Morris tribune., 1881-06-16
OLD FOLK LORE.
CHAPTER I

to Casco Bay in the state of Maine. He
had always been considered a man of con-
summate shrewdness, but honest withal,
who could see further into milestone than
most of the neighbors, and it became sur
prise to them when he began to talk of
making over his estate to his son John, with
the condition that said John should sup
port himself and wife to the end of their
days. In this he was bitterly opposed by
wife Debby, who had seen the property
accumulating under joint eyes of husband
and wife, and being no less discreet and
judicious than Jonathan himself, could see
no reason for any change, the more because
they were not old, and had prospect Of
many years before them.
"Marcy on us, Jonathan, you amt an old
man nor an old woman to be laid upon
the shelf with nothing to do"
Il know that, Debby. That old fellow
that we read about in books, who lived a
hundred and fifty years, was not younger
at our time of life than wG are; you re-
member the reason he gave for his cherry
age?'
"Yes, yes, Jonathan, oil without and hon
ey within, which has not been our way of
life, the goodness knows"
Nov, there you are at fault, wife. To be
sure, we may not literally have annointed
the flesh nor lived upon honey, but the in
ternal meaning of the saying we have OBJ
served. We have had the oil of gladness,
the oil of kindliness for all in the circle of
our influence, and our hearts have been as
sweet and as wholesome as honey" and he
chucked her under the chin with the air of
an old fellow who has said good thing.
81 give you warning, Jonathan dear,
you are going to bring trouble upon us.
Don't you remember old Leah in the play,
how he gave all to his two darters, and
what came of it?"
"Yes, yes, wife, but that was in the times
of heathendom, not in these Christian days,
when we are bound to honor our parents
and deal justly"
"Nonsense! You know what John is and
I know what Susan is won't be long be-
fore you and will be crowded out of house
and home, and she left the room to escape
Susan, who at this moment entered.
She went right up to Mr.. Fisher and lay
ing her hand on his shoulder, said:
"Poor father! I am snre you will be
happier when you are rid of this care.
should think mother would see how much
better it would be for you BOTH"
Jonathan looked at her face with an ex-
preston that might have been weak and
might have been cunning. He drew his
daughter low down into the chair vacated
by his wife, and leaned his own head
against his high backed chair, while he
twirled his two thumbs thoughtfully.
You need not think to blame your moth
er- in law, Susan, in anyway to me-"
She laid down her head and sniffied O
little, and then said:
"She is mighty mad because you want to
do something for us. I hope shall consult
Johns feelings better
"The house and all in 1t is hers, Susan
all the linnen and blankets made, wove an
spun by her own hands. She is like the
woman Of the Bible, di1igent with her hands
and now she is naturally unwilling to see il
all go out of them"
"But she is growing old, very old, and
infrm, both in mind and body, and needs
to be nursed and taken care of, instead OF
having all the care on her shoulders"
There showed out the cloven foot,
cried Debby, from the doorway. Il an
no more infirm in body than you are, anG
as to mind, you hadn't much to begin with.
Susan sighed heavily.
You see how it is, father. people never
know when they are losing their faculties.
"Yes, Susan. The story of the old bish'
op who was renowned for the excellence Of
his homilies and who besought his frien6
to tell him when there was any falling of
in these, is just to the point, wife. ;"
Susan fingered open mouthed and oper
eyed, while Debby muttered:
"Well, what did he do?"
I'm process of time the good bishop hai
a stroke of apoplexy from which he barrel!
escaped with his life, but with mind hope
lessly shattered. Upon resuming his relig
ious office, he prepared his sermon, and
as was his habit, read it to his friend
Now said the latter to himself, the TIM
has come for me to redeem the promise
made that I would tell him like tru
friend when I perceived his faculties OF
the decline"
That is the office of a true friend, how
ever painful smirked Susan interruptin
Mr.. Fisher.
"Well, what came of it?" sobbed Debby
'The homily was so poor, so incoherent
and so weak, that 'twould be fatal to tn
reputation of the bishop to preach it; SC
after some delay and many hens and hah
of voice he told his friend just how it was.
''No doubt he was grateful at being toll
the truth, however painful to hear" inter
posed Susan, rolling UP her eyes in piou
way. -,
fool" said Debby.
"You shall hear" resumed Mr.. Fisher
1.-The bishop eyed his friend with great dis
gust, grew red in the face, and at leng1
screamed out, You are fool. neve
wrote better sermon in my life, an
Mr.. Fisher chuckeled with laughter, Will
Susan stuck her apron in her mouth an
ran laughing out of the room.
Not 50 Mrs. Fisher; she had not only
strong affection for her good man" bu
great respect also, and she now looked hir
in the face with q discontented, doubtful
air, saying:
"You play into the hands of Susan
father; don't know what has come owe
you. You don't seem to have any prid
left"
Mr.. Fisher twisted his thumbs, and 9
length replied:
II am beginning to think that you and
| are not up to times wife; perhaps we ar
living too long, and ought to make way fc
younger people.
"Speak and think for yourself, dear, nc
| for me. If lam to be robbed of what
| mine, and by my own child will not sta
to see it. am not too old for many har
| years work.
I'VE are too worldly, too worldly, VIII,
and have laid up for the flesh in neglect {
the durable riches and righteousness
come"
Speak for yourself, Jonathan; hay
lived a godly lie, and if am to lose a
that has come to us by hard work, I'll M
whine and talk religious about it. Yo
can't make wrong right" and she rot
heavily from her chair and went out, bu
returning Immediately asked:
jonathan, what do you think made ol
Lear give away his crown and oil his kin.
| doms to his children?"
az suppose, Debby, he was tired Of ca!
and wanted to go hunting and galivantir
and have general good time, as do |
answered, sitting at his ease, and twirlir
his two thumbs in manner quite provol
ing.
His wife eyed him sharply, saying:
II don't think so. Ibelieve he was ma
to begin With, and grew worse from cruelt