South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-04-10

A
kim An old man that's DEPEND, nj
on hls relatives tor his daily bread
hain't no business with Injuries like
tobacco-and he'll get no more in
this house.
Ellen Dennison answered nothing,
but she turned and went quietly down
tiirs, with her cheeks flushed an in.
digIant scarlet. Miss Jemima fol-
lowed her.
Uncle said the girl calmly. as the
Old man raised his bleared, expectant
eyes toward her, there's no tobacco
there
'Pve cold it, quoth Miss Jem:ma,
putting her arms akimbo.
You've sold--my tobacco! My
blue Virginia brandt
Yes, | have: and where's tho
harm. I'd like to know! wasn't 90
ing to haze it clpstsrine up ms cup-
board no longer! I've sold it for
tive dollars
Then, said Ebenezer, with q sort
OF stony calmness, you've just got
nve dollars for a pack of the best
Blue Virginia tobacco that was ever
put Into a pipe bowl and $500 in
money, that was IN q tin box in the
lowest pound parcel but two. That's
where had stored away my little saw.
ings' l thought they would be safe
there-but they wasn't it seems. You
have had your own way, Jemima, and
l hope you feel letter !
Miss Jemima's lower jaw dropped
'Sakes alive = why didu't you tell
me on 1t, Ebenezer Buxford p
because | didn't choose said the
old man, bitterly. 'l'm sorry on Ell
lens account. | meant she should
have little money of her own, but
| as for you. Jemimy, Pm free to cay
that believe it serves you right!'
Miss Jemima sank, rather than sat
down on low chair by the table. let
ting her head fall into her hands. To
the gripping, avaricious old woman, to
whom dollar seemed a bright idol to
be worshipped and bowed down be-
fore, thi loss was most disastrous, aud
none the less SO because it had been
wrought through her own secret, spite
ful otficiousness The tears, hard, salt
and bitter AS the waters of the Dead
sea, oozed one by one down her red
eye.lids, and fell on the table; a low
choking sob broke from her lips.
But, alas her repentance had come
too late.
The autumn wore itself or, and
when the first snowflakes dizzled
Though the dull, gray air, they buried
old Ebenezer Buxford under the leaf
less willows IN the country graveyard.
Aunt Jemima picked up her be.
longirgs and went with her niece TO
distant State, where they could buy
little place am try TO earn their liv-
Ing by means of mar>et garden; and
so they dwelt for two or three years.
Jemima Buxford had laid her plans
to keep her niece with her always.
Ellen was so bright and helpful and
full OF odd, ever ready resources. but
love sprang into the scale opposite
old Jenima, and love outweigbed her.
Ellen promised to marry George
Sthpleton. who bad the largest farm
and the most substantial farmhouse
IN all the neighborhood.
$50 you are from Milowfield?
Queer old place, that said George,
one evening as he sat on Miss Je-
mlma's doorstep, meditatis ely chew
ing straw. L came through there
once, years ago, when / drove a ped
dler's cart
Your echoed Elena peddler's
cart?'
Yes, that's the way | laid the
foundation OF my fortunes, such rs
they are. l didn always own q
farm OF four hundred acres. And the
oldest thing happened TO me there
Aunt Jemima put on her spectacles
and stared hard at Mr.. Staplcton.
while Ellen asked
wv hat was ItY'
well, 1 stopped at strange little
out-ot-the-way house under a hill TO
get drink OF water one morning.
and little Old woman with her face
tied up with the toothache, and sun
bonnet tipped down over her nose
like an old witch
Hump in.erjected Aunt Jemima.
Game out pursued the uncon-
scious George, 'and wanted me 10
by lot OF tobacco. Well, tobacco
wasn't exactly IN my line, but the old
woman was very anxious to be rid of
IT, so l closed the bargain at five dol
lars; cheap enough, but at the same
time as much as ! could afford TO pay.
And l never opened the acket until
month afterward, when / was going
up into the lumber districts, where 1
expected to find a good market for
that sort Of thing. And here comes
IL the queer part of my story. When
1 was making up my pound packages
OF tobacco into small parcels, suitable
to my trade, 1 found IN one of them
tied and papered like the rest, tin
box with