Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-01-30
A Story of Life and Fate
i'm New England.

| LOUD Dang, ana hurried out into Gne
darkness and storm, muttering to
himself: ssWell,I have done my duty
by the colonel's wife, at any rate;
couldn't turn 'em out just now and"
but the wind whisked away bis
words, and just as he gained his own
door the storm broke heavily upon
the earth.
For an hour the tempest ragged,
still Farmer Jones read on, occasion
ally stopping to stir the fire and re-
mark to the silver-haired old lady OPP
, posite, s'That such a storm he had
not seen for nigh on to forty years.
The lady dropped her knitting, and
gazing into the weather-beaten face
of her husband inquired timidly," I on
didn't turn 'em out, John, did you?"
ssWell, no; not exac ly that, wife,
he answered, helping himself to a
large mellow apple from dish near
by, and slowly pairing it with jack
knife, letting the long golden pairing
fall at his feet; mot that, wife, but
it will come to that in the end can't
be helped no way, for since the col
onel is dead, there is no way to lift
the mortgage, and it s all Harold can
do to get on alone"
"But | gave 'em two years. he
continued, as if in answer to his con-
science.
''Mercy'' interrupted the little
woman, as in the lull of the storm
loud knock was heard at the door,
'swho can be out such a wild night
as this. Do hurry, John, and unlock
the door,"
''Who! it's joey Reed. What is
the matter, boy?" asked the aston
ished farmer as the light fell in Joey's
face.
With a toss of the snowfakes on
his coat, the boy answered sob
nothing, sir" seating himself by the
fire, "only | overheard you talking
this evening, and came over to see
you. Yes, | am quite well, = in an
swer to Mrs. Jones inquiry, as she
drew nearer the fire, and in her kind,
womanly way inquired if he wasn't
very cold, and if he was we'll.
"Fingers cold?" asked the farmer,
wondering what the boy was out for.
eSome,' answered joey, spreading
his hands out and going on quite rap
idly. "You see, Aunt Alice is near
ly broken-hearted about leaving the
farm, and the girls will have to leave
school; and if Harold works ever so
hard he can only keep tie interest
up, besides getting a living, and
there's nothing to save from. | heard
Aunt Alice say so myself, and | just
put on my coat and slipped out, and
over here to see, sir, if you will give
me time, ,and | will try and pay it up"
Grandma Jones had piled her shin
ing needles fast and faster as the boy
went on she now let them fall in
her lap, and laying her hand softly
on the farmers arm, said slowly:
"You will give him chance, father,
won't you? Poor boy he don't look
much as if he was used to hard work"
81 am not, answered joey, "but
| think | can do some kinds, and l
would like to try if he will let me,
Mrs. Jones.
''How old are you?" asked Farmer
Jones, with a quick look into the
boys face 'sand what do you think
you can do to lift five-hundred-dol-
lar mortgage?'
"Seventeen come June"
"Seventeen, eh You are not as
strong as boy seventeen ought to-
and he knit his shaggy brows.
"But am stronger than ! look,
sir, and if you will only try sae l am
sure [ can earn the money some way
in five years time
"Seen my wood-pile; want to try
your hand at that?" and he fixed his
keen blue eyes on Joey, who to his
surprise replied quickly:
eyes, sir, thank you, when may
begin, and how many cords have
you?''
Taken somewhat aback by Joey's
ready answer, he replied: ''Ten
cords, and | will give you a dollar a
cord. Begin when you are mind to.
Is it bargain?''
eyes. sir, and-and if you please.
will you give me a writing about the
mortgage?"
An amused smile played for a min
ute about the farmers lips, then
drawing himself up: 'sOh, of course,
boy, of course. ! always make it a
point to do as | agree, and he reach
ed pen and ink from the table, and,
after a few rapid strokes of the pen,
pushed the paper towards Joey, who
read it over, folded it up carefully
and put it in his old wallet.
GLOW could you !" exclaimed his
wife, as with a "good evening"" the
door closed on Joey.
"Well now, Martha, it's no use
talking. 1 thought if he wanted to
try, why, would just let him begin
on the woodpile, but I declare fort,
if he does anything | am mistaken.
"But he will though" didn't you
see the proud look on his face when
l spoke of his father2''
"Well, yes, and so he was good
man, only he didn't know enough to |
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