South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-08-09

to buy feed enough now 70 keep her this
week. and after this I can earn it and
carry it over"
His father smiled st Toms business
like way. and thought 70 himself: "welr'
/ am teaching Tom good lesson. that's
fact He'll get sick enough or his bar
gain before spring. but it viii do him
good"
Tom filed his hand cart with the feed.
and, tying the rope around Clover's neck,
started again TO take her back. Idon't
know what the people along tho road
thought to see the calf going back and
forth so often. But Tom didn't care.
He kept straight on and carried the calf
to Bessie's door.
Here she is. Bessie, and here's enough
TO feed her one week, anyway, and I'll
see that she has enough all winter, uE-
less get sick, and don't feel very sick
now. Don't catch me backing out OF
this scrapei No. street.
| All winter Tom was up early in the
morning, fed and watered the cattle.
groomed the horses. and did what ever
was required. He carried Clover's feed
over every week or two. and never once
complained. His father watched him
curiously. and every week congratulated
himself on the good lesson he was teach
ing him.
At last spring came. The tender
grass began to sprout, and Clover could
keep herself from the pastures and mea-
dows. The farmers were all blowing
and narrowing aud getting the ground
ready for planting. Every body was
busy and in hurry, as usual. Mr..
Moore was improving, but was still very
weak. His affairs looked very discour-
aging to him, and his depressed state of
mimi did much to retard his recovery.
He had bought the farm where he was
living only the spring before, after the
| planting season was over, expecting TO
earn enough by his trade, that Of car
pentor, through the following season TO
enable him to buy seed and 10 thorough.
ly plant the whole place in the spring
Instead of that he was taken sick soon
after Inc bought il, and had been obliged
to sell his stock to get money to live
upon. And now. right in tue busy sea-
son, when every hour seemed worth a
day at any other time, he was taken sick
with no money to buy seed or the ne
cessary farming implements, or To hire
the needed help. With his mind over
whelmed with Encouragement he sat
one evening in the doorway Of his house,
and looked hopelessly on his stiIl unem-
ployed land. At the samo time Mr..
Thyson was riding slowly along. having
made an unusually COOL trip with his
meat, & was reviewing in his mind. with
great satisfaction, the prosperous con-
dition of his affairs. As he passed he
saw Mr.. Moore sitting there, and noticed
that lie looked very pale and worried
a feeling OF sympathy took strong hold
of him, and he was tempted to stop and
have talk with him. but those fields,
waiting To be plowed and sown. spoke TO
him so plainly and reproachfully that
lie concluded he would better bow and
go along.
"Tm sorry for Moore" he said to him
self; "thatsa fact. III be glad to give
him lift, but I've got my own family
to look out for. II had always givon
away to my feelings wonder where
should be nog. O no! no il never will
do. Nor
But rs he drew up TO bis Own house
the sight of his broad acres so carefully
planted. and the neat, thrifty appear
ance of all the surroundings, did not
give him tho feeling Of satisfaction he
was enjoying before he met Mr.. Moore.
As he went into the Kitchen where his
wife was busy getting supper. lie said.
glaucing out Of the window at Tom,
who was having a grand ffolic with his
dogs:
ait docs me good TO see Tom playing
10 has had hard winter Of IT, But
I'm glad let him 90 through it. Il has
taught him lesson he will never forget,
guess"
Yes, think very likely. gently IN.
swered his wife; 'but have thought
many times. father, that Tom was teach.
ing n more important lesson than tho
one he was learning. But come, sup.
per's ready" She then stepped 90 the
door and called Tom, and the subject
was not continued. AZ Tom came in,
breathless from play, his father remarked
That's better fun than working Clo-
ver's board and carrying il Owe; TO her
isn't it,
"Yes.sir. But I'm afraid IL Mr. Moore
dosen't hurry mp and plant, Clover will
be marching back here in spitc Of mo
next fall / wish J was q rich man.
I'll bet I'd make things look different
over there ~ no time"
Mr.. Tbyson made no roply, but fin i.
isbed his supper and went out Into the
yard where he stood leaning on tho
fence, apparently in deep thought. As
Bill, his head man on the farm, came g..
long, he stopped him, and they had a
quiet talk together.
Meantime Mr.. Moore had gono into
his house, utterly unable 70 throw of
the gloomy thoughts which filled his
mind lie saw no vay ont OF his diff
cultics. The faith aud nope which bad
kept him mp till now seemed gone lie
went to bed early. but did not sleep for
hours. Toward morning. however; be
fell into q deep sleep. Ills wife quiet.