The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
THR FARMERS STRATEGY.

portions with a considerable lowering e of |
his shaggy eyebrows. Somebody's help |
ing themselves" he thought; II must set
my wits to work to discover the offender"
He sat down on q log, rested his elbows
on his knees, and after scratching his |
head awhile, by way of frightening
his ideas, he settled his temples in the
palms of his hands and meditated. The
result of his cogitations must have been
satisfactory, fer he rose by-and-by with a
queer smile overspreading his weather.
beaten face, and walked into the house,
chuckling, "1'll do it; that'll let the cat
out of the bag"
He found Harry Bailey, young, like.
Unlocking farmer, in the kitchen with
his daughter.
"That young fellow is courting Jennie,
sure enough r. thought the old gentleman,
as he discreetly PASSED into the sitting
room. "Well, he's as likely to make her
good husband as any one. If she likes
him, shan't object"
And he fel! into fit Of musing over
the memory of the gentle wife who had
been living under the flowers since Jennie's
birth.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen Jennie was
tripping about, engaged in some house.
hold work, and Harry was watching her
with love lit eyes, and could not make up
his mind to tell her he loved her.
The Rev. Mr.. Walker, of the Orthodox
church in Belton, had prepared dis
course for his sinful congregation, upon
the subject Of endless punishment The
parable of the rich man and Lazarus was
his basis, and he hurled the anathemas
| of wrath at the black sheep of his flock
as though he we're an avenging angel, and
many members of his congregation felt
guilty terrors. Little Tim Bates shivered
in his shoes, and thought of the pie he
had taken the night before and then told
his mother lie, aud debated whether he
should confess, or run the risk of the pun
ishment Illuminated by the parson. But
he did not settle the matter that time,
| for this minister was suddenly brought
| to full stop in the midst of his discourse,
and the CONGREGATION electrified, by tre-
medous crash and report in their midst,
as if heaven and earth had come togeth-
er.
Farmer Evens rose to his feet stimuli
taneously with his frightened daughter
and the rest of the congregation, and poor
little Tim was not sure for the moment
that his future had not begun. The cause
of the noise was found to be an explosion
in the stove, through the internal agency
known as punpowder. How it came there
was mystery to all except Farmer Evans
Harry Bailey, who made the fires anc
found the wood for stated sum, came
,, forward with white face, and explained
that the thing was unknown to him. Th<
farmer walked homewsrd, thinking, "Bad
bad I'm very sorry that he's that sort;
, never suspected him of all others; anc
, Jennie likes him."
!. The farmers first impulse was to nil
in the bud the acquaintance between Jen
ME and young Bailey; hut his natura
= kindly feeling ultimately prevailed owe
.. his anger, and on his next meeting will
!. the delinquent he abruptly addressed
= him:
"You are courtiog my daughtera"
Harry Bailey admitted the fact bash
:. fully.
J "And you make the fires for the Ortho
8 dox Church9"
! Harry assented.
"And furnish the wood2"
.sYes," said the young man, GROWN!
red and white by turns.
r. Perhaps you would like to have tn
;. mysterious explosion in church last Sun
- day explained. I knew my woodpil
was going somewhere, and put sma
Il cbarge of powder in one of the sticks.
4 ! need not say that I was surprised to fin
- y i YOU were the thief, and you dare com
I, | oorr%;rr ,ov 1ouuhfariN ~
Harry quailed before the stern. olea
70 glance of the old man. E@.a
!" II know I'm too mean to live, muc
- - less to love her." he broke out. II don
= expect you to overlook it. III had
ls s hard year on the farm; you know VIII
~ ~ losses l met. I meant to pay it bac
~ ~ again, but don't expect you to belie'
~ me. One thing I beg-don'tt tell her an,
= thing about it; couldn't bear to ha'
10 10 her think 90 badly of me.''
The old man regarded the ashamed, r
~ % pentant face with pity. . ~.* ..@ -.
"a "Look here, Harry" he said; "Ill fo
-, -; give you and will not mention it to
:. - soul, if you'll look me in the face al
!. e. promise solemn'y to be strictly hone
~ from this time forth" -,-.
y. ~ Bailey caught his hand gratefully, Al
St Evans felt his reward begin as he 81
8 ~ the shadow of new hope dawning on
troubled face. II solsmnly PROMISE"
u said, "never again to touch penn,
worth that is not lawfully nv own" '
lce AT the end of the year you can ha
RI Jennie, if you want her, and we'll un
lat he FARMS"
he With an overaowing heart Hal
stammered bis thanks, and the farm