Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-07-13

GU WI. MeauoWS, one morning, at ,
breakfast. ''He's coming to look at :
old Bettie.''
eyes, I'll send," replied his wife.
whats the matter with the cow?'
inquired Mr.. johnson.
"Oh; nothing" replied the young
man. s'I'm going to sell her."
'sSell her?' repeated the other.
eyes, she's very old, and don't
give much milk. I'm going to buy a
young one in her place. Jennie's
been complaining of the butter for a
long time; it don't come up to our
neighbors' So
''But 1 won't have her sold !"
cried the old man, angrlly.
s'You have nothing to do with her,
she is mine, and l shall do as l like"
rejoined the other, haughtily, as he
rose to leave the room.
Mr.. johnson turned to the window
without uttering another word.
A few hours later he saw Farmer
Turner's man driving old Bette out
of the yard.
can it's the one she used to milk p
he soliloquized.
And tears gathered thickly in bis
eyes as he watched his late wife's ia
vorite cow driven by stranger.
"Here's letter from my sister
Jane, remarked Mr.. johnson one af-
ternoon to his daughter. 'Poor thing
her husband has been dead only two
months. The bailiffs have sold her
furniture; she is destitute, and is
staying with neighbor for few
days, and then she don't know where
to 60 to. Poor Janet" mused the
old man, as a dreamy look came into
his eyes and his thoughts reverted to
the past. ''She was a pretty girl
when she was young, and many a
handsome fellow came after her. But
she took no heed to any, except Tom
Jones, who became her husband.
Then she had such pretty blue-eyed
child, with soft, golden hair. She
lived to be six years old and then
died. thought Jane would have
broke her heart. Then her son grew
up to be a fine man, and was going
to be married in a week. But one
morning he tried to stop horse and
wagon that was a-running away,
when the horse threw him down, the
wheel went over his head, and he was
killed on the spot. And now he1
husbands gone, and she's left alone.
Poor Janep'
"Hasn't she any money to live
upon?" inquired Jennie.
| "No; and I've been a a-thinkin' we d
better have her here. She can't
starve."
'Have her here! !'' repeated the
daughter, in astonishment. "What
can you be thinking of, father? there
are plenty of us to keep already"
She broke her cotton with a Jerk
and threaded her needle impatiently
''We're going to have company
this afternoon" resumed Jennie, af.
ter pause, in a concillatory tone
''and as they are very fine people,
think you'd better have your pipe In
the kitchen, father. You would not
enjoy yourself with u.s.
Every we'll, my DEAR" he answer
ed quietly. He put his slippered feet
on the fender, and gazed over his
goldrimmed spectacles into the blaz.
ing fire. 'sI've been a-thinking, my
dear, he resumed, quietly, after a
pause, ''that there's little error in
that deed gift
can error?' repeated Jennie, as
she dropped her work, and looked ur
with scared, white face.
eyes, I'm sure there's an error
1t wouldn't be pleasant for you if the
property was to be thrown into Chan
Gerry after | am gone, would it?"
"Oh, father -
"Well, fetch the deed down to me
I'll look it over and set all right"
Jennie hastened up stairs and soor
returned with the precious paper.
The old man took it in his hand
smoothed out the creases gently, reaG
it and said:
"Ah! It's all one great mistake
Then, with quick movement, he
threw the document into the blazing
fire, and pressed it down with the
poker.
Jennie screamed; and, darting for
ward, attempted to rescue the deco
from the devouring flames but hel
father held up his hand sternly, anC
said, in tone of authority:
"Stand back %
AT this instant Mr.. Meadows en-
tered.
"What's the matter, Jennie?" he
inquired. stFather, what have yor
been doing to her?"
The young man confronted Mr.
Johnson, who stood with uplifted po.
ker in his hand.
81 am master of this house p crieC
the old man, "and I'll allow no ONT
to dictate to me -
"We'll soon see about that! ex
claimed the other sneeringly. "I1
you are gong to put on such fint
airs, I'll have you turned out imme
diately p
"Oh, Robert Robert" cried thu
wife, ssthe deed-the deed