The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-09
A NARROW ESCAPE.
BY MRS. NJ. l.. RAYNE.

Farmer Stebbins took off his warm
coon-skin cap, tied the ears together,
and hung it up; then 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 a good arms length before him.
"J-o-h-n Jacob S-t-e-b-b-i-n-s, p"
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"
"For mercy sake, do open it," said
Mrs. Stebbins. 81 shall fly if you set
there and finger it any more 'thout
KNOWN what it MEANS"
Eyes, pa, do read it," urged the
daughter. MAYBE its an offer of a
school for me-"
"Like enuff! like enuff!'' answered
her father. Lets see what the post
mark is. Why, it's Bosting. Bosting
ez sure ez I'm Twin man."
"Call me if you happen to need me, !"
said Mrs. Stebbins, with fine sar-
casm. "I'm goin' out to set the salt
rlSln' Tor the bread.
Gimme the stamp pop" said John
Jacob Stebbins, Jr. They're don't
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 Endorsed 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 como
back from furrin parts, and died and
left me the hull of his estatep"
''He never did such thing BEFORE"
said Mrs. Stebbins, innocently.
1--WE can move into town now," said
Miss Hetty, proudly.
$50 we KIM" said John Jacob, Jr.,
''and I'll have vlosspede and a bisik-
ell 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
birchen stick that protruded from the
k-shelf. "You needn't think you'll
:. all you want COS I'm rich. can
Ind lots of places for money, an don't
you forget it, young man.
''Feyther," said Mrs. Stebbins,
''there's only one thing I've allus
wanted to hev in case we ever got rich,
an now l kin hev it. 1t seems too
good to be true"
''Some fol-de-rol, l suppose; out with
it then, you haven't been half a bad
wife and don't mind letting you hev
one silk gown, if it don't come too
dear"
''But it amt silk gown, feyther,"
said Mrs. Stebbins bridling.
''Oh, it's o gold neckchain, is it,
with watch dangling on the end, so
we can see how you waste time. Well,
if did get this money easy, | don't
stand no sort of chance of foolin' it
away. know its real vally too well. !"
81 guess what's yours is mine" said
Mrs. Stebbins shortly.
can what is mine is my own; I'm
going to build on 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,"
'Indeed! Jim Vance! guess I'll go
to the 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 a good
fellow, but mebbe can do better
now"
John Jacob, Jr., gave long whis-
tie. II wouldn't Civ up Jim till l see
the other Teller, Het," he said provok-
ingly.
..It's time the bread-risin' was set,"
suggested Hetty to her mother.
"You can set it them" retorted Mrs.
Stebbins Grossly; 'I've worked and
shaved for your feyther nigh on to thir-
ty years, and he never refused me be-
fore. But money hes made him hard
hearted"
"Mercy on us, woman, what's it you
wantP" he growled.
"A-a-camel's hair shawl all-all-
border" sobbed his wife.
"Great Jerusalem, woman, there
isn't camel nearer n thousand
miles of us. How kin / git hair to
make yer shawlp"
''He never called me woman be-
fore " sobbed his wife. ITO think I