The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-10
It. And mind you, don't spend 1T in no

It. And mind you, don't spend 1t in no
extravagance
so speaking, the old miser closed his
dim eyes aud went where there is neither
money nor counting of money.
John Moppet uttered an exceeding bit.
ter cry as he remembered the lighted
match he had put to the crumpled papers
in the stove, to make sure of draught
when it was put up in the northwest cor
ner OF the church--the roar of the blaze
through the lengths of Russian pipe. In
his excellent management he had con.
trived to overreach himself.
He went home and sat all the evening
in a sort of stupor, with his head in his
hands.
Nancy, busted about her household
tasks, watched him with hazel eyes of
surprise.
~ didn't know he thought so much OF
Gran 'ther Atkins" pondercd she.
"Six times five is thirty-six times fivo
is thirty" mused Mr.. Moppet, rocking
to and fro. ''Six fve-hundred- dollar
bills hree-thousand-dol dolars-and
all gone up chimbly in one breath o.
wind, and Inc as done i'll / shall 20
crazy. shall lose my mind. Three
thou--sand-dollars! It's Judgment
on me. I've been mis'able sinner, and
cheated the church. Two tampered with
my own conscience. Six times five is
thirtyl Six five-hundred- dollar bills!
Oh, Lord, there amt no calculatin' what
a mis'able sinner I've bccn!"
As the old kitchen clock struck nine,
Absalom Parker came in, bringing with
him gust Of fresh, frosty air.
"Evenin', Squire" said he. "I'm
sort o looking up the watchers. 'Spose
you'd like to'be one of emf But Id
like to speak word to you first"
"'If it's about Nancy, it amt no use, "
said Mr.. Moppert, rousing himself TO the
affairs of the world with some petulance.
at amt about Nancy Absalom an
swered, with smile. "lt's about Mr..
Atkins's money"
Mr. Moppert gave n start.
"Oh, you needn't jump So" reassuret
Absalom ats all safe"
He took fiat parcel out of his pocket.
"Count EN-" said he. "Six, amt
therel"
Mr.. Moppcrt stared at Absalom Parker
as Aladdin might have started at the
Gcnii.
"TIow-whcre-" he stammered.
Absalom gave a low chucklc.
"Ilush!" said he. "Don't speak loud.
I seen the old man hide 'em there, like a
human magpic as he was. knowcd it
wasn't safe, so | quietly took 'cm out,
nrter he'd had that last stroke and locked
'cm in his black leather trunk up in the
garret. And you may thank me that
they wasn't all burned up in the first fire
you lighted in that identical stove."
/ Mr. Moppert turned purplish red.
"You know about that stoyc" said
he, with gasp.
at wasn't likely no such conjuring
could go on about Mr.. Atkins place, and
me not know it," said Parker, drily.
| "The stove wasn't of no great conse-
quence, though, except for old iron. 1
guess the church folks IL get sick Of it
before Il great while"
Mr.. Moppet drew long breath.
"NYhen they do, said he, "I'll make
'em present of braud-new one. And,
! Absalom--"
"Yes, Mr.. Moppet?"
"You won't say nothin' to noDody,'
"No," said Absalom, II amt one o.
| the talkiu' sort
"And, Absalom--"
"Yes, Mr. Moppetl"
"Since you and Nancy really are at
/ tached to each other"
/ 'Wc're just that, Mr.. Moppct."
/ 81 don't see no objection 10 your get
tin married this fall, said Moppet, with
an effort. "You may tell Nancy that
she has my consentm
Nancy cried shower Of happy tears
when Absalom told her the good news.
But he never impaired 20 her the story
of the stove As he himself had re-
marked, "hc was not one oil the talkin'
sort. '-SatWday Night.