Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25

and arrangements made for cutting the
pine woods the next day, and the house
hold were jubilsnt over the return OF
sunshine. But "grandps" sat silent
in his armchair and thought: "Shall !
let things remain as they arep Shall I
give up my bedroom, let my woods
my pride-be cut down? Yes, yes, yes,
1 am an old man. I shall soon 90. I'd
better let the young ones have their way,
even to giving up my dear bedroom.
Only a little while shall remain; give
me peace while do.''
Dinner came in due season, and then
Mr.. Lamson thought it would do him
good to take a sleigh-ride to the "store -
and see his old friends. So he walked
out to the barn where Patrick was feed
ing the cattle, and told him to harness
the old mare.
"Mr. Jim just told me to harness her
for him; he and his wife are going to
the corner" said Patrick.
"Well, let him take Dick or Tom. I
want my old mare, and you bring her
round" said the old man as he turned
away and went into his bedroom to put
on his outer garments. AS he strug-
gled into his coat he heard Patrick bring
up the sleigh, and tell Jim what he had
said about going to the store.
"Hey? what's that?" asked Jim /;
wanted to 60 to the store? Well,
he'll have to wait till another afternoon.
Come along, Eliza; bring the children;
tumble in there, Jimmie. 1 guess
grandpa will wait this time. He drives
altogether too much for his health, any
way"
And away they went, leaving the old
man prey to disturbing thoughts.
Could it be that his son Jim could treat
him like that?
For an hour or two he sat in silent
thought; then took up the newspaper
to entertain him. But it had lost its
power, he could not read, and was, at
last, forced to 60 to the barn and look at
the stock, and talk to Patrick, who was
very ready to tell him of all the work
that had been already laid out for the
coming spring. Mr.. Lamson heard
him in silence, and asked no questions,
for his heart was weary with heaviness,
and he could not rouse himself enough
to take any interest in the conversation
and soon returned to the house.
Before the family returned, however,
he had determined upon the course he
would take. Jim had commenced alto
gether too strong, and had evidently
forgotten that the deed was unsigned.
In truth, it would have been signed
and recorded at once if Mr.. Munroe
had not urged him SO strongly to keep
the reins in his own hands. Although
over eighty years of age, he was shrewd
and thoughtful still, and he felt that
little trial of the change would not
come amiss. He would have seen the
pine trees cut down without murmur,
and perhaps have given up his bedroom
for the good of the farm; but when his
old Maggie that he had driven for fifteen
years was taken from him in such
heartless manner, he rebelled, and had
now come to the conclusion that he
would destroy the deed, but in order to
do it calmly, without the appearance of
anger, he must sleep upon it.
When the sleigh bells announced Jim's
return, the old man lifted his head,
looked out of the window, and saw the
family enter the door without moving
from his chair, and seemed quietly
asleep until tea was ready.
Then Jim told the news that he had
learned at the store, and Eliza told what
her sister said about the dairy she had
planned, and that Jim had been looking
at some cows to add to his stock-and
so on. The old man made no reply, but
Jim did not notice it, so greatly was he
in his own affairs.
After they were alone at night, Eliza
said:
"Jim, did you notice grandpa at the
table? He did not speak one word
not even to the baby. My mind mis-
gives me about him. He looks as if he
might have a shock any moment. We
ought not to have taken Maggie this
afternoon. Something will come of it;
1 feel sure it is not all right. You
know that deed is neither signed nor
Then Jim had a thorn planted in his
pillow for the night, but he replied with
a mans disdain of woman's wisdom:
''No, l didn't notice him. You are al
ways on the lookout for something
ahead. If he is in danger of shock,
he mustn't 60 driving round the country
alone. Then, the mares mine any way,
and he knows it, too. When go to the
store he can 60 along too.'
The hours as they were told off upon
the old, tall clock that night, crept very
slowly, to both the father and son.
Little sleep closed their eyelids, Jim
being thoroughly awakened to the fact
as yet the farm was not his, and that he