River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-02
THE FATAL BOOTS.
Farmer Mitzelrs Avariciousness
Proves His Ruin.

lItEt - HbNuAA1 AotNAACA ~ ~ $50
than the fertile upland valleys with
their densely -wooded slopes, of the Blue
Ridge or South Mountain. as il traverses
Virginia. Maryland and Pennsylvania
The undulatOry beauty of interchang-
ing hill and dale, the waving outlines
restful as cradle, form sharp contrast
with the rude and jagged rocks that
crown the surrounding frowning sum
mits-
Here the monarch Nature loves TO
dwell, an inaccessible Nathek, in the
most alluring palace of the senses, amid
the perpetual vision of the beautiful,
the trill of birds and the murmur of
streamlets. the delicate flavor Of ber-
ries and fruits, the delicious perfume of
clover fields. and the Arcadian loves of
the simple mOuntaineer-
Hidden away in one of these nesting
hooks there lived two farmers, each on
his respective farm. These men were,
both Of them, Woodworking and indus
trious, but fortune had distributed her
favors to them with unequal hand
Reynold Mitzell owned the lions share,
or nearly the whole Of the mountain
top, and lived in a comfortable, two
story brick house, which was sheltered
from the rude wintry winds in the pretty
dell where il stood near a purling brook;
while big red barn-the pride OF Nit
zell's heart-gave comfortable shelter to
well-fed stock. Then he had the cheer
full help of his fine, manly, sturdy son
ReynOld. although he had lost a good
wife, who very incOnsiderately died Just
at the busy. busy harvest time, when
she was needed from break of day till
candle-light-
In fact, Mitzell took this parting,
graceless act of hers so much to heart
that it is doubtful if he ever quite for
gave her
He always, in abiding to the ill-timed
removal, would shake his head and
humble: ''She mOut have thanked Ii
was haydn week"
Poor thing, she should also have re-
membered that after harvest comes APP
ple-butter, and after apple-butter,
butchering, and after butchering, spin
ming. and for all time, making. mending
and baking. 1t often happens that no
woman is so hard-worked as the rich
farmers wife. May be it was part of
the ''grudge he had agin her." that he
laid her away in a corner of the garden
close against the fence, and where, in
due course of time, she might have been
Usefully spaded up again, had il not
been for the protecting hedge of roses
her son tearfully planted around the
grassy mound of earth.
Happy woman, after all. 20 mOlder
away with sweet-brier rather than a
ton of marble on her breast,
At best Mitzel was but a plain farm
or. so wonder not that his soul failed to
grasp symphonic harmonies when the
stars sang together on the mountain
top, for does not nickel obscure the
sun, at times, in that center of the
universe-Wall street?
But John Hogan, the poor neighbOr,
was of merry mind; compensation
kind Heaven often grants those who are
stinted as 10 worldly goods. although he
did not have the pauper's blessing of
houseful, but only wife and a daugh-
ter. Emma.
A few acres of meadow. lot Of BRAN
bles. blackberry patch, and no end Of
lichen-cOvered rocks made up his terri
tory. Then. for shelter, log cabin in
the woods, with three rooms. and shed
which gave ample space in winter TO
huddle and keep warm. for spot, the
brindle maley COW. for three granting
pigs, six shaggy sheep, and Dash. a
spirited cOlly. Take il all in all. re-
markably interesting family circle,
where the bipeds at least did enjoy their
=. sv,h s.1Fz mi erafaw-
did scenery, and see God N the glory of
His works
II was very useful for Mitzell % have
Hogan at hand to work Tor him, At ais
own price. when needed. sEd 80 wheT at
last there came a time when HogaL's
wife fell sick, when the heavy and con
tinuOus rains widowed the hay, when
the hogs died OF cholera. and the COW
Toasted SO greedily in Mitzell's field that
she swelled and burst. and the sheep
alone Survived-then Mitzell lent of his
substance TO Hogan enough 70 keep him
from starvation for the winter. gener-
Ously taking 4 mortgage on the home
stead. and ten per cent. interest on the
loan. Mitzell said he liked the man.
and meant to help him along.
we nave ltAr0 u S@tfL nat THIS NIUE
Of giving assistance was not peculiar 10
the mountain top; but OF this we know
nothing
BE that as il may. this loan acted
somevh hat as some doses Of medicine are
apt TO act that they are intended 20
cure. but in the prCeess make the pa
tient desperately ILL., Indeed. IL was no
siced. after this. that the cabin in the
woods stood in gloom and shadow. and
needed some of its old sunshine
However. before these murky clouds
hung so low. there had passed away
some pleasant years for the two chill
dren. For Reynold and Emma never
took any particular count of the respect
i've acres owned by their parents How
sweet the harmless joys of these curly
psted ones'
Often. at break of day. hsnd-in-hana,
and light of foot. they sought the
higher reaches of the rocks TO watch
the flooded glory Of the earth and sky,
innocent-hearted worshippers at His ma
3esu9 altar; or. guided BIZ the faint