Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-14

was uescfIDiHg HIS ulShdp.
He said the gamekeeper of an add
Joining estate was friend of his,
who had given him permission to run
down deer if he could, but he hadn't
done it, though he had found good
wetting, which would help to fill out
the story Of the day.
After he had partially dried his gar
ments, the good wife asked aim if he
would take a sup and a bite, If she
would set it before him.
With genial smile, he answered
that he was hungry. lie would not
put her to trouble, but if
Malcolm stopped him abruptly.
Don't talk of putting us to trouble,
sir. What are we good fer, if we
can't help one another in time OF
trouble and want We hain't got
much, and what we have gots plain
and homely, but it's good, and its
honestly come by.
And thereupon Susan set out small
table, and prepared substantial
meal
Her three elder children came IN
from the little kitchen, where they
had been parching corn, and seated
themselves modestly by the fire with
a dish of the snowy corn before them.
The stranger begged few kernels,
and the eldest, a girl of twelve years,
at once offered him half of all they
had, but he only thanked her and ac
cepted small quantity; and as he
ate he told the little ones how he had
loved popped corn when he was a
child like themselves.
When the meal was ready the
stranger ate and drank with a relish,
and when he had concluded he gladly
accepted a pipe, and as he smoked he
began to question the host about him
self and his affairs. lie said he was
almost stranger in that region, and
he knew but little of it,
"What," said he, in surprise, after
Malcolm had told him who was his
landlord, docs this farm belong to
the Maxwell estate2 / had no idea
the estate extended so far
eyes, sir, !" responded the farmer.
Young Phillip Maxwell owns a big
estate, and it's a pity he don't take bet
ter care of it. If all / hear is true, he's
running through it pretty fast. "
rs that sou What makes you
think it2" asked the stranger.
what makes me think it," echoed
Malcolm, elevating his brow and
blowing out an extra cloud of smoke.
"Would a young man like him, with
out a family-leastwise, never
heard Of his bein' married-would he,
ownln' such grand estate as this,
crowd down on a poor man like me
till he'd got almost his last shillin',
and then, on top O that, jam and
crowd harder still, if he wasn't goin' it
pretty fastl'
Malcolm was becoming excited, and
the thought of the last rise in the rent,
which had been made known to him
that very day, filled has cup of indig
nation to overflow.
Eyes, sir he went on, 1--WE been
payin' q rent for this farm that no
man ought to pay-a rent that has
robbed me and my good wife and the
little ones of things that we really
needed-and now it's to be raised
again. Susan-that's my wife, sir
her father rented this farm and she
was born here, which, you'll under
stand, kind O. 'taches her to the place.
Wells her father paid fl0 year and
paid once in six months. My first
years rent was fl2; then it went up,
and up, and up, and for three year
last past I've paid SO a month, and
now, sir, I've got notice that I'm to
pay an advance of five shilling's
month"; That's 60 more a year Not
much, you may say, but it's the last
ounce that breaks the cameIS back.
When a mans payin' all he can pay
how can he pay more"
But" said the wayfarer, shaking
the ashes from his pipe, why don't
you speak with the squire himself?"
"What and he away IN Paris3"
"Then why not write to him."
"Ah, sir, there you've hit it, When
young Master Philip came into pos
session he made il a law that the man
who complained to him should be
turned off at once He's kind o
ucklish, | should Judge, about bein'
bothered, and he didn't like to have
MS Itellu SltFTtu upi SO Nutil nc
took possession he was determined
that he wouldn't have no complaints
nor fault-fnding. He planned that
he would enjoy all Of life that could
be enjoyed, and if his tenants had
troubles they shouldn't saddle EN- off
on to him. So, d'see, he Just made
that rule and he made it strong
the man that opened his head to him
about his rent, or about any short
comm whatever or that dared te
write to him, should Ee turned off,
neck and heels, without further
warnin,"
But, dearman, do you really think
Master Phillip Maxwell would do that
thing3' the guest asked, wit. con-
siderable interest.
would he, All, didn't he - cried
Malcolm eXplosively. Go and ask
poor old Dan Sampson what he
thinks. Old Dan had the Goodspeed
farm-onc of the best of the estate
rs large IS six of this He dared to
post a letter to the squire, and he got
his discharge papers otThand. Yes,