Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-02
GIVING AND RECEIVING,

ing restlessly among the dead leaves
that lay heaped over the wood paths,
seeming to moan with almost human
voice. But, the au,umnal melancholy
without only served to brighten the
cheerfulness Of the roaring wood fire.
whose ruddy glow, danced and quivered
over the rough rasters OF Woodbridge's
spacious old kitchen sparkling on the
polished service Of platter, ana glimmer-
ing and shedding long stream Of radi-
ance through the uncurtained windows.
out upon the darkened road.
eyes, as I said atore," observed the
old farmer. rubbing his toilhurdened
hands togp Their. and gazing thoughtful!y
into the fire, ''it's been capital harvest
this year. I would ask for no better. So
wife, you just pick out some Of them
yaller pippin apples, and put'em into
Jess'e's basket when she calls arter it. "
"Won't the little red un's do as well?
I calculate to keep them pippjns for
market. Squire Benson says they are
WORTH
II don't keer what they're WORTH u
interrupted he farmer, as his hrlpmate,
q spare, angular woman, with q face
p'ougted with innunerahle Inns oftare
fingered the yellow checked apoles du-
piot,siy. 81 tell you " hat IL is, Ket.rah +,
folks never lost anything nv doing kind
thug. never could make You be lieve
that, unless pay came right in hard Cash
Now here's Jessie Morton, as likely a
young gal as ever breathed, teaching
school day in and out and her marin
SEWN to hum, earnin' livin' bv the
hardest work, born ladies both Of EN-.
Don't you s'pose these apples I'll be
worth more to them If you'd give 'em
with kind word, than they would be to
that perky tight fisted agent up 10 Hard
wicle II I'll, If he gave dollar bushel?'
"Char.tv begins to num-" said ketu-
rah, Jerking out her supper-tabIe, with
an odd twist OF the face.
''Not but what Jessie's we'll enou yh--
but you'd plaguy sight be ter be
scratchin' your pennies together to pay
up that mortgage, if you don't want the
Hard wiche n.ent forcEosine on you
And thea pippins is just us good as so
much money. There may be, anyhow,
in the basket-one of your investments.
I guess"
Zone of my investments, then, if you
like to call it so, kcturah," said the
farmer with a good humored laugh, ban
ishiug the annoying expression which,
had oyerspread his face when she al
'uded to the mortgage. "Come long in
Jessie, NY CAL" he aided ch-erfuily, as
light touch sounded on the door-latch.
"Here's the basket all right, and some
Of them golden pippins tucked in to it,
May be they'll tempt your mothers ap-
petite"
Jessie Morton was slender graceful
girl, Of about seventeen, With SATIN
smooth bands OF chestnut hair, parted
above low, sunny forehead, large
liquid eyes, and cheeks which farmer
Woodbridge always declared, "set him
to thinking of the velvet Jarsey peaches
that grew on the tree down on the south
medder." ST e took up he basket wit b
q graceful smile that went to the hlnty
heart Of Mrs. KeturAh.
80, Mr.. WoudbriGe, how kind you
ALWAYS are to US! If we're only rich-ii
] could only make some return
Don't you Say word about that @, e, I"
saic the farmer rubbing his nose very
hard. 'Just you run home last as you
ever can tor it is getting most
dark and the November wind amt
no WAYS healthy, us l ever heard on
and | say, Jessie if it rains tomorrow
SO you can't get TO school hauny, just
you stop here, and III give you q life in
my va gin"
Dear old Mr.. Woodbridge" solilo~
quized Jessie Morton to herself, as her
light steps battered along on the fallen
leaves, "hoE many, many times have
had cause to thank his generous heart.
And to think that he should be dis
tressed about the mortgage by the agent
at Hard wiche Hall.
She paused q moment to look up to
where the hall rose tarkly outlined
AGAINST the crimson sky. On q com
N Anding height, and nearly hidden in
trees, many OF which still retained THAR
brilliant autumn foliage, it seemed H.
most like an old baroniAl castle.
"There it stands,' she unused, "shut
up and silent, year after year, its mag
nliicent rooms untenanted, the flowers
blossoming unga,hered in it's conserva-
tories. Since Mrs. HarL wich died--twen-
ty years since, mamma say5-the family
have been away, and now the other sur,
viving heir is travelling, no one knows
where. / wonder if he knows how
and cruel his agent is? Oh,
DEAR" she added softly, 'money does not
always come where it is most needed.
IF were the mistress of HardWiche
Hallv'
She started with light scream the
next instant, as tall figure rose up
from q messy border by the roadside,
directly in front Of her,
''Pardon me-" said q voice, that in
'tantly treasured her, for it was to gen.
tie to come from any but gentleman,
but am not certain but [ have lost
my way. Is this the Eden road? Twas
va ting for some one to direct me?"
This is the Eden road" said Jessie,
al unconscious that the last CLEANS of
The fading sung. we're tightening up
her face with almost angelic beauty, as
she stood there among the fallen leaves.
and can you tell me- the shortest
loot path to Hardwiche hall? I have net
oeen in this neighborhood since / was
child, and l. am completely at fault"
Jessie hesitatesi moment. II could
show you better than tell YOU, for it is
rather a complicated road" she said.
and if you will accept my serv &c as
guide it will not be much out Of my
way"
II shall feel very much honored," said
he stranger, "Meanwhile let me car
~ your basket"
1t was Wild and lovely walk, wind
NJ among moss garIanded treeSan hol-
ows, sweet with aromatic incense oil
lying leaves. Jessie &C uld not help ad.
nlrlng the chivalric manners and cn1v
slric courtesy Of her companion, and hv
was pleased with the blooming 10 7elness
and girlish dignity Of the young guide,
a few adroit questions respecting Har.
wiche hall and It's neighborhood suf-
iced to draw forth spirited abstract OF
he Hardwiche agent, and the ,mpos-
hon he was wont to practice upon II a
tenants and nelghbors. as we'll as n
arch description If most of the "chan l.
ters" Whereabouts. Then he continued
to learn all about Jessie's little school,
and her aiHng mother. and he smiled to