Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-29
"What J and he away in Paris y
ssThen why not write to him 2"


"Ah, sir, there you've hit it!
When young master Philip came into
possession he made it law that the
man who complained to him should
be turned off at once. He's kind O.
ticklish, should Judge. about being
bothered, and he don't like to have
his feelin's stirred up; SO when he
took possession he was determined
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 'em off
on to him. So, d'see, he just made
that rule-ani he made it strong
the man that opened his head to him
about his rent, or about any short
comm whatever, or that dared to
write to him, should be turned off
neck and heels, without further warn
in"
'sBut, dear man, do you think
Master Philip Maxwell would really
do that thing?' the guest asked with
considerable interest.
sWould he? All, didn't he ?" cried
Malcolm, explosively. "Go and ask
poor old Dan Simpson what he
thinks. Old Dan had the Goodspeed
farm-one of the best of the estate
as large as six of this. He dared to
post letter to the squire, and he
got his discharge papers offhand.
Yes, sir, he was turned away and the
farm let to another man within a
week after the letter had been put
into the postoflice. Silas Carter must
have the postmaster under his thumb.
In fact, the squire owns the line of
buildings where his store is and
where the postoffice is. Ah, it was
different when the old squire was liv-
in. He never turned a deaf ear to
an honest tenant-not he %
"Why, look, Susan an me-we
kind O. promised ourselves that we'd
give our second child-little George
he's ten years old now, sir-that
we'd give him leetle bit better ed
dication than boys of his rank gener-
ally get; but we can't do it now.
This last rise in our rent has took the
last penny-and more, too. Really
and truly, | don't think | can pay it.
l hate to give up the dear old place,
where Susan was born and reared ;
but it must come. / can have farm
of Sir Oliver Thorndyke for about
one half what I've got to pay an
other year for this
"But, pardon me, good sir. This
is no business O. yourn; but you ask
ed me question, and l got a goin'
and didn't know how to stop, seein'
that the rise in my rent has just been
made. But, believe me, good sir,
amt in a habit O. tellin' this kind O
stuff out O. school. You're the first
man, not one of US, that / ever open.
ed my head to on the subject.
wouldn't like that Silas Carter should
hear what I've been tellin' cause
d'yu see, such things sound so differ.
ent when they're told secondhand"
''Have no fear of me, my gooC
man," returned the stranger heartily
"My name is Sidney-George Sid
ney. / have met young Maxwell
and should | chance to meet hin
again, you may be sure l shall giv'
him gentle hint of how things art
going on here. Is there anyone OIL
the estate who. you think, would b,
entirely fit and competent in ever,
way for an agent, in Carter's place ?
Eyes, sir" answered Malcolm
promptly and heartily. 81 know jus
!, the man, savin' my wife's presence
It's her brother-John Guilford. III
used to rent farm here; but he 60
disgusted with Carter's uppishness
and left. He's now with Sir Oliver
a sort of useful man about the oil
castle, but not engaged perma
nently."
'Did you ever write to your yorn!
master?"
"No, Sir-never."
81 suppose you-can write?"
The honest, hard-w orking farme
, colored up to the eyes; and befor
} he could speak his wife answere'
him:
/ "Good sir, Malcolm's got into
sort of careless way of speaking, bu
| l do assure you he's got good edu
| cation. AS for writing, he's don
that ever since he was a child; an,
Mr.. Carter'll tell you-if he'll tell th
| truth-that my husband has straight
ened out his accounts, and writer
| important letters for him, more tha
| once. Malcolm won't speak for him
| self, but I'll speak for him.
| Mr.. Sidney nodded and smiled
and changed the subject. He aske'
Malcolm about his land, about hi
l crops, and about the best method o
0 treating land for different kinds o
t seed. And then he asked about tn
quality of the land of the variou
e large farms of the estate, and sough
e to know how they were carried on.
= To all his questions the farmer no
$ only gave intelligent answers, but b
!, offered many thoughts and sugges
r tions that might have been of rea
d value to the owner of the land.
- I'll q,