New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-02
INGRATITUDE REVENGED,
BY HARRIET HOWARD.

you We got a neat little spot here, y
remarked Farmer Hayes. to his friend,
Mr.. Johnson.
The two old men were sitting upon
wooden seats which were placed on
either side Of the rustic porch that
formed kind of arbor entrance to
the front door of the dwelling.
The speaker was spare, little man,
with dark hair, sprinkled with gray.
He wore swallow-tail coat, adorned
with brass buttons;eorduroy breeches,
fastened at the knee; thick, blueworst-
ed stocking encased his legs, and a
pair of low shoes covered his feet.
His visage had placid expression, as
he glanced first at the well-kept gar
den, with its rows OF potatoes and
other vegetables; then out to the little
paddock adjoining, where two COWS
were grazing; and next over the wide
undulating meadow land beyond, his
eyes resting finally on the far distant
hills. He put the end OF his long clay
pipe between his lips, and watched the
wreaths of smoke slowly ascending
from it.
Mr.. johnson was a noble looking
man; his snowy beard gave him a. pa
trlarchal appearance. His counte-
nance lacked that acute, intellectual
expression which is so often stamped
upon thevisage ola middle-aged tstown-
man. His eyes were thoughtful, but
gentle; his whole bearing spoke Of in
nategoodness. Thefew wrinkles, which
had gathered on the white, placid
brow, had been gradually traced there
by times relentless fingers, and not
suddenly cut by keen sharp sorrow.
1 He smoked silently for few moments,
and then replied to his friend remark:
"You're right; this is neat little
spot. Bur I'll tell you what I've been
a-thinkin' on, Hayes You know my
Jennie's agoin to bemarried to Robert
Meadows. She's my only child, so of
course she'll have all my belongings
when Pm gone; but I've been a-think-
in that, soon after she's settled, I'll
have deed ofgift drawn up, and turn
everything over to her; then therell
be no proving the will, and all that
fuss; and the lawyers won't have a
pickin' out O my bit O. property. l
shall live here, and be master just the
same: What do you say to that,
friend Hayes?" i.
The old man put a hand on each
knee, and gazed into the others face,
with an expression which said, Don't
you think it's brilliant idea?''
His friend took the pipe out Of his
mouth, and shook his head dubious
ly; then replaced it between his lips,
and gazed fixedly before him for an in
slant ere he answered; then he said,
slowly and emphatically:
II dom like it,
He shook the ashes from his pipe,
and began leisurely to fill it again with
tobacco.
II never seed a play but once" he
began, In slow, measured tones, "and
that was many years ago, when I was
q young man. 1 was in the city, and
my friends got me to go to the thea.
ter to see a grand piece that had been
made up by q great man, hundreds OF
years ago. Well, | went, and the sight
o. the lights, and the gay dresses, and
the flash folks | shall neEer forget
But it was the play that struck me.
There was good old king who had
three daughters, and he thought he'd
divide the kingdom amongst 'em. They
was very pleased; the eldest went down
on her knees, and swore how she loved
him more than anybody else and
said as how he was the kindest modest
and best father that ever lived-or
words summat like them. The next
sad about the same, only agreat deal
more; but | thought both on EN- look
ed too big and handsome and wide-a-
wake to stick to their word The
/ third daughter said very little; but |
thought she was the tinest-looking OF
all the lot The king was huffed be-
cause she would not own she loved
! him. So he divided the kingdom be-
tween his two eldest daughters. |
thought he was q silly old fellow to
put the reins into them spirited-look
+! ing creatures hands. But he did 1t and
he rued it. They treated him very
we'll at first; but after a time they be
gan to alter, and let him know that he
wasn't master Well, one night they
turned him out OF the castle, when
there was such a dreadful storm that
1T was not fit to turn dog out; and
he who had once been a king had to
roam about like a beggar The poor
man went nearly crazed. l almost
forgot how it ended; but l think they
was killed at last"
"And what has thisto do with what
| was saying?' inquired Mr.. Johnson.
testify. ~ was talking about deeds OF
gift, and not plays"
The other began to smoke-puff-
puff. After few minutes the full
meaning OF his friends word dawned
slowly upon his mind
swell, | was a-thinking as how, when
Jane got possession OF the house, she
might, maybe, after bit, turn you
out, as the kings daughters turned him
out. Keep the reins in your own
hands, man-yOuc can draw them tight.