The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-03-06
DISAPPEARED.

~. IL. Loag1ea0r, IN AHdhtsc.t0r Ndrch.
DISAPPEARED.
IL CANT finish it without piece of
copper wire, and a piece of copper
wire can't be found short of Oldport.
How vexatious"'
The speaker was q fair young man,
scarcely twenty years of age, David
Golden by name. He was sitting at
the kitchen table at work upon a curl
Gus, old-fashioned silver watch, which
might be traced back through series
of Goldens to the first Golden who ever
set foot on American soil, which timed
his dying breath, and stopped, so ira
dition said, when his heart ceased to
beat.
Not that David was matchmaker.
1t was difficult to tell what he was.
His father called him universal
genius" and we all know what that
means. 1t meant, in his particular
case, that David could do anything he
undertook, but that he was inclined to
undertake SO many things that it seemed
little likely he would ever settle down
upon any one in such a way as to make
it of any practical use.
With Willie and Boyd there had been
no trouble. They had sowed and
reaped, fed the pigs and tended the cat
tie on their fathers farm, in the good
old way, till they came of age, and
then he had set them upwith snug little
farms of their own.
He would have been glad to do the
same for David, but though he loved
every creature on the place like broth
er, they might all have starved while
he was hunting the woods for MOSES
and minerals, and little he rocked of
seed-time and harvest when lying un-
der shady tree reading the Arabian
Nights" or a book of foreign travels.
Both were equally real to him, and
both filled his head with visions little
in accord with the everyday life of a
farmer.
Then nothing would do but he must 60
abroad and see some of the wonderful
things of which he had read, and once
his father allowed him to take sea
voyage, in the hope that it would cure
him of his fancies. But unfortunately
it did not; it only made him worse.
Being, however, a dutiful son in the
main, he kept his wishes to himself,
and plOdded about on the farm as best
he might, varying the scene by making
toys for his little brothers, or for the
neighbors' children.
These toys were almost always ships,
or Chinese pagodas, or Leaning Towers
of Pisa. Latterly he had discovered
that he could take watch to pieces
and put it together again, and now
half the chronometers in the neighbor-
hood were under his care.
''Why don't you set up the business
and make money by it?" said his faith
er, catching at anything that looked
like reasonable means of earning q
livelihood.
81 like to do'it, father" said he; "1
don't want to be paid for amusing my.
self" And this brings us to the be.
ginning of our story again.
81 can't finish it without piece OF
copper wire, and a piece of copper
wire can't be had short of Oldport.
How vexatious!'
"Well. it's an ill-wind that blows
nobody good" said his father. "See-
ing you have got to go to town, you
might just call at the bank and get a
package for me. l thought 1 should
have to 60 myself, hut l hate to spare
the time"
"rll attend to it, father.''
land suppose you call at the MILL
ner's and get me yard of ribbon tc
finish trimming my bonnet. I mas
have it before Sunday. Miss Battle.
will know which it ISL said David's
Sister Faith, who, with pretty Jessi,
Wynne, was sitting on the porch shell
ing beans.
Certainly, SIS" said the good-h hui
mored youth. "And what shall bring
you, JessieY'
"Nothing-but YOURSELF" said Jes
sic, and blushed lest she should seen
TO have said more than she intended.
trucking rose which was noddin,
its head knowingly at the group, Davii
flung in into Jessie's lap. saying
keep that till I come.
Then he strobe away, and his tall
slender figure was soon lost behind tn,
row of poplars that skirted the lane.
Hasn't David got back yet?" asked
MIR. Golden, as he took his seat at tn,
supper-table that night.
NO." said his wife. 1.-The girl
have been to the foot of the lane tw,
or three times to meet him, but h,
wasn't in sight. l do hope he won't b,
out after dark with all that money!
Utmost wish hadn't sent him fo
it," said Mr.. Golden. "But then h,
wouldn't let anybody know he had If
hoe hriOhf onourh for that >,
Somebody might have been watch
ing him unbeknown," suggested Mrs
Golden.
snow don't you 60 to worryin
about David" said Faith. "He's lik
a cat-he always lights on his feet.
DO wish he'd bring home my ribbon
though; ! wanted you to put it on 70
me, Jess"
Time enough for that before Sun
day." said Jessie, with a lightnes
which belied her heart.
By-and-by the kitchen clock struc]
nine, and, springing to her feet, Jessi
exclaimed, "Oh, my, didn't think j
was SO late! Mother will begin to thin
am lost, toor'
"Pll 60 with you, if you'll accept a
old mans company instead of q youn
One's," said Mr.. Golden.
Its such beautiful night / pues
I'll go, too" said Faith. "Perhaps W
shall meet David on the way"
But although more than once the
thought they discerned his 1.-the forr
IN the distance, it proved to be only til
swaying shadow of poplar.
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