Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-01-16

grandmother, "what occasion there
will DO Tor tho boy to mend clocks ol
turn aomersaults, 10 hear you talk
one would think you had nothing u
leave him but your advice, aud thai
IL not Of the most encouraging ma
ture."
"a young man should rely upon
himself" returned my grandfather
"liiches take wings, I've managed
to hold my property together pretty
well, but hoS do lklN he will do Sc
when you aud ! aro gone I Hell
marry Miss Miller What sort Of
wife " III she make him I Smart will
her heels, no doubt, Nimblc will
her fingers At the old organ, but lhoa'
won't serve to keep family from 60
Ing hcadlong 10 destruction.
"Sally Miller Is "a very prudent and
useful girl replied my grandmother
~ don't see what you find amiss III
her"
"DJat you I" he returned. Their
he yclapscd into silence, aud smoked
and looked into the lire.
By'and,by he got up and walked
out Of the room, aud then my dear old
grandmother took my hand aud held
il in her own, and told me not to fret
tina. she would bring my grandfather
to think better Of my sweetheart.
| thanked her ever 50 much, but
had little hope that she would be sue
cesslul.
About this time my grandfather
was selling some property in the town
where | was reading law, aud it be-
come necessary for hlm to so there Il
sign some deeds aud receive the mon
ey Tor the sale. AT his request | ac'
companled him.
1t was nearly evening when the
business was finished, and we set out
Oh our return home. -Four thousand
dollars, the proceeds Of the sale, my
grandfather carried in bank notes Oh
his person, as it was too late to make
q deposit in the bank. The old gem
tleman WIS in good humor, and talked
pleasantly as we drove along.
My mind was full Of schemes just
at that time, as to how | was to sup.
port Sally Miller il | married her be-
fore my grandfather died. l little
dreamed that ere We reached home q
way would be opened TO Inc. We
were going down u steep hill, and 1t
was now quite dark, when the horse
fell, and in an instant II shaft was
snapped in twain. sprang out Of
the wagon and grandfather quickly
followed.
The horse in his fall had become
entangled in the harness, and lay
helpless upon the earth. The moon
was just rising, and gave but IN un-
certain light, for the sky vas full Of
heecy clouds, but still 1t was light
enough to perceive grandfather drop
the package Of four thousand dollars
as he stopped down to free the horse
There it lay at my feet, and he was
unconscious OF hiy loss. Another in
slant | had picked it up and was hid
ing it behind me, irresolute how to
act. You will understand that l
didn't mean to steal it, but somehow
or other had an indistinct idea that
| could make the occasion subserve
my aims. There was a large fiat stone
by the ;roadside. l had trapped a
rabbit there once, and l knew there
was a considerable cavity beneath it.
An instant later, and the four thou =
sand dollars were deposited in the
hole.
The shaft being tied up, we got ON
our way again, but it was midnight
ere we arrived at home,
Grandfather had not been within
doors five minutes ere he discovered
the loss of his money. He didn't get
angry, but he was frightened. 1t was
the first time in my life l had witness
ed him alarmed.
M've lost my money he eAclaim'
ed, rs he drew his hand from his coat
pocket. Then he slid down, like a
helpless child into C hair. and the
cold perspiration broke out in large
drops Oh his forehead. His face be-
came very white. Grandmother was
standing by his side.
For an instant my heart reproached
me, and l was almost ready to confess
my trick, for my grandfather looked
the picture Of despair.
'I'll 20 and saddle horse and ride
back. | suppose you must have lost
it when the horse was being freed
-, Al, bor,.,c "Tis onlv fhrep