The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-16

inc country. his nne presence, his high toned
character will command respect. feel positive he
will largely contribute to the farming interests Of
the whole country. He Is we'll posted with regard
to the farming wants OF the West As we'll "a thu
ession OF agriculture and advance this great inter-
eet throuShoutths whole country.
May this high encouium prove true
Old FOLK LORE.
CHAPTERI.
Mr.. Jonathan Fisher was we'll to do
farmer living on peninsula jutting out ill.,
to Casco Bay in the state of Maine. He
had always been considered man of con-
summato shrewdness, but honest withal,
who could see further into a 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
port himself and wife to the end of their
days. In this he was bitterly opposed by
wife Debby, who had seen the property
accommodating 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, yon amt an old
man nor an old woman to be laid npon
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 wo are; you re-
member the reason no give 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 Mt fault, wife. To be
sure, We may not literally have Amounted
the flesh nor lived upon honey, but the in
te1nal meaning of the saying we have OBJ
served. We have had the oil of gladness,
the oil of kindness 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.
II 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, vito, 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
l know what Susan is; won't be long be-
fore you aud 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. I
better it would be for Won both.'
| Jonathan 10Oko1 at hor "a with an ov
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 thoughtfnlly.
"You need not think to blame your moth
e. in law, Susan, in anyway to me-"
She laid down her head and SMILED a
little, and then said:
"She is mighty mad because you want to
do something for US. hope shall consult
Johns feelings better"
1.-THE house and all in it is hers, Susan;
all the linnen and blankets made, wove ana
spun by her own hands. She is like the
woman of the Bible, diligent 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
intirm, both in mind and body, and needs
to he nursed and taken care Of, instead of
having all the care on her shoulders
There showed ont the cloven foot, u
cried Debby, from the doorway. 81 am
no more intirm in body than you ore, and
as to mind. Won hadnt much to begin with.
Susan sighed heavily.
"Yon see how it is, father, people never
know when they are losing their faculties. u
! Yes, Susan. The story of the old bish-
op who was renowned for the excellence of
his homilies and who besought his friend
to tell him when there was any falling off
in these, is just to the point, wife.
Susan fingered open mouthed and open
eyed, while Debby muttered:
'Well, what did he do?"
| I'm process of time the good bishop had
stroke of apoplexy from which he barely
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 time
made that I would tell him like true
friend when I perceived his faculties on
the decline"
That is the Office of a true friend, how
ever painful smirked Susan interrnptine
Mr.. Fisher.
"Well, what came of it," sobbed Debby.
| The homily was so poor, 80 incoherent
and so weak, that 'twould be fatal to the
reputation. of the bishop to preach it; So
after some delay and many hens and hahs
Of voice, he told his friend just how it was. y
| mo donbt he was grateful Mt being told
the truth, however painful to hear" inter-
posed Susan, rolling up her eyes in pious
way.
mot bit of it. He was mad unless a
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 length
screamed out, You are fool. neve,
wrote better sermon in my life; and
Mr.. Fisher chuckeled with laughter, while
Susan stuck her apron in her mouth and
run laughing out of the room.
Not 80 Mrs. Fisher; she had not only q
strong affection for her good man" but
great respect also, aud she now looked him
in the face with discontinued, doubtful
OR, saying:
You play into the hands Of Susan,
father; don't know what has come ovel
you. You don't seem to have any pride
left"
| Mr.. Fisher twisted his thumbs, and al
length replied:
~ am beginning to think that you and !
are not up to tines wife; perhaps we are
living too long, and ought to make way fo1
younger people,.
! "Speak and think for yourself, dear, not
for nae. If lam to be robbed >of what is
mine. and by my own child I will not stay
to see it. am not too old for many q hard
years work. -
I'VE are too worldly, too worldly, wife,
and have laid up for the flesh in neglect OF
the durable riches and righteousness to
come"
Speak for yourself, Jonathan; I have
lived cody lie, and if am to lose all
that has come to US by hard work, III not
whine and talk religious about it. You
can't make wrong right" and she rose
heavily from her chair and went ont, but,
returning Immediately asked:
Jonathan, what do you think made old
Lear give away his crown and oil his king
doms to his children?" = -
II suppose, Dolby, he was tired Of ease