The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-06-20
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Old Hiram GormleY Was an ia5iyidual
whom f1riane bad bot forgotten ia ber
disIibuiioh q ibs good thlngs ol tbs
world he bsl 8 anc fortune, 3 magu.G.
cen, dwelling, aud = plump, good tenn
ptred wife. Moreover, Be had great
reputation for sAuelity sud updgbiness,
and was 81 elder of ihe church 90 which
be belonged. 4 very good mau aud a
tborough Christian old Hiram considered
himself, for be bad family prayers every
morning, went 10 church every Sunday,
aud allowed the cook 10 give all the un-
cAtAble scfaps Of bread which remained
ln ibe larder 70 apy beggsr who spplied
Tor them, A iudicious parent be believed
himself 70 be-, and iast one, for when
his only daughter had married against bis
will he had cast Der OF forever, and re.
fused to see her when she stood weak
and trembling 81 his door to tell him that
her husband lsy upon the verge Of death
aud that starvation stared them ia The
face.
As she has sowed so she must reap, lie
muuered, as be saw her turn away,
hiding her gfieyed face in her shabby
bonnet She might have had old Grimes
aud lived in clover, but she made her
own choice and must abide by It. And,
20 saying, be went back to his account
books aud babished bis daughter from
his mind as soon as might be.
Ola Hiram Gormley was, as | have
said, very wealthy, bat he yet clung to
trade with the utmost pertinacity. Mon
ey-gelting was bis life, aud he was never
so hsppy as while making a bargain
Among other things he bad specuated IN
lour, and had made more, perhaps, in
that line Of business than in any other.
How old Hiram and his brothers in the
trade chuekled as the poor mans loaf de.
creased and the store in their own Golfers
augmented, is best known TO themselves.
Ii was at such season that Hiram
Gormley sat before his parlor fire, bask-
ing IN its blaze aud sinking gently into
an after.dinner nap. His portly form
filed the huge velvet cbair, and his own
portrait looked from It's gilded frame up
on It's drowsy original with bland Dig
nifty entirely OF the artists own inven-
ton. Mrs. Gormley bad gone out TO
dine, aud the carriage was TO be sent for
her at gu appointed hour, so that the old
man and his portrait were alone together
in the comfortable ROOM
They were alone, at least, for many
minutes. But as the silvery.toued time
piece rung out the hour of seven, the
outer door was opened, and small man,
clad In faded green yelyeteen coat, en-
tered the room with the soft tread of
stealthy cat. lie was queer-looking
individual, so withered and wrinkled
that he might have resembled some old
goblin, aud his white hair stood out,
strangely enough, upon either side of bis
brown forehead. Upon his meager, low.
or limbs be wore great, mud-stained
boots, world too wide for him, and in
his hand he carried cap of the same
color and material as his coat. lie look
ed first at old Hiram, then at his portrait,
then back again to the original, and final
ly stepped forward and touched him on
the shoulder.
Hiram Gormley swoke with start,
and, springing TO his feet, regarded him
with astoDishment.
Who are you, aud what do you want
here? he asked, in manner sufficiently
imperitive.
Who am is a matter Of no importance
replied the stranger; but am here on
business. | believe you are buying up
ilouri
am, replied old Hiram, becoming In.
terested and gracious in moment. Take
a scat, sir, aud let me understand your
business.
lie pointed to chair, aud the visitor
seated himself Immediately, crossing bis
muddy boots, aud folding bis cliin arms
upon his bosom, as he bent down bis
bead and peered from under his dropping
black brows straight into hiram CORN.
I ley's face.
We have flour to sell, he said.
WEI said Hiram, interrogatyely.
| aud my partner, or, more politely
speaking, my partner aud /, responded
The little man.
I Oh, said Hiram; may ask the name
OF the firm.
Ia rather not mention names ustil I'm
sure that we shall come to terms, replied
. the little man. Bot let me tell you, Mr.
GormIey, that such a chance has never
been offered 10 one man before. Ifyon
accept II bread will run up this year to
/ such price that loaf Of The better sort
will be worth its weight in gold, and rich
men will give great sums for what they
now esteem as nothing How many bar.
rels DO you think we have on hand, my
4 partner aud II
How mAnyl asked Old Hiram, treub-
I ling with eagerness.
The little man bent forward aud whs.
pered something In bis ear which made
him start TO bis feet once more
So mauyl he cried Why, The very
spectators themselves viii be at my feet
I. / shall be the richest msn 10 the whole
world. l'll buy Il All in--sli, all When
can see it--when csn | sign the con.
iracgs BE suick--tcll me where all the
store is hidden
In our Office, said TIE little man.
What Office would contain such guam
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