The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-16
CHAPTER II.

OAOSASAOAAS
common eighty years ago, parents being
disposed to settle their estates by giving
them up to their children, conditionally,
upon support being guaranteed. This
measure was more repugnant to the mother
than to the father, as thereby she lost con-
troll of what had been her own, and found
herself too often neglected, or, it may be
abused.
Time hung heavy upon the hands of Mrs.
Fisherj she who had been one of the bus
lest Of women. up with the sun making
butter and cheese, cooking herself and d.
recting het maids, calling upon her neigh
bors and having them call upon her, found
it next to impossible to pass away the time.
sense of shame grew upon her at her
own independence. She had her own nice
room, but, somehow, she felt herself a
prisoner there.
Susan hustled here and there, all the
time ON the alert, always with something
on her lips about people growing old and
not knowing it. Mrs. Fisher could not
complain of ill treatment, for, indeed, she
was in fair way of being made old and
helpless from being all the time told she
had become SO, and being too much cod
died:
Not so with Mr.. Fisher. He was more
clipper than ever, Debby declared. He
was all about the farm seeing after the
stock and granariea, and down to tho vii
lage tavern talking politics, and busy on
matters pertaining to the interests of the
town. John told him not to bother but
he did bother about everything.
You know, John, won't be put into a
feather bed and laid away to die till my
time comes" he would say, all the time so
nhoorv un1 octivo thot M fo,,1f oor11 I>o
found.
One day he said to John:
You know did not give you the deed of
the Greedy woodlot, and I'm thinking will
make it over to the school fund, it will be q
help to the town."
'All right" replied the son; "bnt would
not hurry about it-time enough. You
oughn't to worry at your time of life."
True, John. true. But We ought to doa
little for the town We live in. It's a mean
sort of man that does nothing for the pub
lie good"
1t CHANGED that several Sundays were too
stormy for the family to 80 out to meeting.
which was nearly three miles distant, 50
that nothing transpired to draw the at
this contract between the Fisher family
Neighbors, right minded neighbors, have
repugnance to medd1e with the affairs of
each other, and, as nothing was said by
either John or Susan about the matter,
there was little chance for public talk.
Now, MIR. Fisher had chestnut filly of
which he was not only fond but proud.
He had raised her from colt with care ana
tenderness; feeding her out of his hand,
and never had whip touched her delicate
skin. On the morning to which refer, Mr..
Fisher made his appearance dressed for
meeting, nicely shaven and neatly brushed,
and looking the pink of fine, wholesome {,
middle aeed farmer
Come, john" he said, "tack1e up the
mare; ''your mother and will ride
to meeting this fine day.
John stood moment In silence, but
Susan passed him with nudge, and
whispered, Nous your tine," at which he
thrust both hands deep into his trousers
pockets, and with weak, sullen smile, re-
piled:
You forget, father; the mare Is mine
True John, true; so it is."
At this moment Mrs. Fisher entered,
bringing with her an aroma of a new -mown
hay and lavender, and sweet and fresh to
the eye us npened Autumnal apple. Her
we'll preserved black silk dress, and white
plated frill about her comely neck, and
her scoop bonnet with broad edglnR Of
lace, presented buxom and not undignifi-
ed dame of the olden time.
Come. mother, it's fine day, and you're
the youngest looking of MS oil; we'll walk to
meeting, Saying which Mr.. Fisher gave his
arm to his wife. and they walked out; she
not fully comprehending the state of the
tase.
Mrs Fisher naturally hesitated when she
observed the chaise ready tackled, and Saw
Susan come out in Eer new smart ribbons
and handed into it by John.
Never you mind, Debby DEAR" whis-
ear; this little walk y.u and have taken
many the time," ana they went on, the
neighbors giving them genial good days
while John and Susan dashed by in the
| nice chaise with the handsome horse.
Mrs. Fisher stepped her iyhtest and
looked her loftiest that bright day. She
pressed the arm of Jonathan kindly. for a
serrowful misgiving made her to fear his
wits were giving away, and she, the true
wife. would not vex nor annoy him in his
hour Of weakness, let what would come Of
it. People stared. as we'll they might, but
Susan sent back triumphant mods and
smiles, and John laughed with imbecile
good nature. Reaching the meeting house,
| Susan took the lead of the pew where her
mother in law had hitherto sat, but John
did not venture upon this impertinence to
his sturdy father, and the disappearing
glances of the people did not escape even
his dull eyes.