The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-01-16

gone to Ohio. He inquired at the few
houses on the road between Mr.. Perry's
and his own home, but could hear moth
ing of the missing boy. Sadly. he an
hitchcd his horse, firmly convinced he
had seen the last of Mark and his twenty
dollars.
One day about the middle Of January,
just ~ the Greens had set down to din
ner, the Kitchen door slowly opened. and
Marx Bloomer stepped IN. lie was "as
poor rs a crow" as Arthur expressed it (;
his eyes and checks were hollow. and he
was so weak he could hardly walk. At
this unexpected apparition, Mrs. Green
arose from her chair so suddenly MS to
nearly overturn the table. Arthur ut
tered loud: "Hurrah! told YOU so -
while Mr.. Green could only sit and stare
in opcn-eyed wonder.
"Why, where have you been 4? and
what makes you so thin and palel" asked
the good housewife rs she placed pla,e
and cup and saucer for Mark.
"I'vt been in the pcst-housc, and I've
had the smallpox" said the boy.
"When I've had something to eat. III
tell you all about it. I'm awful hungry"
After dinner, Mark told his story, rs
follows:
although didn't say anything about
it, hadn't been feeling well for some
time before | went away. | thought it
wasn't nothing moro than cold until
that day | went to Mr.. Pcrry's. ! felt
sick enough TO die before got half way
there. Ny head aud back burned and
achcd, and the trees and houses and
things looked rs though they were lust
spinnin' round. | couldn't think what
was the matter of me at first, but soon
made up my mind | was coming down
with the smallpox. The day before
went to MIR. Perry's. Ike Pier told me
that Sam Smith was down with the small
poX and in the pcst-housc. About a
fortnight before, you remember, Sam and
| worked together in the woods. When
that came into my mind knew what was
the matter of me, and ] says 30 myself.
1T won't never do for me to 20 back
home and give Arthur the smallpox.
Weak and sickly as he is, he would die
sure. I'll just go 10 the pcst-house and
bear sam Smith company managed.
somehow, to get to Mr. Pcrey's and give
him the envelope. told him all about
it, and where | was going, and made him
promise to tell you; but he was so
frightened, and in such big hurry to get
rid of me, that | don't believe nc realized
what hc said"
"lIc went West that very day" broke
in the farmer, and got letter from
him yesterday, in which he SAYS he got
the money all right, and told me all
about your--your-'
"IIcroic behavior said Mrs. Green,
who used To bc ''schoolma am" and
pridcd herself on having better oduca-
tion than her husband
well" continued Mark, ~ got to
the pest house somehow can't remem-
Der how mysef--aud the doctors said it
was fine case; though what there was
fine about il is more than /, for one,
can tell, for was siclS's horse. They
pulled me through all right, however,
and here am, and that's all there is
about it,"
htlli hiiIh, sultl MT. dfFpn, II Will
say this much, your home is here just as
long rs you care to stay When you get
strong enough YOU can go to work, and
I'll pay you ten dollars month the first
year, and more the next, and YOU can 20
to school winters. feel that your
presence Of mind saved my sons life, for
he never could have lived through what
you've endured. God bless you." and to
hide his emotion, the farmer abruptly
left the room.
Good Mrs. Green, with the tears
streaming down her checks, clasped the
two boys in her arms, and said
"IIcncclorth, instead of one son,
have two. Arthur, you must love Mark
as II brother, for he just the same rs saved
your life
IL knew he wasn't n thief" said
Arthur, squirming from his mothers
arms. "llurrah, for brother Mark
Hurrah, for everybody. ~ Yankee BIaQe