Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-23
THR FARMERS STRATEGY.

THR FARMERS STRATEGY.
Farmer Evans walked round his wood
pile and surveyed its diminished pro
portions with a considerable lowering of
his shaggy eyebrows. Somebody's help
ing themselves" he thought; 81 must set
my wits to work to discover the offender"
he sat down on a 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, for he rose by and by with q
queer smile overspreading his weather
beaten face, and walked into the house,
chucKling, "Ill do it; thatll let the cat
out of the bagp'
He found Harry Bailey, young, like
Unlocking farmer, in the kitchen with
his daughter.
'sThat young fellow is counting Jennie,
sure enough + thought the old gentleman,
as he discreetly passed into the sitting
room. "Wel, he's as likely to make her
a good husband as any one. If she likes
him, shan't Object
And he fell into a fit Ct musing over
the memory of the gentle wife who had
been lying 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 Bolton, had prepared dis
course for mis- 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 were 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, and debated whether he
should confess, or run the risk of the pun
ishmept Illuminated by the parson. But
be 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 ire
medous crash and report in their midst,
as if heaven and earth had come togeth-
er.
Farmer Evens rose 20 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 a mystery to all except Farmer Evans.
Harry Bailey, who made the fires and
found the wood for stated sum, came
forward with white face, and explained
that the thing was unknown to him. The
farmer walked homeward, thinking, "Bad,
bad I'm very sorry that he's that sort; I
never suspected him Of all others; and
Jennie likes him.
The farmers first impulse was to nip
in the bud the acquaintance between Jen-
ME and young Bailey; hut his natural
kindly feeling ultimately prevailed over
his anger, and on his next meeting with
the delinquent he abruptly addressed
him:
"You are courtine my daughters"
Harry Bailey admitted the fact bash.
fully.
''And you make the fires for the Ortho.
dox Church9'
Harry assented.
"And furnish the wood!"
.'Yes," said the young man, growing
red and white by turns.
Perhaps you would like to have the
mysterious explosion in church last Sun
day explained. I knew my woodpile
was going somewhere, and put small
charge of powder in one Of the sticks.
need not say that was surprised to find
you were the thief, and you dare come
counting my daughter!'
Harry quailed before the stern. clear
glance of the old man.
81 know I'm too mean to live, much
less to love her." he broke out. II don't
expect you to overlook it. II had a
hard year on the farm; you know what
losses I met. I meant to pay it back
again, but don't expect you to believe
me. One thing I beg don't tell her any
thing about it; couldn't bear to have
her think so badly of me-"
pentant face with pity.
"Look here, Harry" he said; "Ill for
give you and will not mention it to q
soul, if you'll look me in the face and
promise solemnly to be strictly homes
from this time forth.''
Bailey caught his hand gratefully, and
Evans felt his reward begin as he saw
the shadow of new hope dawning on the
troubled face. Il solemnly PROMISE" he
said, ."never again to touch penny s
worth that is not lawfully my own"
sat the end of the year you can have
Jennie, if you want her, and we'll unite
ne FARMS"
! With an OVERLOOKING heart Harry
stammered his thanks, and the farmer
never regretted that he had given him a
chance to redeem his self-respect.
4 Good Story by Judge Black.
Judge Black, Of Pennsylvania, tells a
cOmical story of a trial in which a German