Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-09-12

winch meant laying out money was cut off.
Everything that could be sold off the farm
was sold, hay, butter, eggs and beef, and
swallowed up by this mortgage. It was
only by our own private poultry, and the
sale of milk from our own COW, and by
knitting that we girls managed to scrape
together enough to dress on. The carking
care, the pinching poverty i'll the midst of
plenty which wears more than anything
else on heart and mind, are to be found in
perfection in the home of farmer whose
farm carries mortgage. The removal of
the mortgage, which was once the dream
of my fathers life, had for long time
passed out of the range of his hopes. 1t
was hard enough to pay the interest. 1t
was natural enough, therefore, that the re-
turn of my uncle from California with
fortune brought up the subject of the
mortgage.
II shouldn't be surprised if he lifted it
at last for me-" said my father that even
ing. ''I've often asked him and he's never
given me decided answer He must be
pretty well fixed now and I helped him
when he was boy"
And this opinion seemed to be shared by
my mother and the boys. Ny uncle's ar
rival was looked upon as a sort of
bonanza to the family. It was therefore
with great excitement that we heard the
news that Jake Edwards was driving up
strangers from the station and that they
were coming to Squire Sangsters. This
message was brought by the small boy on
the shaggy white pony who carried the let
tiers from the station to our postoffice and
who had picked up this bit of gossip when
the mail train came in and had outstripped
Jake Edwards team, which was certainly
more noted for strength than speed.
Father and the boys had hired neigh
Dor to go on with the haying, and had
dressed themselves in their best, mother
had on her gray satin with pink ribbon
in her cap, and we girls had made our
selves just too fine for anything. At last
the team appeared; black horses and
square, oilskin covered coach. A tall man,
tawny and bearded, leaped from the seat
and came up the veranda steps, where all
the family were ranged to meet him. He
shook hands with father, kissed mother
and then turned to us girls
Floss was the beauty of the family and
was first presented for kiss, then Peggy
and last of all myself, though 1 was older
than Peggy. But was plain and quiet.
'Three fine gals" said my uncle Kit,
"and yer boys seem kind of hearty, too,
but it must be hard work toiling and
sweating on this rocky soil. I wish you
was all in Californy." Then he paused.
II have friend, Noah Broadhead, in the
carriage. would like to introduce you to
him, Brother Will, and if you can give
him a bite and sup and accommodate
him and me with beds for one night-well,
I'll be grateful"-
Certainly, certainly" cried my mother.
"Ask him in and introduce him"
A gentleman dressed in spick and span
new clothes, clean shaver and really nice
looking was led up by Uncle Kit, and in
PRODUCED all around as his friend, Noah
Broadhead.
| thought had seen his face before as
there was something very familiar in the
expression of his eyes-but could not re-
member where. At the time it occurred to
me that it might have been in meeting or
at Harristown.
However we made very merry party.
had been so often teased and quizzed about
my "softness" that it was quite relief
when the mortgage, Uncle Kit and dinner
took up all thought and conversation. But
after dinner | had somewhat trying Or
deal to go through.
The fact Of it was Uncle Kit made
speech. II see, Brother WILL" he said,
that, after all, you are much bettero
than am. Sensation, as they say in the
newspapers.) You've a fine farm and a
fine family"
"And fine mortgage" said my father
under his breath, but Uncle Kit didn't
hear him.
Gas for me-" went on Uncle Kit, "I'm
not so rich as I would like to be. 1 am not
even SO rich as you are" There was
breathless pause here.
II am bound to say that if it hadn't been
for member of this family should never
have learned how rich you are.''
My father started flushed and grew al
most angry; he thought he was being
quizzed.
''Hold on till I've finished, Will,'' went
onmy uncle. Yesterday morning thought
was twice as rich as you are, and it is
through member of your family, repeat,
that learned my mistake"
Who could it be that had told Uncle Kit
that we were rich? Every one looked at
the other. Ny father evidently was much
perturbed. Mr.. Noah Broadhead's face
wore kind of amused smile; whether he
was secretly laughing at my uncle or at
my father, or was amused at being taken
SO suddenly into family condolences I did
not know.
"a member of this family yesterday adj
mitted tramp into this house," went on
the speaker.
sit must have been that Sally" whis-
pered pretty Floss and Peggy, and all eyes
Immediately were fixed on Inc.
"The tramp was fed and rested, and be-
fore going away a stocking-I believe it
was a stocking, Noah-was produced and
=;
counted out and given to this worthless
vagabond."
Mother looked reproachfully at me- 1
dare not look at father; the two boys SEEM
ed puzzled. Had my foolish generosity to
the tramp conveyed the notion to my uncle
that we were too well off to need his assist
ance? The idea seemed absurd, impossi-
BILE.
"That tramp" went on my uncle, twas
an old mate of mine, and but for this money
would not have met me at Harristown and
offered me the chance of making big fort
une out of your farm"
"You re welcome to do that, Kit, said my
father, dryly, eff only you'll give me half
of it."
"That tramp" continued Uncle Kit,
Showed me the finest specimen of manga
nese that l had ever seen-and understand
from him that he found it in your pasture.
Brother, you wrote to me asking me to lift
your mortgage. Ican't do that, but you've
got a daughter in your house who is good
enough to make the heaviest mortgage in
the world lighter than q feather. I'll tell
you what I will do. I will take shares
enough in your manganese mine to lift all
the mortgages in the village"
My father looked stupefed for mo-
ment, my mother stared at him and blushed
for sheer joy. Even the boys seemed to
waken up to the good news, and was for
moment eyed with admiration by ALL
So didn't get very much leased after all
about entertaining that tramp. Mr., Noah
Broadhead, who professed to be chemist,
examined the manganese deposit down in
our pasture that very day and pronounced
it one of the richest in our part of the
world.
We still live ON the old farm, but we
hear no more of mortgages, and IT was only
yesterday that Floss said TO me, ooh, Sal
ly, how lucky it was that you were so kind
to that tramp"
But I have never yet been able to per-
suade myself that the tramp and Mr. Noah