Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-22
The Foreclosure Of the Mortgage.

Ine E0rcctOsure Oh the mortgage.
Walk right in the settin' room, Deacon; It's
all in muddle, you see,
But hadn't no heart to right it, 80 I've 1es;
let everything be.
Besides, Pm goin' to-morrer-I calk' late to
start with the dawn
And the house won't seem 80 home-like if it's
all upset and forlorn.
sent off the children this mornin' they
both on 'em begged to stay,
but thought 'twould be easier, mebbe, il !
was alone to-day.
For this was the very day, Deacon, jest twen-
ty year ago,
That Caleb and me moved in; so 1 couldn't
forgit it, you know.
We was so busy and happy!-wed ben mar
ried a month before
And Caleb toOuld clear the table and brush up
the kitchen floor. rags
He said was tired, and he'd help me; but,
law! that was always his way E
Always handy and helpful, and kind, to the
very last day.
Don't you remember, Deacon, that winter !
broke my arm?
Why, Caleb skursely left me, not even to
tend to the farm. ... q
There night and mornin' saw him, settin'
30 close to my bed,
And | knew him in spite of the fever that
made me so wild in my head.
He never did nothin' TO grieve me, until he
left me behind
Yes, l know, there's no use in talkin, but
somehow it eases my mind.
And he sot sech store by yOu, Deacon,
needn't tell you now,
But unless he had your Judgment, he never
would buy COW.
Well, our COWS is gone, and the horse too :
poor Caleb was fond of Jack,
And1 cried like fool this nlornfh' when
looked at the empty rack. rre-s 49,. e.
hope he'll be kindly treated: 'twould worry
poor Caleb 50
II them Joneses should whip the cretur-but
s'pose he amt like to know. fF III
I've ben thinkin' it over lately, that when
Mary siekened and died, ~.- s1-rr1 -ss 2
Her fathers sperrit was broken, for she was
allus his pride
He wasn't never SO CHEEKY; he'd smile, but
the smile want bright,
And ne didn't care for the cattle, though
once they'd ben his delight.
The neighbors all said he was silin, and they
tried to hint it TO me; snttfi&nFH
They talked of a church yard cough; but, oh!
the blind are those who soOn't see.
never believed he was goin' till Isaw him a
layin' here dead
There, therei don't be anxious, Deacon; 4
= haven't no tears to shed.
I've tried to keep things together-Pve ben
slavin' early and late Nathss
But couldn't pay the int'rest, nor git the
farm-werk straight. t~rs4 -
So of course I've got behindhand, and if the
farm should sell -tr 49,
For enough to pay the mortgage. s'nose
twill be doin' well. st-t.,sr,7 .-,,I.i
I've prayed ag'inst all hard feelin's, and to
walk as Christian ought,
But it's hard to see Caleb's children turned
out of the place he bought;
And readin' that text in the Bible bout wild
ows and orphans, you know, r. ,----r
l can't think the folks will prosper who are
willih' TO see us go. LLLtLr
But there! I'm keepin' you, Deacon, and it's
nigh your time for tea
I" Won't 1 come OCeT?" No, thank you; feel
better alone, you see. - r-s.--H
Besides, couldn't eat nothin'; whenever I've
tried it to-day tsa fs
There's somethin' here that chokes me. I'm
narvous, / s'pose you'll say.
''PVe worked too hardi" No, 1 haven't.
Why, it's work that keeps me strong;
II sot here thinkin', Pm sartain my heart
would break before long. ~
Not that | care about livih'. I'd ruther be
laid away b.
In the place I've marked beside Caleb, TO rest
till the Judgement day.
But there's the children to think of-that
makes my dooty clear,
And I'll try to foller it, Deacon, though I'm
tired of this earthly speer.
Good by, then. shan't forgit you, nor all
the kindness you've showed;
Twill help to cheer me to-morrsr, as GO IN
my lonely road, =
For = What are you sayin', Deacon l
needn't needn't go?
You'0e bought the mortgage, and can stay ?
Stop! say it over slow
Jest wait now-jest wait minute-FH take
it in bimeby
That can stay. Why, Deacon, don't know
what makes me cry! l
haven't no words to thank you. Eff Caleb
was only here, ~ .s
He'd sech head for speakin', he'd make my
feelin's clear.
There's picter in our old Bible of an angel
from the skies,
And though he hasn't no great coat, and no
spectacles on his eyes,
He looks jest like you, Deacon, with your
smile, 50 good and true,
And whenever see that picter, twill make
me think of you.
The children will be so happy! Why, Debby
will most go wild;
She fretted SO much at leavin' her garding be-
hind, poor child!
And, law! Pm as glad as Debby, ef only for
jest one thing r.sfr.
Non can tend the posies planted there last
spring IE .LIitL
On Caleb's grave: he loved the flowers, and it
seems as ef he'll know 49,
They're a-bloomin' all around him while he's
sleepin' there below
Mrs. e. T. Cor6ett in Harper's Magazine
tor September.
Tho place xVI,o.o ,I,o