figure could
not, in loves sight, be wrong.
He was brave and confident, too, and
had that way of assertion which only
cool and sensible people can resist.
Joseph Hawick loved his niece with .
kind and tender affection, and she had
not chosen the husband he would have
chosen for her.
Stephen Gray was indeed "well-to-do,'
and had fair character, but the keen
old man saw radical defects in ii.
@He listens to no one but himself, and
SO he bears no advice but a flatterer's,
Joseph had said; besides, Maggie, he is
so proud, that / am afraid he is bound to
have tumble"
But, Uncle, he has a big heart, and
he's good farmer, and even you can see
that he's the handsomest man in the
Dale"
THAT is all true, girl, but God does
not measure men by inches"
However, in spite of all disafection,
Maggie Hawick's wedding with Stephen
Gray came off with great and wide
spread hospitality.
Joseph Hawiek had been for forty
years the physician and friend of all the
Dale families, rich and poor, and not one
of them missed an invitation.
But all were merry and full of good
wishes for the pretty bride and her hand
some husband.
The number of bridal presents Maggie
received testified to it.
Stephens sideboard and buffet would
be bright with silver tokens, and his
presses full of snowy damask and fine
spun linen and blankets.
But upon the whole, it rather morti-
fed him.
He could not feel the loving kindness
that sanctified the gifts, and the object
was not pleasant to the selfsufficient
young man.
He had assured Joseph Hawick volun-
tarilyand with rather unnecessary pride,
that he wanted nothing with Maggie
neither gold nor 'gear-and yet for all
that he looked rather anxiously for the
old mans offerings.
Joseph Hawick was believed in spite
Of his eccentric attentions to poor pa
tients, to "have money" and Stephen
felt that handsome cheque would not
be out of place, for he had been at some
in refreshing the old farm
house, and he was very anxious to try
some new scientific experiments on his
land.
But Maggie said nothing about her
uncle's present and Stephen was far too
proud to ask her until nearly year
after their marriage
But one day he had long talk with
Did Squire Thwaites about High farm
ing" and then the two men drifted into
the discussion of some scheme for the
draining of Drus moss.
Then Stephen, thinking it all over as
be smoked his pipe, saw untold weaitn
Of harvest from the rich alluvial soil,
and fabulous wheat fields growing where
men now caught leeches or shot wild
owls.
Ifhe only had money.
If he only had thousand pounds In
ash. Thwaites and he would buy and
Train the Moss.
He sat dreaming over the project and
the acres and bushels over and
over, until he began to look upon Drus
Moss rs the one thing upon earth he
lesired.
Maggie" he said suddenly to the
title wife sewing beside him, maggie,