The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-08
now FARMER JONES LEARNED


| have done my duty by the colonel
wife, at any rate. Couldn't turn 'eu
out Just now and-but the wind whisk
ed away his words, and just as he gain
ed his own door the storm broke heavil
upon the earth.
For an hour the tempest ragged; still
Farmer Jones read on, occasionally stop
ping to stir the fire and remark TO tn
silver haired old lady opposite, tha
such storm he had not seen for nigI
on to forty years.
The lady dropped her knitting, and
gazing into the weather beaten face o
her husband, inquired timidly: You di,
not turn 'em out. John, did your
Well, no; not exactly that, wife, h.
answered, helping himself to a larg
mellow apple from dish near by an,
slowly pairing it with his jacknife; no
that wife, but il will come TO that in tn
end; can't be helped no way, for sine
the colonel Is dead there is no one to Inf
the mortgage, and its all Harold can d,
to get on alone.
But gave 'em two years, he contin,
ued, as if in answer to his conscience.
Mercy interrupted the little woman
as in the lull of the storm loud knocl
was heard at the door. Who can be ou
in such a wild night as this Do hurry
John, and unlock the door.
Why, it's joey Reed. What is the
matter, boy asked the astonlshed far
mer, rs The light fell full in JOey's face
With toss of the snow flakes on hi,
coat the boy answered: On. nothing sir,
seating himself by the fire, only | over
heard your talk this evening, aud can't
over to see you. Aunt Alice is nearly
broken hearted about leaving the farm
aud the girls will have to leave school
and if Harold woIk ks ever So hard he car
only keep the interest up, besides get
ting living. and there nothing to save
from. slipped over here to see, sir, il
you will give me time, and | will Try ano
pay il up.
Grandma Jones had piled her shining
needles fast and faster as the boy went
on; she now let them fall into her lap,
and laying her hand softly on the farm
er's arm, said slowly: You will give
him a chance, father, won't you? Poor
boy, he don't look as if he was used tC
hard work.
am not, answered the boy, but
think can do some kinds, and | would
like to try if he would let me, Mrs.
Jones.
How old are yCuy asked Far mer Jones
with a quick look into the Boys face
and what do you think you can do to
life a $500 mUItgage?
Seventeen come June
Seventeen, Ell! You are not as ,troug
as a boy Of ten unght to BE-, and he knit
his shaggy iTOws.
Bur | am stronger than look, Fir and
| il YOU will uy me am sure can earn
the money in rome way in five years
time.
Seen my woUdpile, want to try your
hand at that? and he fixed his keen blue
eyes on JOey,who, to his surprise replied
quickly:
Yrs,sr, thar k ou; when may begin
and how mrny cords have you
Taken sumewh hat aback by joey s
ready answer, he rrp'ed; Ten cords, ana
| viii give you 81 IA cord Begin when
you are mind to. |, it a bargain
Yes, sir. and md If you please, will
you give me writing about the mort
gage!
An amused smile played for a moment
about the farmers lips; drawing himself
up, he said Oh. of course, boy, OF
course. always make it point to do
as | agree, and he reached pen and ink
from the table, and. after few rapid
strokes of The pen, pushed the paper to-
wards Joey, who read it over, folded il
up and put ii carefully in his old wallet.
How could you exclaimed his wife,
as with good evening, the door closed
on Joey.
Well now, Martha, it's no use talking.
| thought if he wanted to try why |
would just let him begin on the wood
pile, but declare for I, it he does any
thing am mistaken.
But he will though, said she; didn't
you notice the proud look in his face
when | spoke of his father
Well, yes, and so he was "a good man
only he didn't know enough to keep his
money; signed with Reed and lost the
rull on it; died and left that youngster
without a red cent. Tel you what, wife,
I'll watch that boy, an If he's made of
the stuff you think he is, why, III give
him lift; can't take our money along
with us, and Farmer Jones resumed his
paper and his wife her knitting. inward.
ly wondering at the change that had
suddenly come over her husband, for it
was well known far and near that he
was hard man, and no one was more
sensible of it than his quiet, patient wife
Martha.
1t was cozy sitting room Joey enter
ed few minutes later small table
near the fire, beside which Aunt Alice,
a fair faced, brown haired woman, was
sitting busiy engaged with a basket of
mending; on the oppOside side was
Harold, a sturdy young man of twenty
three, piling blocks for the little girl in
his lap, whose ringing laugh now sound.
ed clear and sweet, as the pile on the
table now toppled over ami fell with a
crash on the floor.
I've been over to see Farmer Jones, re.
piled Joey to Aunt Alice's question.
Over to see Farmer Jones! exclaimed
Ellen, throwing down her book. why
you never go there; thought you did not
like him.
Well, you see, aunty, with a nervous
glance at Harold, heard you speaking
about the mortgage, and l thought II
was high time was helping to pay it.
Farmer Jones agreed to give five years
time and let me try to pay it. Don't
laugh. Aunt Alice; you have not kept
me at school so long for nothing, and
besides have job of wood cutting for
Farmer Jones, ard mean to teach this
winter. You're committee, Harold;
won't you let me tIyT
But Harold had to swallow something
hard and dry in his throat before he
could answer.
Well, girls, we will see what mother
thinks of JOey's plan. am glad you
thought OF it Joey, and he took the pa
per from him.
Here, mother, it's plain English
enough. and he handed it to her,
And five years time to pay it off. How
did you manage the old fellow, Joeyg
| don't know. Guess it was his wife
that did it. See here, girls, she sent you
some nice apples and emptying his
pockets he left the room.
Bless the boy, murmured Aunt Alice,
as she heard him go up the old stairs.
The girls followed soon, leaving Har-
old and his mother to talk over Joey's
success and decide about the school,
which was in his favor.
will let him try, Harald had said, for
it is his doings keeping the house over
our heads five years longer.
Yes. answered Aunt Alice, with
sigh, how he is helping us. remember
how, when brother died, did not see
my way clear 10 bring Joey home, it
seemed such care, and now he is very
willing to help.
Morning found Joey, saw in hand, be.
fore Farmer Jones' door. The wind had
gone down. The bright sun peered over
the mountain tops, lighting up hill and
valley. and making all 80 beautiful that