The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-05-15
SEVENTY.SEXEN.4
What is that you say, Roberto

"Don't they2 Now my belief is that
there never was little duty done, or a
kind word spoken which did not bring a
long train of blessings. You may not
see them but somewhere and somehow
they ae there just as you plant a seed
and go away, and the roots spread and
the tree grows, and goes On growing, and
the birds come and sing in the branches,
long after you are dead I'll tell you a
story about that" said the old man, set
thing himself on the heap of warm hay,
while the boys gath cred around him.
Two boys went cut t. fish oae day.
If you clear out the barn. their father
told them in the morning, you can have
the afternoon for play.
Let's make a quick job of it, said
Charley.
So they worked steadily and actively
and earned their holiday. As they start
ed, they halted by the gate, their rods
over their shoulders.
60 The pond or the creek?' asked Bill.
'Charley was a good hearted fellow.
The creek; aud then we can tax,
basket of apples to old Aunty stannix,'
he said
so they brought the apples gave them
to the old negro. and went down to the
creek. Under big walnut was dark
pool, the very place for perch.
They hardly spoke for an hour. Just
as Bill had q nibblc a step was heard on
the grass above. and man appeared and
looked down at them: His clothes were
shabby, his face strangely bleodless and
pinched.
"'It's too bad,' muttcred Bill. ,sHc's
driven that fellow away and he's a two
FOUNDER. The sneaking old tramp! I'll
shy stone at him if he comes any
closer
"'You'll do nothing of the sort, Bill
Paraee,' said Charley. The man looks
hungry, poor fellow
~ believe he's escaped from the lock-
up persisted Bill. IF he comes down
Ill tell him to go back to Jail where he
belongs, see if don't
The man was slowly and unsteadily
making his way toward them. He watch.
ed the boys with a strangely eager, i'm
ploring glance. A few feet from them
he stopped, twirling his hat in his hand "
"'Been afishing, boys?' he said. Can
como down.
Before I tell you what they said, I
must go back little.
Fifteen years before dead man was
found in the woods, a mile from this
creek. He was a son of one of the neigh
boring farmers. There was a. bullet hole
through his heart, but his watch and
money were untouched The object of
the murderer had been revenge, not plum
plumber.
:'Suspicien fell on a com panion of the
victim, with whom he had had quarrel
They had been seen on the road to.
gether week before, and the murdered
man was never seen alive again
This friend was arrested and tired. The
circumstantial evidence was strong
against him. He was found guilty, and
sentenced to imprisonment for life. Fiji.
teen years of his confinement had passed
when he received pardon, and was re-
leased.
On the morning and just at the hour
when our boys went to clear the barn
locking up and down the busy streets, as
though he were half blinded. - ..
The gate-keeper followed him kindly
Where are ye goin', Seventy ht
asked, calling the man by his prison
name.
I huO"
"'GOt no kim
The man did not answer. He sat dowl
ON the, curbstone, his eyes blinking, hi
mouth twiching nevously. He looked
wi,,fully at the gate, as if he would asl
to be taken in again. In that fifteen year
his cell had grown to be home to him
He had no other home. The keepe
turned to 60 in.
"'Don't leave me, Jackson he said
tex bly, putting out his hand.
jackson stood before him. Take
cigar he said, in token of their ne,
equality. '.".s
"'I have never smoked
Where are ye goin', anyhow
'Seventy- seven stared vacantly u
AMI down the street. When he had gon
in at the gate, he was young and hand
some man. He had been a lawyer in fai
practice, with a mother who made an ide
of him, an1 hosts of friends.
''Nc" was bent and white haired
There w. 40: = man whom he could ca