Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-11-19

that made quite az audible sound. The
rutfian lay there for minute or so
motionless.
"Thee hasn't killed him ?" timidly
inquired the girl.
"No, miss, said John Paul, "but
I've given his backbone jar that makes
him sick of fighting. Come, sir, get
up" he added, as the man began to stir;
"pick yourself up and go, or I'll give
You more of it, and worse"
"Im goin'," said the other, rising
slowly, and rubbing his back" I'm go
in, boss. But say, You amt man
you're steam-ingine, you are."
As soon as the fellow had dragged
himself ont of sight, John Paul took his
coat, and finding on inquiry that the
girls name was Rachel, gave her the
message of her aunt. He followed her,
at her request, to the house, where he
seated himself on the back veranda,
while Rachel, coat in hand, disappeared
In the kitchen.
In few minutes she came out.
"There is thy coat, friend, as good as
new; it was only ripped in the seam,
not torn, and Oh dear There is that
vexatious Crumple il the garden again."
Paul looked, and saw that cow had
got into an inclosure not meant for
browsing ground, and volunteered to
get her out. 1t did not prove an easy
job, however and by the time he had
managed to overcome her lodges and
msneuvres, and finally got the brute
safely into the barn-yard, he saw the
farmer and his wife drive in, and knew
from her manner that Rachel was telling
them all about the fight. AS he came
forward to reclaim his mended coat,
Mahlon Stacy met him with beaming
countenance.
"Thee has placed me under obliga-
ton again, friend Paul." he said. 81
hear thee was obliged to resort TO force.
1t is against the principles of Friends,
but since thee had to do it, I'm glad to
learn thee did it well. A big man, too,
for think the one we met with blood
on his face was the one thee dealt with.
"There was no trouble in handling
him, sir. The matter is not worth
speaking of. l am only too glad to
have been of service to the young lady"
With these words he moved off.
"Stay, friend" cried the farmer. "If
thee won't have compensation for thy
service, thee'll at least grant us another
favor, and take supper with lis.
The young man hesitated, but glanc-
ing at the women, said: CT am not
in fit condition for the table L"
If that's all, eagerly rejoined NAH
Ion, ''we can arrange that. Come with
me-" And the young man was speedily
L. ~, l..
gave him shaving materials, and left
him, to hear more definite particulars
about the encounter, in which, like
many men of peaceful habits, he took a
deep interest.
At the supper table, John Paul, IN
evading minute inquiry, let them know
that he lived in New York when at
home, and gave them some account of
the metropolis, of which they had heard,
but never seen, and did it in a plain and
lucid way that showed he kept his eyes
open while he was tramping.
After supper Mahlon Stacy and John
Paul sat ON the veranda while the
women-folk were clearing the table, and
the former, after two or three prelimi-
nary hens, spoke his. mind.
"'Thee was looking for work, perhaps,
friend ?"
"No, can't say that was"
"Thee would take job if thee could
get one, maybe ?"
''That depends on what it is. !"
"Can thee NOW ?"
A smile. broke over the young mans
face. "Not very well. he said. II did
learn how to swing scythe once-when
when was ON farm for a month in
the hay season but I'm not an expert
mower"
''That might come by practice" re-
Joined the farmer. You see, my man
was obliged to leave me before the hay
was all made; and when / met thee |
was going after some one to take his
place, and did not succeed. Thee might
be of help if thee would, and [ would
give thee fair wages"
"Well, sir, it is new business for me;
but I'll do the best [ can for you till
you can do better and as for the
wages, we'll not differ on that"
"Then theel stay here, and We'll
tackle the south field tomorrow" ex-
claimed the farmer, ioyously. "Naomi,
thee'll get a room ready for friend Paul.
So John took service with Mahlon
Stacy, or. as he put it to himself that
night, "I'm hired to Rachel's uncle"
and he laughed at the same time as
though it were the funniest thing possi-
BILE.
The hay-making was over in three
days, but John, as they all called him
now, remained. He evidently knew
very little about farming, but took
teaching kindly. He developed great
knowledge of horses, their needs and
wants, and altogether Mahlon was salts
fed with his raw hand. The fourth
day it rained so that out-doo work was
stopped. The farmer and John sat in
the kitchen, the farmer in a rather
down-cast mood. John watched
Rachel's motions for some time, as she
moved about gracefully, and then took
book which stood upon the shelf, and
began reading. Mahlon smiled grimly.
"If thee likes to read" he said,
"there's mo Cross, No Crown and
Barclays Apology in the sitting
room. That is a foolish book of po-
etry that Rachel delights in. But it can
do no one any good. 1t is funny in
parts, though"
1t was Hoods poems.
"Some of this is by no means funny"
said John, "the Bridge of Signs, for
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