The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-12-05
Written for the MONITOR.
"A HARD ROW TO HOE"


| L lie speaker was lau OF some twenty
years, tall, rather nice-looking, though a
little sun-browned; but it was such as sug-
gested honest toll meath the rays of an en-
couragmg sun, and enhanced, rather than
detracted from, the genial expression of his
countenance.
No one volunteering to accept practical
proof of the assertion he made, Henry
Cook-for that was his name-proceeded
to demonstrate the fact to his own satsfac-
ton, at least, by setting to work with re-
newed zeal.
| He had reached the middle of the row,
when his attention was attracted by a
small glittering object, which lay on the
ground just ahead of him.
''Wellr' he exclaimed, ''it's remarkably
singular how that shirt-stud ever got
there; | suppose it belongs to some of
the men who were around here expert
menting with those new-style moving
machines; it is certainly very handsome,
though; wonder what I'd better do with it;
guess I'll give it to the boss in the
morning.
The boss was Mr.. Jamison, who was
Henry's employer.
After soliloquizing thus, he put the stud
into his pocket and went on hoeing the
hard row.
That night when he retired, he took it
from his pocket and placed it behind a
clock, which stood on the mantle in his
room.
The next morning he went to his work
in the field, and as was natural, forgot to
take the stud to the ''boss".
This operation was repeated every morn
ing for week, he never thinking of it after
he placed it on the shelf,
One morning, one of the servants came
out to him in the field, and said:
"Mr Jamison wants to see you, in the
kitchen, directly
This was something altogether unusual;
and Henry unused and wondered much on
what could be the grounds for this sum-
mons.
He had been promised the hand of Ada,
Mr.. Jamisons daughter, and was only
awaiting for matters to assume proper
financial basis with him to claim the full
fillment of the promise.
This, however, was no light task, for his
father had died three years before, and
Henry dutifully contributed largely of his
earthly substance to the support of his
widowed mother who lived in Brighton,
the county-seat, some twenty miles or
more from the farm.
Now, it may seem singular, but never
theless it is true, that Henry had sort OF
vague and unfounded expectation that the
''boss," knowing the circumstances in
which he was situated had concluded to
make him (Henry) some sort of an offer
that would be conducive to the more
speedy development of his plans concern
ing Ada.
He laid down his hoe, and repaired to
the kitchen, where Mr.. Jamison, was
awaiting his arrival.
.'Several weeks ago, " began that worthy,
81 lost a very valuable shirt-stud. | search
ed the house thoroughly, but in vain To-
day. johnson, the chambermaid, was clean
inc your room, and moving the clock to
brush the dust from the shelf, she found
hidden away behind the clock, my lost
stud
Il am panied to think that my daughter
should be betrothed to common theft,
and forever in the future, | forbid you ever
speaking to her again.
''The constable, for whom | have SENT
will be here shortly, and will see that you
meet with proper reward for your thiev-
ing conduct
He craved a final interview with Ada;
but his employer was firmly opposed, but
after long and persistent entreaties from
Henry, consented to allow him to see his
daughter.
Henry repeated to Ada the story of how
he had found the shirt-stud.
"You do not believe that | would steal
it. do you, my own Ada?" he anxiously
enquired.
mo, and never will, j" was the assuring
response.
"Thank Godr' exclaimed Henry. 'But
we must part now, forever. Here comes
the constable, and must go to pay debt
| do not owe"
''No, not forever" she cautiously whisper
ed; Il am yours on your release.
Then came the officer, who produced
warrant for his arrest, and with hurried
but tender "God be with you, he had left
her. For how long? Let us wait until
we get to the end of the row, and We may
learn.
Henry was tried and, for want of evil
dence to the contrary, convicted and SEN
fenced to three years Imprisonment in the
State Prison.
When he left Mr.. Jamison's farm he had
saved goodly amount of money, which he
sent to his poor, heart-broken mother,
with the instructions to use what ever she
might need of it,
He had not yet served one year of his
time, when intelligence reached him that
his mother was critically ill.
She had been failing ever since her son
had been uuiustly fas she was certain it