Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-11-24
NAOMrs LEGACY.

Hush, children There's your father
comingr'
Mr.. Jobson fell. metaphorically
speaking. like n wet blanket ON the
bosom Of his family. They all trem-
hled as he came in Charley dropped
the "1iobins0n CrusOe" that he was
reading. and deflly substituted an
arithmetic In It's place. Juliet sewed
harder than ever ut her patchwork
Mrs. JOhsOn made haste Co fling another
log upon the Gre, and the old grand
mother In the corner drew n knit wool
en- shawl closer around her shoulders
with a little shudder.
"Dear mer said Mr.. Jobson; "dear
mel lis just rs / said. There's an
other cold wave coming from the north
west, and coal is two shillings ton
higher. Goodness knows what's 10 be-
come OF us ALL"
Presently he looked round inquir-
ingly.
"Eh2 How? What's that smell +?
Chickersp Actually chickens roastingl
Where's the cold pork that was left
from yesterdays dinnerY
"l thought" said Mrs. JObsOn, apol-
ogetically. "that as we had so many
young chickens coming on"
Every one Of those chickens" said
Mr.. JObson. speaking slowly and count
ing of the syllabes on his fingers /;
"will be as good as crown piece when
the holidays come on. Poultry is going
up--up-up. as steadily as n rocket,
and here you are roasting IL for an
everyday dinner. never saw such an
extravagant manager as you are, Jane.
Hereafter i shall count the fowls, and
IL one Is taken away. / shall take means
To know the reason why. And those
in this house who are too dainty to eat
roast pork may live on bread and
cheese"
Mrs. Jobson murmured something
about "trying To- do what seemed right
always" and n gloomy silence fell over
tno whole group.
"There'sthe wing Of the old kitchen" {"
said he. "l've put Naomi Brush out
Of II this morning"
Mrs. JObsOn looked up i'm surprise.
"Put Naomi Brush Outp" she re-
peated; "and what Is the poor soul
going to doy
"Thats her lookout" said Mr.. Job
son; "she hIs prcyed long enough on
me and mine. I've got an offer Of n
crown a month from Tom Diggs for
the old room. And may as well say.
now. that | don't approve No all Of the
way you women have been going on
about old Naomi. / never could teach
you the necessity for being economical.
How am / ever TO pay Jones the two
hundred pounds that / owe him. II
this Is the way we are to 60 on?
How"
But here the old grandmother spoke
out In a mild tone.
"NOt by being economical at the ex-
pense Of other people, Calvin" said she
gently. "God has said. Give. and II
shall be given unto you He has not
said. 'Scrape and pinch. and grind the
faces of the poor. and you will get ric !"
Naomi Brush h solitary and friendless.
and when you turned her from the sole
shelter she has, you did n cruel and
ungenerous thing"
And. taking up her knitting. the
good old woman went quietly out Of
the room.
The children all stared.
Mrs. Jobson looked apprehensively
at her husband. and Mr.. JObson him.
self turned all manner Of colors.
"That settles the natter" said Mr..
JObsOn hoarsely 90 himself, as he
walked out Of the house with his hands
In his pockets. ut isn't every son-in-
law who would have borne the burden
Of u helpless old woman as cheerfully
as have done. But when Mrs. Price
undertakes TO dictate to me, she as
sumes little too much. III tell Jane.
this afternoon. that she must find
another home for her mother. I sup.
pose she'll cry and make a great fuss
over II, but / can't help that. Grand
mother mrst 60. / don't at all doubt
that it's she who has been putting
Jane up 70 all this senseless extrava-
gance In the matter Of charity"
In his intent self-absorptiOn. he al
most stumbled over n portly little man
In fur trimmed Overcoat. who had
been coming in his direction with n
resolute step.
"Oh, it's you, is It, Squire Jones 2"
said he Obsequiously."
"Yes, it's me-" said the squire. re-
covering his equilibrium with some
difficulty. IL was just coming TO see
you, Jobs0n--about that little note of
yours. / think l told you last week
that wanted the money. And 1 wish
you TO understand that must have II.
on 1 shall find myself compelled to
toreclose on the mortgage"
Mr.. Jobson grew pale.
Isn't this rather suddenY' said he
family. ''''~ ~
Ihe squire shrugged his shoulders.
What would you haveY" said ne.
"Ihe money Is overdue. and there's .
considerable amount of interest still
unpaid To tell you the truth Johson
uo9't ike this way Of doing business
ana want my money one week from
Mr.. Jobs0n toIe his hair.
Two hundred p1undsn be cried
"And IN week. Why. who ever heard
of anything 80 cruelY'
"CruelF echoed the squire. is Il
cruel OF businessman TO want hi'
own back again2 You shonId bavs
thought Of that before you borrowed
And the squire walked on.