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

And now, this drear November eve.
What has to-day seen done, heard said!
It boots not; who has tears to grieve
| For that last leaf yon tree has shed
Or for Love dead?
Chambers Journal.
OLD FOLK LORE.
CHAPTER
Mr.. jonathan Fisher was a we'll to do
farmer living on peninsula jutting out in
to Casco Bay in the state of Maine. He
had always been considered man of con-
summate shrswdness, 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
accommodating under joint eyes Of husband
and wife, and being no less discreet and
judicious than Jonathan himself, could see
no reason for any thange, the more because
they were not old, and had q prospect OF
many years before them.
MARCY on US, Jonathan, you amt an old
!
the shelf with nothing to tlo."
! L know that, Debby. That old fellow
that We read about in books, who lived q
hundred and fifty years, was not younger
ut our time of life than wo 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"
| Now, 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, aud 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, 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
| 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! am sure you will be
happier when you are rid Of this care.
should think mother wotild 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 sniffled 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
and now she is naturally unwilling to see it
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, u
cried Debby, from the doorway. Il am
no more infirm in body than you are, and
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. 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 of
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
a stroke of apoplexy from which he barely
escaped with his lite, but with mind hope
lessly shattered. Upon resuming his relig.
ious Office, he prepared his sermon, and
Now said the latter to himself, the time
has come for me to redeem the promise
made that would tell him like true
friend when perceived his faculties or
the decline"
That is the Office of true friend, how.
ever painful smirked Susan interruptinl
Mr.. Fisher.
''Well, what came of it?' sobbed Debby
1.-The homi]y was SO poor, SO incoherent
and so weak, that 'twou1d be fatal to til,
reputation of the bishop to preach it; so
after some delay and many hens and hah
of voice he told his friend just how it vas.
mo doubt he was grateful at being tolt
the truth, however painful to hear" inter
posed Susan, rolling uf 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 length
screamed out, You are fool. I neve
wrote better sermon in my hfe,'" ant
Mr.. Fisher chuckeled with laughter. Will.
Susan stuck her apron in her mouth ant
ran laughing out Of the room.
Not 50 Mrs. Fisher; she bad not only {
strong affection for her good man" bu
in the face with a 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 a
length replied:
II am beginning to think that you and
are not up to tines wife; perhaps We ar,
living too long, and ought to make why TO-
younger people.
"speak and think for yourself, dear, no
for me. II lam to be robbed Of what il
mine. and by my own child I will not eta.
to see it. I am not too old for many hart
years. work.
I'VE are too worldly, too worldly. wife
and have laid up for the flesh in neglect O
the durable riches and righteousness t,
come"
Speak for yourself, Jonathan; I hav,
lived godly lie, and if am to lose al
that has come to us by hard work, I'll no
whine and talk religious about it. Yo,
can't make wrong right" and she ros'
heavily from her chair and went out, but
returning Immediately asked:
jonathan, what do you think made oil
Lear give away his crown and all his kim:
doms to his children?"
II suppose, Debby, he was tired Of eas
and wanted to 60 hunting and galivantinl
and have q general good time. as I do. h
answered, sitting at his ease, and twirlin)
his two thumbs in manner quite provok