Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-08-11

into their case. 1--WE are ruined, Az
though poor Eliza didn't realize itwhen
she spoke the words. odd Nickerson
is clamorous for his money, and the
interest is all behind, and the mortgage
is going to be foreclosed next month.
i really don't see,' the poor Deacon
added, knitting his brows together aft
'er a puzzled fashion, show have been
careless or improyident. but somehow
everything has gone wrong. There
was last summers dry spell, and then
that sickness among the cattle, and the
fall Of prices in grain, and the loss. OF
twenty tons of hay in the barn that
burned up--nothing but one continuous
run of ill-luck! And there's no use try
ing to fight against fate any longer, so
far as can see.S We must justlet the
old place go-the place, where my father
was born before -meAand try to rent q
little house somewhere and support
ourselves by raising small fruit and
vegetables Tor the summer hotels, as
best we may. / don't mind it so much
myself, but don't know how to tell
Eliza"
And one or two tears-the agonizing
tears of old age-escaped from under
the Deacon's eyelids, and, trickling
slowly down his cheek, fell with noise
less plash upon his knee. .)Ill!
"rm pOltroon to despair" said the
good old man to himself. "What does
the Bible say? = have been young and
now am old; yet have / not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg
ging bread Can't l comfort myself
with Mdt?' O3 fh#@
Instinctively he reached out his hand
for the old family Bible, with the mar
bled cover and the defaced gilt binding
on the back; but at the same moment
there was a knock at the door, and in
came Lawyer Spruce, dapper little
man, with twinkling blue eyes, hair just
frosted with gray, and n suspicion
only a susp' C 'on-of a red nose!
The Deacon's heart sank within him;
he eyed the lawyer as n dying stag
might eye the hungry vulture already
swooping above him, But with the in
stinct of Unborn hospitality, he offered
him chair.
l'"Thankee, Deacon, thankee, said
the lawyer "But can't stay I've
come to see you on some business con-
nected with Mr.. Peter Pike, commonly
known as Lame Pete, the fiddler "
The Deacon opened his mild eyes.
"EhP" said he. sis he sick, poor
soulp"
Hes dead!" said the lawyer.
lis hep" said Middleton. Poor
fellow-poor old fellow L always
thought a deal of Lame Pete. Well,
well, we must bury him decently, and
see that he don't lack neat tombstone.
I'll give my share towards it" and he
put his hand into his pocket.
The lawyer smiled shrewdly,
"You're mistaken, Deacon Middle
TOM he said, altogether mistaken.
Mr.. Peter Pike has not died penuiless.
He has left enough to bury him, and
% little besides. ~
F'Indeed!" said the Deacon. "G am
glad TO hear it.
He must have been rather eccen-
tric character" said the lawyer He
has left quite sum in the savings
| bank four thousand dollars;
"You don't say so!'' said MI. Middle
ton. "Four--tbou-sand dollars. ehP
Il at is a deal of money. Ii had four
thousand dollars, now"
You have!" said the lawyer.
"What?" roared the Deacon.
THAT is precisely what / came to
tell you said Mr.. SprTIce. 1--WE found
Il dirty, crumbled paper in one of his
pockets, which proved TO be legally
executed VIII, and which makes you his
sole heir and legatee."
Mel shouted the Deacon ellis
heir! But I'm no sort of relation to
him."
mo, nor anybody else" said the
lawyer. "But that don't interfere with
the validity of the will"
''Bless me!' said the deacon! ''Why,
that's enough to raise the mortgage on
the old farm!
"Of course it is,' mold ID LAWYER
Spruce. ''He says in the will that YOU
are the best friend he ever had, and
that now you will understand how sfn'-
cerely grateful he was for all yodr
kindness"
''Poor old Pete! Poor old Pete!' said
the Deacon, wiping the moisture out of
his eyes. 'Four thousand-dollars
Well, / wonder what Eliza will sayr'
For the good Deacon had received his
reward at last. And there was no dam
ger of his ending his last days in the
poor-house.-N. Y Ledger.
Oscar Wilde seems to be played out
as an aesthetic apostle. He worked the
art dodge in America for all it was
worth, and has now abandoned it. He
surprised his friends at reception
given to Mr.. Whistler, the artist, by APP
naaripu oc on nrIipavy individual