Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-01-18


His freedom SUIT consisted of trou-
sers of tow cloth and jacket of "wale
cloth" l hope l shall not be called
upon to explain what ''wale cloth"
was: only know it was mixture of
black wool and white wool, and the
color was called "sheep's gray"
Joe was tall and ''personable," and
looked quite fine in his new suit, with
a bear-skin cap set atop of his sandy
locks. s.Fsf. E -. Z
His mother was dead but he went
home to say good-by to his brothers
and sisters before setting out, "strange
countries for to see.' They were all
married now but Betsey, and she had
been invited to go and live at Concord
with her rich uncle John.
''But you promised to keep house
for me, Betsey, and / can't give you
up" Joe said to her.
"Well, get settled somewhere, Joe,
and I'll do it," replied the pretty
maiden quickly; ''I'd rather live with
you than all the rich uncle Johns in
the world"
So Joe set forth ON his travels. He
didn't know whether he should go to
the North Pole, the South Pole or the
Equator, but he had pair of strong
boots, and didn't mind walking.
On his way to the North Pole, how
ever he stopped one night at Roscoe,
new town in the district of Maine.
There was lively young look about it
that rather pleased Joe. 1t was an
August evening, and the farmers
daughters in short gowns and petit
coats were milking the COWS. There
were burnt stumps in the fields, and
the houses were mostly built of logs.
Only one store was to be seen, and Of
course no tavern but Joe put up with
one of the farmers, and thought he
would stay few days aud look
around. He looked at the red store
more than anything. The people said
it was run by Mr.. Jonathan Crumb, a
crusty old bachelor, and there was a
rhyme about him that said:
"He sands his brown sugar and waters
his rum,
And cheats all his neighbors as fast as they
come"
"Well, he won't cheat me-" thought
Joe, ~ don't want rum or sugar,
only want work. Guess I'll go in and
see him."
The store was full of everything
that people sold in those days. Rich
furs hung on the rafters overhead,
precious potash barrels sat against
the wall; for Mr.. Crumb was wealthy,
in fact one of the grandees of Roscoe.
When our hero entered he was just
pouring out glass of toddy for s
lpoor shaky sld man.
"The villian!" thought Joe, going
up to the merchant and standing be-
fore him in his sleeps gray suit.
"Good-day," said Mr.. Crumb dry
ly, and tipped up the demijohn agair
for another poor soul.
"Would you like any butter firkins
sir?" asked Joe respectfully.
"No.'
"Any potash barrels?"
"No." 81.
Joe bowed and turned to go out.
"Stop," said the merchant, strucl
by the look of power in Joe's keel
blue eye. ''Are you cooper b,
trade?"
II am.''
/ "Well, make a wash-tub then. Blu
if it don't suit me / shan't pay for il
Do you understands
"Yes, sir,' replied Joe, walking Of
with dignity.
He made a wash tub that was simE
| ly perfect, and Mr.. Crumb could fin
no fault with it, though he put on hi
spectacles for the purpose.
''WeIl, well," growled he, ''I'
warrant you can't make another I
match it. If you can, young mar
I'll find you in work for a year."
Joe's face lighted up.
''But 1 shan't pay you till the yea
is OUT
Joe WINGED.
"And then l can't afford you an
money, young man. You'll have
I
. take your pay out of the store" Th
was a hard bargain, and Joe did NJ
/, reply for a moment.
, "May have anything like out
the store and trade it off to suit m
I self?" asked he, looking around car
y fully.
"Yes, of course anything "
want .@
agreed" said Joe; "I'll try
SUIT
t He worked for a whole year, al
only earned one hundred dollar
4 Times were hard, and small coop
u ware was not in great demand. Mea
+ while he built a little shop in his spa
Ill hours. 1t did not cost much, a
Z perhaps sometime he could add rool
'e to it and make home for his darh
Betsey.
I'll "Well, I'm ready to settle no
What do you want for your pay
said Mr.. Crumb gruffly.
"I've known all the time wha
wanted, sir" replied Joe, looking
IN tho ceiling. tsit,s fhose hea,