The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-04-17
A NARROW ESCAPE.
BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.

BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.
..Feyther," said Mrs. Stebbins, hold
ing up "a thick envelope. Here's a
letter for you. 'Taint from Brother
VIII. nor from Sile's wife. Whose
been writin' tow you. d. you thinkg"
Farmer Stebbins took off his warm
coon-skin cap, tied the ears together,
and hung it up; thon he felt in each
pocket for his horn spectacles.
They're in the Bible where you left
them last night" said his daughter.
Then she produced them, and he fitted
them over his nose and held the letter
out good arms length before him.
john J-a-c-o-b S-t-e-b-b-i-n-s," :"
read the old farmer slowly and in a
loud voice. That's me for sure. Now
the question is, as you say. whose been
an writ to me-. -5e
.'For mercy sake, do open it," said
Mrs. Stebbins. II shall fly if you set
thcre and finger it any more 'thout
KNOWN what it means" -
"Yes. pa, do read it," urged the
daughter. MAYBE its an offer of a
school for me.''
Like enuff! like enuff!'' answered
her father. Let's see what the post
mark is. Why, It's Bosting. Bosting
ez sure ez I'm livin' man."
.'Call me if you happen to need me, !"
said Mrs. Stebbins, with fine sar-
casm. ''I'm goin' out to set the salt
risin' for tho bread"
Gimme the stamp POP" said John
nobody rite to us only Hetty's beau.
and he don't send emmy thing but pos
tai keerds."
By this time Mr.. Stebbins had slowly
and laboriously succeeded in getting
the envelope off the letter. A bank
check for $4,000 fell out. 1t was
beautifully printed In green and gold,
and indorsed on its back with the name
on Its face; not line accompanied it.
"G-r-e-a-t Jerusalem!' exclaimed the
farmer, ..here's windfall. Now who
do you 'spose wife ever sent me such a
heap of money!"
''The land knows" said his wife
who had done nothing but stare at the
check.
"D'ye 'spose Uncle Silas has come
back from furrin parts, and died and
left mo the hull of his estatc?"
HE never did such thing before" !"
said Mrs. Stebbins, innocently.
"We can move into town now," said
Miss Hetty, proudly.
$50 we KIM said John Jacob, Jr.,
land Ill have vlosspede and bisik-
el and wear plaid close and bang my
hair, hooray! Won't we big apples
swim tho"
Stop your noise" said the perplex-
ed farmer, looking in the direction of a
birchen stick that protruded from the
clock-shelf. "You needn't think you'll
git all you want COS I'm rich. can
find lots of places for money, an don't
you forget it, young mani"
"Feyther," said Mrs. Stebbins,
''there's only one thing Two allus
wanted to hev in case we ever got rich,
an now 1 kin hev it. 1t seems too
good to be true"
"Some fol-de-rol, suppose; out with
it then, you haven't been half bad
wife and don't mind letting you hev
one silk gown. if it don't come too
dear"
.'But it amt a silk gown, feyther, :"
said Mrs. Stebbins bridling.
''Oh, it's q gold neckchain, is it,
with watch dangling on the end, SO
ye can see how you waste time. Well.
if l did get this money easy, l don't
stand no sort of chance of foolin' it
away. know its real vally too we'll. !"
81 guess what's yours is mine, said
Mrs. Stebbins shortly.
'.An' what is mine rs my own; I'm
going to build ON a new wing to the
house with this. and buy in some fine
stock. and the meadow lot so Hetty can
live with us when she gifts married to
Jim Vance"
'.Indced! Jim Vance! ] guess I'll go
to tho city and get acquainted with
folks, now we've got money" said
Miss Hetty. 'Jim is only common
farmer boy; not but what he is good
fellow, but mebbe l can do better
now"
John Jacob. Jr.. gave long whis-
tie. Il wouldn't Civ up Jim till l see
the other fellcr, Het," he said provok-
ingly: :,
..ft's time the bread-risin' was set. !"
'uggested Hetty to her mother.
"You can set it then, rotorted Mrs.
Stebbins GROSSLY; live worked and
shaved for your feyther nigh on to thir-
ty yeurs, and he never refused me be-
fore. But money hes made him hard
hearted"
.Mercy on us, woman. what is it you
wanta" he growled.
'.A-a-camefs hair shawl all-all-
| border" sobbed his wife.
| Great Jerusalem. woman, there
isn't q camel nearer n thousand
miles of us. How kin git hair to
| make ycr a shaWl?"
"He never called me woman be.
FORE" sobbed his wife. TO think
should ever he called "a woman by my
owR husband, too. Oh, John Jacot
Stebbins, what shame to let money
harden your very soul in this here
way"
ats enough to drive o man does
tracted, crazy" said the farmer,
stamping around the room; YOU
John, 60 and feed the caows. l clear
forgot them. "
Il amt agoin' to feed no caows en-
nymore; you can hiro another man,
said the youth. spreading himself.
Mr.. Stebbins rose and took down th'
means of grace from behind the clock,
but with mocking laugh the you'll
fled out of roach.
whats the matter with you. Het
typ" asked the unhappy man, as IL
saw large tears rolling down hi
daughters face.
''Oh. pa, it's so hard to bear. jus
. to think that I-boo-hoo-may hav
to wear diamond earrings, and (so
-sob) never had my ears bored.
.I'd be mighty glad to chang
places with YOU, muttercd the angr,
farmer. Then. going up to his wife h
placed his hand on her bony shoulder
"Come, wife, cheer up. Ii there's