Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-22
HUNTING Up AN HEIR
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.


threatening were now beginning to
send their snow flakes through the air,
and John Ratchet was hurrying home
to his supper at headlong pace John
worked in NJ. Armstrong; great iron
foundry at low wages, it is true. but,
as John said, a little is better than
nothing
There had been n strike among the
foundry hands, but John took no part
in it; he kept steadily on at his work,
and tried to persuade others to do the
same.
Times are hard" he said, "but
what's the use Of making them worse"
And that day when the strikers came
in body. led by Hans Schneider, and
attempted to stop the works, John
said, "Thcre1l be bloodshed first
And his former comrades, knowing
him for n rcsolutc fellow, after some
parlcying, concluded to depart, but
threatened to return another day with
arms in their hands
VERY WE'LL" said John. "wc1l he
ready for YOU They never came,
| however.
But, as / was saving, John was hur
rying along home at the top of his
speed, looking neither to the right nor
to the left, so that he would not have
seen the old man leaning against II
lamp-post if he had not first run plump
against him, and nearly knocked him
| over.
"Halloo beg pardon! All right
now, graudfathcrw he exclaimed, as
! rfr ln thn
old man to his center of gravity.
My stars, | thought you'd finished
me-" gaspcd the old man, embracing
the lamp-post.
81 came pretty near it, that's n fact, "
said John. But seems to me YOU
shouldn't be out such a night as this; ;
YOUR folks ought to take better care OF
you"
Il haven't any folks, said the old
man.
well, you'd better be at home any
way"
That's easy said; but [ haven't any
home either"
"Whcre are You bound then, grand
father? If Your lodgings are near by
I'll help YOU there, for you appear to
| De ABOUT WSct up.
so / am; but | haven't n place to
lay my head unless you take pity or
| me"
John hcsitatcd. A strange vagrant
wasn't just the most desirable
! guest, but he was evidently old
and feeble, and Johns kind heart
was touched, so he said: well, come
along with me. III give You nights
lodging, and tomorrow I'll see what
can be done"
The old man needed no second in
vitation, and in a few minutes the two
reached Johns house. No sooner had
he opened the door than five chill
! drcn and n dog rushed to greet him.
while his wife, an easy, roly-poly little
woman, exclaimed, why, John, what
makes YOU SO late? Suppcr's been
ready to go on the table these fifteen
minutes; the mullins won't be fit to
eat
I'll risk EN-" said John, laughing
"Scc here, Dolby, I've brought some
company home to supper. found
this old gentleman ont in the storm,
and no better place TO bring up at than
the lamp-post, SO | took him in tow,
and here he is.
Hes welcome, I'm sure" said
Dcbby.
"Why, his teeth chatter with the
COLOR would if he had any, poor
mainland not n bit of an oyercoat. No
place to go, did YOU say? Why he'd
have frozen to death before morning"
AYE, and starved too, " said the man,
looking longingly toward the table
40 be sure How thoughtless of
me to stand here iabbering when dare
say you didn't have any dinner TO
speak of.
"Pvc had nothing to eat for two days,
ma am
"Mercy on us! And to think such
things should happen in a Christian
land, John! Isn't it dreadful? Sit
right up to the table, Mr.-what did
you say his name was, John?"
my name is Dill-Joshua Dill,
ma'am."
"Thcrc used to be Dills up in Pa
sumpsic. | wonder if he's one of EN- y
said Debby.
"Nevcr mind that now" said John
"give the poor man his supper, and You
can get his family history afterward. y
"Those Dills were sort of relations OF
mine. 1t would he funny if he wa,
one of EN-, wouldn't it," persisted
Debby, as she heapcd the old man s
! plate with eatablcs which he devoIred,
unembarrassed by the curious and
eager gaze of the five children and the
Investigations of Ponto, who from the
first had regarded the stranger with
evident distrust.
For this Ponto probably had no bet
ter reason than that the man was poorly
clad; for the dog, as You know, is a
natural aristocrat, and will drive away
the man who approaches your door in
rags and n slouched hat, while he suf-
fcrs the man in broadcloth and IA stove
pipe to pass unchallenged. is it that,
by some subtle instinct, he divines that
rags and filth are apt to be the reward
of ill-doing, and neatness and thrift the
reward of well-doing?
But good little Mrs. Ratchet did not
ut all sympathize with this view of the
case, and rebuked Ponto for his want
of hospitality. As a rule, the more
wretched human being was the more
she took him into her motherly heart.
Accordingly she was greatly delighted
when she found that her present guest
,,,.o Ill o,,1