Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-03-18
4 Eflfct Storg.
Farmer Lamson.

Farmer Lamson outlivcd his wife
and daughters, and his son brought
his wife and family to fill their places
and make the old man comfortable.
He had reached the age when tbs
grasshopper became a burden, and lis
heart was no longer engrossed With
buying and selling and making the
farm productive. So, arran gehiea 4
were made whereby the son shonld
feel we'll paid for his labor, but the
father should hold the reius, even il
did not drive, and do what work be
pleased.
For two years this plan wor ked we'll
and they seemed a happy and united
family; "granGpa" was we'll cared for
and respected BY all, and could 20
where he pleased. Almost daily he
took tour to the village and visited
tie store. But one day he came down
earlier than was usual and asked 10
see Mr.. Munroe in private and told
him that he was on his way to law
ycr's office to convey his farm To his
son.
Mr.. Munroe shook his head slowly
at this information and said: Don't
do it, Hold the reins and let Jim
drive. Human nature is took weak
to trust. Dou'ttempt Lim-"
Tempt him." echoed Mr.. Lamson.
why. Munroc. what dc YOU meau !:
| give Jim the farm aud he boards me
and gives me twenty five dollars every
three mouths, AID | give him the
stock and farming tools and thous
and dollars iu bank stock. See here :
the agreement all written down; cant
he no mistake, and needn't worry
about the crops. the stock or anything.
but just SIT by the ire and do1e and
read the newspapers ana see how The
politicians light, aud iriyc down the
hiIl aud &c you eSeys day. sss
Mr.. Muurce read the agreement In
his slew. quiet way. Mum, nothing
about horse to drive here. hen
the old mare isn't yours, ho~ II you
come down the hill: You can't foot
1t very spry.'
Foot IT." cried Mr. IAmsoa,
Land o Goshen, Who's going TO
foo, II. Haven't | got the old mare
ard that iiue team best,lcs and three
n likely colts as this country ever
saw What are YOU thinking about"
None Of them ycurs after youe
signed ,ha; deed" SAID hls freud.
Ny adsice ~, hoid TO your farm nntil
YOU are dead I've ben in this torn
over thirty ysars; | have seen sash
c .:scs before.
But Mr. 'I.asuson had . .,ra.e
icasen Of ob.tinu~y in NJ. e-sni-sAfst6sss,
and the more his friend urged bin
not TO convey the farm, the more e
vas touud 10 do Il
40 ,iie iawyrr was visited AMI the
de,d male csi. bnt as the sou ~as
not there he concluded 10 carry Il
homo TO have il sisue1. aud ASKED two
10 witness u. When be
returned home tie de.d ~. sio~u
Ia JIM and wife and tl,!est hov. ana
they all rrjoscsI ,ha, a last grandpa
had been made to do sha1 ~.ss I''r ths'
20 u ofihe h"ls i4Hs!,. That mI. /
Jim llil has plans lpE the neat sprlns
work intending - max rssityIf
changes IN everything, v'.gj" h's &,
PLANNED h,na,us dafy and ia'd
.chmcs which eqga.icl those II tae
mi Auald Of story book fame.
Next das the winds blew loud and
suri,l and the snow fell ccasr!es-ly. 80
!, hat ihe retghbnrs coald NOT b sara.
mouel and The deed signed. Bul jim
and his aife cared not for the Ntud
or storm aud discussed th~.r ma
plans before the Old man until tg>
fsw white hairs almos; stood on cud
al the changes that we're 20 be nadc.
The pine grove near the house, hich
sheltered IL from the north wind,
must come down. Jim SAID: at
ought TO have been cut down long
ago, father. and plowed MP Tor Po'a-
to,s. Aud the back lot must be
drained and sos.d TO corn. | shall
make the farm produce twice as much
ysu did, but 10 do this | must ke,
twice rs much stock. and Eliza THINKS
she would like very wsll large dairy.
Perhaps you wouldn't mind going up
stairs TO sle.p, father, and let us have
a milkroom. In summer time you
wouldn't mind IT and in winter we'll
fix YOU someway.
The father made no reply, but he
thought Of Mr.. Munroes advice, and
while he seemed to dose he was think
ing Of his wife and little children, aud
of the pine grove he had seen grow to
tall, stately trees from tiny seed
li1gs, aud Of the associations that
made the old bed room, with itsqualnt
chest of drawers, it's curtained bed
stead, old table, chairs and desk, so
dear to him.
Another day passed and still the
storm ragged, the plains for changes
were continued and the old man was
made to feel that not = foot of the
land belonged to him and hardly the
chair that he set in. Not that jim
and Eliza were unkind to him or the
children less respectful, but the very
atmosphere of the place seemed
changed to him, and he went to bed
at least an hour earlier than usual.
jim said to Elize: "Father don't
seem as chirk as usual; hope he hasn't
taken any cold But he is an old man
and it can't be expected that he'll last
much longer. saw him looking at
mcther's and sister Mary's picture this
afternoon. He'll join them soon."
And the good wife looked as if she
would say amen" but like wise
woman she kept silence, answering
only by an affirmative nod.
On the third dny. however. the sun