The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-29

hcly, was the lawyers low reply, ''for
l have privately found future owner
for the place, and it is that which has
brought me here now"
"When does he wish to come into
possession" asked the old man, think
ing more of that than of the price that
had been offered.
Il think he would like to come into
possession to-day" said the lawyer,
writing busily again. Il have brought
all the papers with me-"
To-day, to-day!'' said the old man,
starting. H
Eyes, many people, you know, like
the New Year. VIII you look over that
paper?"
Nathan Holloway took the paper
handed him with trembling fingers, for
it was a shock to him to think of pass
ing over, that very day, the old place
to a stranger; but, though his eyes grew
dim at first, he bravely steadied himself
until he could read the words that
would pierce his heart like knives A
frightened look passed our his face. A
moment later he handed the paper back,
SAYING sadly: ......... ...... .
"You have made mistake and given
me the wrong paper"
The lawyer looked at it moment,
and then returning it said
"No; if you examine it you will find
| it properly made out and signed"
"But it is release of the mortgage,
and is of no use when | have no money
topay it,"
.'But suppose some one else has paid
it for you!'
"There is no one to do that"
"On the contrary there is; for it has
been paid, and the release was made
out yesterday" 200 .af s.
What does this mean?' asked the
older man, eXcitedly.
3 SIT means" was the reply, ''that
your grandson, who is but a lad, in
deed, has paid off the mortgage, and he
now sends his grandparents the release
as a New Years Offering"
"Walter Walter! How"
Listen, Nathan Holloway! Two
days ago your grandson-he tells me
he is but thirteen came into my office.
Hes a bright-looking lad, and have
once or twice sent him on errands, and
given him a trilie for it. Ii seems now,
that, for the last year, he has spent his
holidays and all of his spare time in
running errands and doing odd Jobs
for which he has received small sums
of money, all of which he has carefully
saved, so that when opened the bag
he brought me, | found these small
sums had mounted up until they made
one hundred and twenty-five dollars
and fifty cents. He had heard, he said,
! that his grandfather must sell the farm
unless he could pay some money he
owed by the first of the year. He asked
| if what he had given me was enough to
pay it, and | told him Yes, that the
farm would not be sold now, and that
| would come down myself and tell you
so to-day" .. .s -... ...
"But ''--began the old man in a
faint voice, and trembling again.
"Wait moment; Ishave more to
say. Never mind where the rest of the
money came from. Ithas all been paid.
What have to say is this: am gener-
ally considered hard and crusty old
bachelor. Perhaps / am; circum-
stances may have conspired to make
me seem so, but have vivid recol-
lection of my younger days. / know
what it is to begin life with clog and
a weight dragging me down; l know
what it is to fight and struggle against
adverse circumstances. / have seen
life in some of its harshest phases, and
since | have been what the world calls
wealthy have been called stingy and
4 mean because | have refused to endow
| Ill Il
pitfalls and pay off church debts. But
have had my own ideas about the dis
position Of it, or at least have wished
to use portion of it in saving others
from the struggles that beset so many
in early life. Your grandson strikes
me as one to whom l could lend help
ing hand, feeling confident would not
regret it in the future. With your con-
sent | will undertake to see that he is
well educated, will send him to college
and give him start in life. AS for
you and your wife, you may live here
as long as you need home on earth,
and you shall want for nothing. 1t was
to tell you this that have set aside my
ordinary custom and have attended to
business on New Years Day. There, /
| tul ali dltt l. nave JOiQ NOu 100 Suulcl-
ly, after all, and he went over to the
side of the old man, who was trem-
bling in a manner that alarmed him.
mo, no" was the reply; "call my
wife, call my wife! o! /, could bear
trouble without her, but not this, not
! this"
80 Nathan, Nathan!' cried the wife,
when she had been summoned, what
is it?'' and once more she fell ON her
knees by his side.
sit is joy, wife, joy! Tell her,
pleasep-turning to the lawyer. Il
can't, it chokes me.
Once again the story was told of
what q grandson's love had done, and,
as he finished, the lawyer saw the tear
full face of the wife raised to that of her
husband. Then. as both heads were
bowed, he stood reverently by, for he
knew that prayers of thanksgiving were
ascending to the throne of grace. Even
when he clasped their hands in token of
farewell, there was no word spoken.
Their hearts were too full for utterance.
1t remained for the grandson, who came
shyly in not long afterward, to bring
them to full realization of the change
| in their prospects, 4+