The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-29
The Stone by the Roadside.

Iafln was once located. EgDcrt Bacon
was my grandfather. His farm covered
more than seven hundred good acres, ans
ne considered himself wealthy. as he un
doubtedly was. tie started in life pool
boy, and his honest accumulation was thC
result Of his toll
Grandfather was q very peculiar man
Many persons considered him penurious
but he was really liberal and, nom the
fact that his charities We're given in Sc
cresy, people supposed that he never con.
trlbuted to good works. itWas in bis ole
age (and he lived to a great period) thai
company Of spectators bought his land
because of the fine water power that ran
through it, and, as soon as they erected
the mills, the place began to go forward
until Bacon'S farm was a thing Of the
past. | can recollect when the first mil
was built, and | we'll remember my boy
hood curiosity in Watching the mechanics
who worked upon it.
My grandmother was about the same
age as her husband. She did not long
survive his death, and missed Il good
friend and counselor when she left me
Grandfather expected me to be a farmer,
but as | never had any taste for hard
work, my thoughts and inclin&tiuns went
another way. OF course he was not at
all pleased with my stubborness. but my
good grandmother always stepped be
tween me and his wrath, and shielded
me much from his displeasure
The old gentleman was sturdy man
ut seventy years. He invariably dressed
III brown clothes. and wore 50 broad a
brim to his low-croWned hat he might
easily have been taken for Quaker at
first sight. But get him angry once (and
his imitability was easily aroused) and he
would let fly such sharp and vehement
sentences that it was sometimes difficult
TO imagine they We're not protanG.
Twas - years old, and was deep in love
with Sallie Miller, the young lady who
played the organ at the Cross Roads
church, and was the finest dancer among
all the girls in the country. Grandfather
had conceived a dislike for Sallie because
She was musician. He had no ear for
music, and was not ''moved by concord
OF sweet sounds" and nothing 50 quickly
excited his ire as to Scrdpe a violin within
his hearing or strike a chord upon the
piano.
Much against my own grandtather's in
clination he permitted me to enter the
law office Of Mr.. Smart as q student.
Had it not been for the good Offices of
my grandmother. | should not have had
the wish of my life gratified. But she
smoothed the way for my grandfather $
consent. But he never ceased to lidiculc
me lUr iIlN Iluu,l4Jivt., .~--I ,.,,e;+;,.os- no
to piN n
Salle Miller 1t would not be a wise
thing IN me to cross the old gentleman's is
Whims, for | was his heir and he could
have found another without much diff
Guilty, so | never urged my case, but
humorcd him in every way could think
'!What are YOU thinking about, father p
she inquired She always called him by
that name.
~ was thinklng,' he slowly replied,
taking the pipe from between his teeth,
and dropping both hands upon his knees,
''that few years hence, and one wont
see good Old hickory logs burning upon
andirons. Stoves and CRATES, and that
internal coal that makes gas enough to
sutfocate Il household, will supply the
place til plll pltl ldSlIlpllttl III t1.
| ought to have held my tongue, for he
was not speaking to me but wanted
to show off some of my smartneSs and SO
! replied:
''Dh my dear Sir, there is really no
occasion for having a stove which permits
the gas to escape We haze now gas
consuming stoves, and one is not troubled
in the way yOu suppose"
Pray, Mr., Smartness, permit me tc
inquire how long have You been pos
SeSsed Of this valuable information
have known it for some Years, or rather
have heard it said that these stoves Were
gas burners, but its all a lie there is not
a word OF truth III it. I've known them
to send ont as much gas as would kill an
OK. Now, sir, don't YOU feel like fool 2
Come now father said grandmother
''d0nt be 50 severe on the boy, tShC
called me a boy to the day OF her deathD
he only told yon what he heard. no
doubt, and of course, every one is liable
to make mistakes
"That puts me in mind continued my
grandfather. "of asking You how you are
coming Oh with your piano PLAYING
friend ?'
"l scarcely see her. except sundays.
'Humph " returned my grandfather
clearing his throat. didn't like the ejac-
ulation had heard it before, and re-
gardcd it with apprehensions of fear.
" Elumph !" he continued, blowing I
column Of smoke toward the china orlla-
ments on the mantelpiece, "what are yol
good for p He looked at me squarely IL
he asked the question.
He evidently expected Il reply, 50
answered him by saying that as yet
didn't know.
''That's candid, at all events" he re
piled, "Pve been thinking a good dea
about you of late, and it occurred to mi
that you might make a poor lawyer, atte
| all. And You know what a poor laWye
| is You remember Simmons, the MAJ
who used to board about upon the farm
els during the summer time? Well, he
was what they term poor lawyer. Ilt
hadn't brains enough to make his protcs
sion support him. and was ready to d
writing or saw wood to help to exc out
| livelihood"
'Our grandson has brains" tartly in
terrupted my grandmother. "My sid
of the family contained no fools, ant
| yours, father, We're what was termet
cute men,
"There's a beginning everywhere" re
turned the old man, putting vigorousl
at his pipe. 'Theremust be a beginning.
Having delivered this remark with al
emphasis which left no doubt that he be
lieved it, he went on:
''Can you take that clock to piece
| there was an old-fashioned clock stand
ing in the corner of the room) and put i
together again ?"
'Tm no clock maker" replied
'"That is to say" rejoined he, "you hav
no mechanical ingenuity. One need no
be clock maker to do that. have don
it, and can do it again; and ! am n
clock maker"
GLOW unreasonable you are, father,
suggested my grandmother.
He did not appear to notice her remark
but continued:
"Can you turn d somersaultW "
II never tried" | replied.