Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-03-13

was for the good of the whole family
At night Jim laid his plans for the next
SPRING work, intending to make radi-
cal changes in everything. while his
wife planned a famous dairy, and laid
schemes which equaled those of the
milkmaid OF story book fame.
Next day the winds blew loud and
shrill, and the snow fell ceaselessly, so
that the neighbors could not be sum-
moned and the deed signed. But Jim
and his wife cared not for wind or !
storm, and discussed their new plans |
before the old man until his few white
hairs almost stood on end at the changes
that were to be made. The pine grove
near the house which sheltered 1t from
the north wind, must come down, Jim
said. cit ought to have been cut long
ago, father, and plowed up for pota-
toes. shall have the trees felled at
once. And the back lot must be
drained and sowed to corn. l shall
make the farm produce twice as much
as you did, but to do this l must keep
twice as much stock, and Eliza thinks
she would like a large dairy; and per-
haps you wouldn't mind going up stairs
to sleep, and let US have milk room
made out of your bed room. In sum-
mer time you wouldn't mind it, and In
winter we'll fix you some way"
The father made no reply, but he
thought of Mr.. Munroe's advice; and
while he seemed to doze he was think
ing of his wife and little children, and
of the pine grove he had seen grow up
to tall, stately trees from tiny seedlings
and of the associations that made the
old bed room, with it's quaint chest of
drawers, its curtained bedstead and its
old table and chairs and desk SO dear
to him. Another day passed, and still
the storm ragged; the plans for changes
were continued, and the old man was
made to feel that not foot of the land
belonged to him, and hardly the chair
he sat in.
Not that Jim and Eliza were unkind
to him, or the children less respectful,
but the very atmosphere of the place
seemed changed to him, and he went
to bed at least an hour earlier than
| usual. Jim said to Eliza: sc Father
don't seem as chirk as usual; hope he
hasn't taken any cold. But he's an old
man and it can't be expected that he'll
last much longer. I saw him looking at
mothers and sister Mary pictures this
afternoon. He'll join 'em soon.''
And the good wife looked as if she
would say IS Amenr' but like wise
woman she kept silence, answering only
| by an affirmative nod.
| On the third day, however, the sun
shone bright and clear, and the snow
had fallen in just sufficient quantities
to make good sleighing. Jim was early
astir and had the paths all broken out
and arrangements made for cutting the
pine woods the next day, and the house.
hold were jubilant over the return of
sunshine. But IS grandpa sat silent
in his armchair and thought: '' Shall
| I let things remain as they are2. Shall
my pride-be cut down? Yes, yes,
yes, am an old man, shall soon go.
I'd better let the young ones have their
way, even to giving up my dear bed
room. Only little while shall l re-
main; give me peace while I do"
Dinner came in due season, and then
Mr.. Lamson. thought it would do him
good totake sleigh-ride to the s' 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.
ssMr. 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 struggled
into his coat he heard Patrick bring up
the sleigh, and tell Jim what he had
said about going to the store.
ssHeyi4 what's that?'' asked Jim;
wanted to go 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?
d 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, al
last, forced to go 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 already been laid oui
for the coming spring. Mr.. Lamson
: heard him in silence, and asked nc
questions, for his heart was weary with
heaviness, and he could not rouse him.
. self 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 keer
the reins in his own hands. Although
, over eighty years of age, he was shreWc
!. and thoughtful still, and he felt that 8
, little trial of the change would moi
come amiss. He would have seen the
pine trees cut down without murmur
and perhaps have given up his bed
J room for the good of the farm; bu
, when his old Maggie that he had driver
for fifteen years was taken from him il
, such a heartless manner, he rebelled
J and had now come to the conclusion
that he would destroy the deed, but il
} order to do it calmly without the ap
: pearance of anger, he must sleep upor
It.
When the sleigh bells announced
, Jim's return, the old man lifted hi.
head, looked out of the door window
and saw the family enter the door with
out moving from his chair, and seemed
) quietly asleep until tea was ready.
! Then Jim told the news he hat
} learned at the store, and Eliza told.wha
her sister said about the dairy she hat
planned, and that Jim had been looking
at some COWS to add to his stock-ant
) so on. The old man made no reply, bu
; Jim did not notice it, so greatly was h.
| Interested in his own affairs.
After they were alone at night, Eliz
J said:
"Jim, did you notice grandpa at TIA
tableP He did not speak one word-no
/! even to the baby. My mind misgive
: me about him. He looks as if he Nigh
have shock any moment. We ough
not to have taken Maggie, this after
noon. Something will come of it; fee
[ sure it is not all right. You know tina
9 deed is neither signed nor recorded
7 Then Jim had thorn planted in hi
< pillow for the night. but he replied wit
: a mans disdain of woman's wisdom
g 'tNo, 1 didn't notice him. You are al
g ways on the lookout for somethin,
t ahead. If he is in danger of shock
t he mustn't go driving round the coun
! try alone. Then, the mares mine an