The Newtown bee., 1880-07-07
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

Katie ran into the kitchen singing, but the song died on her lips when she saw her sister Hannah's stern look, and her mothers tears falling over an open letter in her lap.
 What's the matterp" cried Katie. Mother, has anything happenedp"
 Nothing but what we expected" !" said Hannah before Mrs. Derwent could open her lips to reply. "The agent writes that we must give up the farm next Monday"
 The tears started to Katie's blue eyes.
 tAnd this is Wednesday," she said ]; cit is too bad! 1 just hate that Mir Arle! Why does he, with all his wealth, want to take away our little farmp Oh, dear! Can't anything be donep"
 Mrs. Derwent only sobbed in answer, but Hannah looked keenly at her young sister, as she said, meaningly:
 "You are the one who can best an swer that question, Katie"
 Katie's lace turned crimson, and then grew very pale.
 "Oh, Hannah," she said, implor- ingly, don't ask me to do that, for I cannot; no, never camp
 ' Y ou would rather see us turned out of home than make small sacrifice, then?'
 "A small sacrifice, Hannahp To me it seems very large"
 !" Heaven only knows what we are to dom walled Mrs. Derwent. "We haven't fifty dollars in the world!"
 Cant we borrow enough money from Squire Davis to pay of this mort gagep" asked Katie, desperately.
 " You must think Squire Davis has no sense," said Hannah, sharply. ..He would know well enough there was no chance of our ever paying him back We manage to make just enough off the farm to live, and that's all."
 "ro think that should have to go.to the almshouse in my old agei" tnoaned Mrs. Derwent.
 "Oh, mother surely not quite so bad as that?" said Katie.
 Perhaps you will kindly suggest know of but one way in which we can keep our home, and that does not appear to suit you.n
 "I'l have to think it over," said Katie, "and while I am thinking, I will catch that gray rooster you want for dinner, Hannah"
 Very well; but Paul can't help you, for I've sent him on an errand. And I hope you'll think to some purpose, Katie"
 Hannah began to wash up the break fast dishes as she spoke, knowing that her sister understood very well what she meant by her last remarks, for Katie sighed heavily as she put on her straw hat and went out to the farmyard in search of the gray cock, which she found scratching in some straw, utterly unconcious of his impending doom.
 But at the first hutter of her apron, which she tried to throw over him, he fled, closely pursued by the young girl, whose seventeen summers had not given her dignity, or taken from her childish love of racing and climbing.
 But running proved hard work in the hot August sun, and ,out of breath at last, Katie stopped in the clover field, the frightened fowl still a safe distance off
 In Squire Davis great meadow she could see the busy laborers loading the immense wagons with new-mown hay, and just beyond the stone wall which divided his farm from the Widow Der vents, lay one of the men under the shade of . spreading oak tree, his hat pulled over his eyes, and his rake lying on the green grass beside him.
 A sudden inspiration seized Katie, who, putting her foot on the jutting stone of the wall, sprang lightly to the loP., will you please help me catch my roosterP I know Squire Davis won't mind if you do.n
 The man thus singularly addressed sat up suddenly, his straw hat falling from his head, and thereby revealing wealth of curly chestnut hair. His clothes were rough and ill-fitting, it is true, but his face refined and hand some one, and his bearing far above that of the average hired man.
 "I will help you in any way I can," he said, after a quick glance at the flushed, pretty face of the girl on the stone wall. Did you say you wanted me to help you catch 8 rooster?" hesi- tating just a little.
 ner, and I've run until I'm tired out. Do you suppose the squire will scold if you spend a little while helping me p''
 Why should hep" in tone of sur- prise.
 We'll, he's very strict, and his hired men have to work hard, I've heard. I guess he don't know of your resting under this tree, and I'm afraid he will hear of it from the other men, and pay you your wages and turn you off,
 "Oh, see," said the young man, WlLl smile
 '' It is true; you don't know him as well as do. lguess you haven't been working for him long" "Only this morning. You look smart enough to make something better of yourself than a hired man in . hayfield." pursued Katie. But of course that is your own affair. Don't let us waste any more time talking; that rooster is getting all his strength back"
 The young man sprang lightly over the stonewall, and again the chase be- gan, the poor fowl succumbing to his destiny after five minutes of hard run uing.
 "And now you had better hurry back to the bayfield, 7 Katie said, after thank ing the young man for his assistance, ssOr you will certainly lose your place. 1t isn't very pleasant to be turned off. Oh. dear, forgot that we are to be turned of ourselves next Moaday.'' What do you meanp" We'll l suppose you've heard verybody in the neighborhood knows it-that there's a mortgage Onour farm. if has been due six nlnnf,11a and 11nru th a