Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-05-25
sg1pnths' Column.
JACOBS DISASTER "A TRUE
INCIDENT.


ever grows stronger between those strug-
Cling together through life's trials, each
striving to make the burden lighter for
the other.
But for six long weeks now, the widow
had been alone, save the company of
little neighbor at night; for Jacob had
heard of work to be done with one of the
farmers of the adjoining county, and he
had gladly taken advantage OF the oppor-
tunity thus to make little money during
the leisure season, before it would be
time to begin work in their own small
plot of ground
Very trying to both had these weeks of
separation been, as wearisome, perhaps,
to one as to the other; but how fully
recompensed seemed the mothers lonli-
ness and Jacobs inconsistencies as the
day drew near that was to bring him
back. And now, here he was, right at
the door, ruddy and warm from his long
walk over the hills, and his heart all
aglow with happiness as his mother came
to welcome him, her eyes bright with
eager gladness.
"And tell me, now, all about yourself
and your work !" she cried impatiently as
they sat down before the great log fire.
"Well, as for myself" said Jake, with
a merry laugh, "my tongue can tell all
that's worth hearing but for my work
this will speak best for that" and with
fingers clumsy through eager haste, he
fumbed in his pockets, till drawing forth
his cotton handkerchief tied in success
sion of knots, he rapidly loosened them,
one by one, and triumphanty extricated
q carefully folded twenty-dollar green
backl
''What do you think of that for six
weeks work" he cried exultantly.
The widows eyes frightened as much
through pride and pleasure in Jake's hap
piness as at sight of such rare sum of
money.
"And it is really yours?" she asked
admiringly.
''No," laughed Jake, "for now it is half
yours; but we will lay it by, if we can,
till have made my crop, and see if there
will not be another to keep it company"
All, what happy evening that was;
but Jake had walked far, and as he was
to begin ploughing their own field on the
morrow, tired eyes and an easy con-
science soon brought the hour for sleep,
from which he did not waken till the sun
was calling busy people to begin anew
their work.
"Jake," said his mother anxiously, 81
hope you have put the money in safe
place; hadn't you BETTER"
"Oh, it is safe enough" interrupted
Jake quickly, "trust me for that, moth
en-" and off he hurried into the field.
Had he waited moment longer she
would have urged that the money be Civ
en- into her safe-keeping, but she thought
as her eyes followed him, he loves to look
at it, and it will be pleasure to him to
hide it away in some place of his own;
while as wise Jake went on his way he
said to himself. 81 would be foolish
that about the house and perhaps have
her murdered some day by tramps when
am out in the field. No, I shall keep it
in q safer place than she thinks IL.
Jake was bright boy in many things.
But, o dear, how much better are two
heads than one in most matters
All through the day merry whistle
rang over the field gladdening the mothers
heart whenever near, as Jake tramped up
and down, back and forth, turning up
the long burrows with his plough. The
fresh-turned sod was damp and chill, but
what cared he for that with his heavy
and left the print of their broad thick
soles along many line that day. And
thus, day after day, Jake followed his
plough till at the close of week the
work was done, and with tired limbs but
happy heart he went to his little loft
room above his mothers.
"And now for peep at my nest egg,
he said to himself. 81 have not looked
NJ III LOT u WHOLE WEEK, anu ScaIcu Ou IHt
side of his bed Jake pulled off one heavy
boot, and slipping his hand down inside
his well-darned sock drew out-what?
worn, flimsy, tattered scrap, thai
looked as though it might possibly once
have been a bank-note, but Jake's eyes
could not recognize it as such as h,
gazed silently upon it. 1t was not mere
ly soiled or crumpled-that he nigh
have expected; but it was literally il
shreds and almost fell in pieces as, il
dazed way, he tried to smooth it out.
Then slowly, overwhelmingly, tn
truth dawned upon him. For Il who'll
week that paper note had been ut tn
bottom of his boot, AMI as he gazed upol
the result, his heart seemed to go RICH
down to where the money had lain. How
could he bear it. How could he tell hi
Woodworking, patient mother, that tn
money, on which they had counted 6
much, was gone-utterly used up, and a
for nothing! Oh, how poor Jake blamed
his own foolish head and his confdenc
In his own fOOllSn Judgment,
But the pain and dismayed astonisl
ment was unbearable; he could not long
er endure it alone, and slowly descendin
the loft-stairway in his stocking fee
looked IN upon his mother, who wit
folded hands of Saturday night, sat ga1
ing meditatively into the fire.
The sight of her tired face was to
much for Jake, and it was a kind {
gulping sob that first attracted her after
ton, and with cry Of alarm she turne
quickly, excIaiming:
"What is it, Jake-are you sick, boy
what is it?"
"Oh, mother, mother!" cried Jak
''the money is gone-it is all used up al
wore outs'
And opening his hand, he showed ii
poor, dilapidated note, whilst the widow
eyes slowly widened in sorrowful, blar
dismay. The story was soon told b
what could she say to comfort him? Po
woman, both she and Jake were well a
quainted with ways of doing witho
money, but knew little of means for l
storing it, and it was truly two 81
hearts that sat by the fire that night.
''Well, s'pose it is used up and gor
Jake" Said his mother at last, 'and
lN,.,,,o - h