The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-06

he was hungry. He would not put her to
frouhIe hut f.

What are we good for, If We can't help one
another in times of trouble and want ? We
hain't got much, and what We have gots
plain and homely, but it's good, and it's
honestly come by"
And thereupon Susan set out a 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 mod
estly by the fire with dish of the snowy
corn before them.
The stranger begged few kernels, and
the eldest, girl of twelve years, at once
offered him half of all they had, but he only
thanked her and accepted small quantity;
and as he ate he told the little ones how he
had loved popped corn when he was child
like themselves
When the meal was ready the stranger
ate and drank with a relish, and when he
had concluded he gladly accepted pipe,
and as he smoked he began to question the
host about himself and his affairs. He
said he was almost stranger in that region,
and he knew but little of it.
"What, said he, in surprise, after Nal
colin had told him who was his landlord,
''does this farm belong to the Maxwell cs
tate? | had no idea that the territory ex-
tended so far
eyes, sir, responded the farmer. "Young
Philip Maxwell owns big estate, and it's
a pity he don't take care of it. IF all l
hear is true he's runnin' through it pretty
fast"
Els that so? What makes you think
it ?" asked the stranger.
"What makes me think it ?" echoed
Malcolm, elevating his brow and blowing
out an extra cloud of smoke. "Would
young man like him, without family
leastwise | never heard of his bein' married
would he, ownin' such a grand estate as
this, crowd down on 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 fast p
Malcolm was becoming excited, and the
thought of the last rise in his rent, which
had been made known to him on that very
day, filed his cup of indignation to over
flow.
'Yes, sir he went on, Give been pay
in rent for this farm that no man ever
ought to pay-a rent that has robbed me
and my good wife and the little ones Of
things that we really needed now it's
to be raised again. Susan-thats my wife,
sir-her father rented this farm and she
was born here, which, you'll understand,
kind o taches her to the place. Well, her
father paid e10 year and paid once in
six months. My first years rent was fl2,
then it went up, and up, and up, and for
three years last past I've paid e month,
and nov, sir, I've got notice that I'm to pay
an advance of five shillin' month That's
e3 more year. Not much, you may say,
but it's the last ounce that breaks the cam
els 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 Paris ?"
'Then why not write to him ?"
"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 bein
bothered, and he don't like to have his
feelin's stirred up; so when he took posses
sion he was determined that he wouldn't
have no complaints nor faultfnding. 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-comin' whatever, or that dared to
write to him, should be turned off, neck and
heels, without further warnin"
But, dear man, do you really think
Master Philip Maxwell would do that
thing ~ the guest asked with considerable
interest.
"Would he? And didn't he?" cried
Malcolm, explosively $50 and ask poor
old Dan Simpson what he thinks. Old
Dan had the Goodspeed Farm-one of the
best of the estate large as six Of this.
He dared to post letter to the squire, and
he got his discharge papers off hand. Yes,
sir, he was turned away and the farm let
to another within a week after the letter
had been put into the post Silas Carter
must have the postmaster under his thumb,
In fact the squire owns the line of buildin's
where his store is and where the postoffce
is. All, it was different when the old
squire was Twin. He never turned deaf
ear to an honest tenant-not he
"Why-look, Susan an Moved kind
O promised ourselves that we'd give our
second child-litt!e Georgie-he's ten
years old now, sir-that we'd give to him
a leetle better eddication than boys of his
rank generally get, but we cant do it now.
This last rise in our rent has took the last
penny-and more, too. Really and truly,
| dontt think | can pay it. hate to give
up the dear old place, where Susan was
born and reared; but it must come. can
have farm of Sir Oliver Thorndike for
about one-half what I've got to pay another
year of this.
'But, pardon me, good sir, This is no
business Of YourRi but you asked me a
question, apd | got a goin and didn't know
how to stop, seem that the rise in my rent
had just been made. But, believe me,
good sir, | amt in the habit of tellin' this
stuff out o school. You're the first man
not one of US that | ever opened my head
to on the subject. | wouldn't like that
Silas Carter should hear what I've been
tellin', cause, d'you see, such things sound
so different when they re told secondhand.
"Have no fear of me, my good man"
returned the stranger, heartily. "My name
is Sidney-George Sidney. l have met
young Maxwell, and should chance to
meet him again you may be sure | shall
give him a gentle hint of how things are
going on here. Is there anyone on the
estate who, you think, would be entirely fit
and competent in every way for an agent
in Carriers place
eyes, sir" answered Malcolm, promptly