Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1878-11-07
2HisrfHaun
THE USES OF DUFF

From the Youths Companion.
Everybody in the town of Warren
shook their heads when you talked of the
Scafords.
Warren was little village on the side
of Il Pennsylvania mountain, peoplcd with
hardest, thrifticst, sharpest-tempered folks
that ever drew their living from that I'M
willing limestone soil. The villagers DIS
puted AMI qumrelcd about everything
but the ScalordS. There was but one
opinion of them.
"Thc Scafords never would get on. ~
"They were Woodworking, clever, pi-
ouS folks enough; but they would n"v,'
get on
To "gct on was the end of life in
Warren.
The truth was, that the Seafords spent
their spare money land much that they
could not spare) in helping every body
that needed help. The house was open
to all their poor relations; half dozen
needy families came regularly for their
supply of milk and vegetables; and even
the stables were Il hospital for many of
the blind cats and lame dogs of the neigh
borhood; for old Isaac Seaiord had
taught his boys his own theory and prac-
tice.
Sometimes even his hospitable soul felt
that they carried both to an extreme,
as, for instance, when Andrew, the young
est brought home Duff, deaf old negro,
who had followed the business Of town
paupcr for years, and had not found ii
profitable.
What can We do with this poor crca-
turc. Andy cried his father, who was
smoking Il pipe with Squire Morrow, ON
the porch, as Andy presented him tri-
umphantly.
"Fecd him, sir. Duff has been every
body's business long enough; now I'll
make hm mine. Nigh starved, Duff,
eh?" clapping the old man on the back,
and shouting in his ear.
"Ya, va, Mass Andy" chucklcd Duff.
"l'll make him bed in the barn, or
garrett, or somewhere, sir, and it will on
ly cost another potato in the pot" said
Andy, checrtully.
1.-The pots not too full, now," muttcred
moor no., irnjcth TO thc Lord"
"Oh that's yonr idea of finance, eh ."
said the Squire. with grin. Now,
put my money in bank stock. 1t yields,
at least, six per cent; doubt il your
divident comes in as regular"
He slmflcd off presently, to report the
last symptoms of idocy in the Scafords,
who were expected to "get ON" worse
than ever, after that.
However, blessing seemed to come
upon the hospitable roof. with the poor,
the blind, and orphans, that it sheltered.
The Seafords were never able to dress
fashionaby; they did not buy new furni-
turc when the rage for decoration fell up-
on the village. But there was always
enonrh to eat, and chccrfulnrss IN the
owe full house, and when the boys went
out, one by one, into the world, to seek
their fortune, a friendly hand seemed to
lead them to pleasant places.
The ,Waurn Bank. in the meanwhile.
had broken. and Sauirc Morrow had lost
all his savings, and was more discontent-
ed and soured than ever,
Poor Duff proved II dead weight on the
Seaford household He was IL hearty,
strong old fellow, with no ailment but
deafness. He did nothing but eat, sleep
and lie in the sun.
Mrs Seoford by n series Of cloouent
dumb sirns, would set before him the ne.
cess;,v of bringing nm chins or A nail Of
water; but Duff would point pathetically
to his ears, and stretch himself to doze on