The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-22

AhtO lilo NOub bO dbIlCh DEtnk UP
the sleigh, and tell Jim what he had
said about going to the store.
"Hey what's thatp" asked Jim,
wanted to go to the storeY Well, he'll
have to wait Till another afternoon.
Come along, Eliza; bring the children
tumble In there, Jimmie. l 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 1t 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 himself. But it had lost its
power, he could not read, and was at
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 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 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 al
together too strong, and had evidently
forgotten that the deed was unsigned.
In truth it would have been signed and
recorded at once If Mr.. Monroe 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
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 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 the 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
interested 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;
feel sure it is not all right. You
know that deed is neither signed nor
recorded"
Then Jim had a thorn planted in his
pillow for the night, but he replied with
a mans disdain of woman's wisdom.
"No, 1 didn't notice him. You are
always on the lookout for something
ahead. If he is in danger of shock,
he mustn't go driving round the country
alone. Then, the mares mine anyway
and he knows it too. When go to the
store he can go along"
The hours as they were tolled off upon
the old, tall clock that night, crept very
slowly, to both father and son. Little
sleep closed their eyelids, Jim being
thoroughly awakened to the fact that
as yet the farm was not his, and that he
ought to have attended to that needful
business before he drove to the corner
to tell his friends of the plans he had
made for its tillage.
When Jim came down stairs next
morning his father had just kindled
fire in the sitting room stove, and as
soon as the fire blazed in the kitchen he
called to him to come in. Jim came at
once, and seeing folded paper in the
old mans hand, he said: aA
whats that, father Have you had
the deed executedY"
"No," replied Mr.. Lamson, " nor do
intend to do so.n The same moment
he stopped down, and thrust the folded