The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-20

And now her husbands gone,and shes
left alone Poor janet
Hasn't she any money to live
uponi' inquired Jennie.
mo and I've been a-thinking we'd
better have her here. She can't
starve.'
"Have her here!" repeated bis daugh.
ter, in astonshment. "What can you
be thinking about, father There's
plenty of us to keep already
She broke her cotton with jerk, and
threaded her needle impatiently.
"We're going to have company this
afternoon" resumed Jennie, after a
pause, in a conciliatory tone ''and as
they are very fine people, l think you'd
better have your pipe in the kitchen,
father. You would not enjoy yourself
with U.S.
"Very well, my DEAR" he answered,
quietly. He put his slppered feet on
the fender, and gazed over his gold
trimmed spectacles in % the blazing fire.
M've been a-thinking, my DEAR" he
resumed, quietly, after pause, "that
there's little error in that deed of
gift"
"An error?" repeated Jennie, as she
dropped her work, and looked up with
scared, white face.
eyes Tn sure there's an error. 1t
wouldn't be pleasant for yon, if the
property was TO be thrown into Chan
Gerry, after I'm gone would it9"
"Oh, fatherl'
"Well, fetch the deed down TO me
I'll look il over, and set all right
Jennie fastened upstairs, and soon
returned with the precious paper.
The old man took it in his hand
smoothed out the creases gently, read
it over, and said
"Ah! it is all one great mistake!"
Then, with quick movement, he
threw the document into the blazing
fire, and pressed it down with the pok
er.
Jennie screamed and, darting for
ward, attempted to rescue the deco
from the devouring flames but hel
father held up his hand sternly, ant
said, in tone of authority:
"Stand back"
AT this instant Mr.. Meadows enter
ed.
"What's the matter, Jennie p he in
qulred. "Fathpr, what have you beer
doing to her?'
The young man confronted Mr.
johnson, VINO stood with the uplifteC
poker in his hand.
81 am master of this house !" criet
the old man "and I'll allow no one tt
dictate to me y
"Well soon see about that" exclaim
ed the other sneeringly. 'If you're 60
ing to put on such fine airs, I'll soor
have you turned out"
"Oh, Robert! RobertT cried his wife
"the deed-the deed
An hysterical fit of weeping checked
her u,terance.
"What do you mean?' queried hel
husband, with white face. and touch
of fear in his tone.
"Father's burnt it,
"Fathcr is master of his own house
and will have you turned out if you
don't behave yourself !" returned tn,
old man.
Angry words passed. Robert declar
ed that he would go to law be would
not be done out of his right the house
was his and Jennie's.
"Prove it," grimly retorted his faith
er-in-law. you may have your com
pany this afternoon. Jennie he con
tinued, after pause, "but it will be
your last party in my house. shall
send for farmer Hayes, and we shall
enjoy our pipes together this evening,
in the best parlor, as we did before
you were married. As for you, Rob
er', you haven't provided home fol
Jennie at present but you'll have tc
do so now. There's cottage TO let in
the village, which think will suit you
A month to-day shall expect you tc
be clear from my house and you
needn't think l shall do any more 70,
you What | mean to give you-if
give you anything at all--youll have
to wait for until I'm dead. Mo more
cutting down my favorite trees-ol
selling my old cows-or making me
sit in the kitchen when you've got fine
company. I'll send for my sister Jane
and she shall have home with me as
long as she lives
Jane, the sister, came to live at the
farmhouse, and passed away at the ad.
vanced age of eighly,sx. Mr.. John
son lived ten years after her, retaining
all his faculties to the last, and died in
his ninety ninth year.
Jennie and her husband had to work
very hard in order to bring up their
large family respectfully Roberts
hair was silvery white, and Jcnuie's
thickly streaked with gray, and their
sons and daughters were men and wo.
men, when the formerly ungrateful
couple were again allowed to take pos.
session of the old farm house.