Telegram-herald., 1890-06-07
THE OLD ORCHARD.
drandfathers Story OF the Worth
less Fruit Trees-

1
Carver looked the afternoon | went 70
obtain bis permission 20 Gu, down tho
old orchard on tho hillside. Tho trces
were, perhaps, half a century old. utter
ly worthless. aud James and / wero
tired OF caring foe them; but we could
never muster courage necessary 70
plead their downfal with grandfather.
who was 50 partic ulAr raboGthsving thom
Well looked after.
We often wondered st hts strange So
licitude for their worthless fruit, and
whom be insisted upon eating IL him
self. he became a childish object OF our
pity.
Tha: day wo were discussing their
worthlessnesA and expressed o deter
ualnation % chop the last troo OF them
down, whether grandfather was will
ing or not James protested and argued
that perhaps some family secret might
bo connected wtth them. and that We had
better obtain his permission.
We'll. We can ask him, but an sure
% refusal" I answered, and started
for bis seat under tho naples, whore he
was accustomed 10 spend bis afternoons
Ny heart almost failed ne. but was IN
an 81 mood, and did not give myself time
% falter. but stated my errand with as
little ceremony as possible.
william" said DC, gravely. laying
aside his newspaper and lifting his
spectacles 70 his forehead. those trees
havc a history. and must stand till am
laid in my grave. They arc OF my own
grating and must die with me-" As he
spoke looked a. tho white head and
bent form, and thought / heard In his
deep. measured tones the prophecy OF
death Slowly. however, he con-
tiaued.-
''Tou have not many moro years 70
wait till you have my permission 20 lay
them low. Tho blight is wither:ng their
useless branches evcn as death ccecps
over ny tottcrin- frame Ny boys, ron
nro the last OF ny rsco- Your parents
aro slscping in yondor churchyarl, and
% you must tell tho story OF my apple
trees"
James and fcrgo. our dcsiro 20 do
stroy the orchard. and seated ourselves
% hear from grandfather own lips tho
secret which we had long suspected vas
locked 1p in tho aged trunks Tic hest
tatod \ moment, "a it % call in the aid
% departed spirits, then slowly pro
ceoded.
My father care here with \ com
pany % Immigrants from Nsv England,
when tho Muskinggnm Valley was quite
a wilderness, and settled in yonder cove
Another 0f the company. Stcwart Ander
son by name. entered shis tract II land
SRI brils his cabin = fow rods frOE
where W are nov sitting. That ranh
T-ass near the fence marks the exac'
spos whore IL stood
''Neighbor Anderson vas n kind old
man. erestlY beloved bT all who know
him. and particular friend Of M
fathers Ha often crossed over % spend
. few hours in conversation with him
Y vas upon this feeble old man tha'
your grandfather and his brother Jaco'
attempted 20 play q mean trick.
NY father was ono - tho FIRST of th'
company 90 plant an orchard, and i1 Il
grew many grades and kinds ~ fruit
'eorre ~ 70 was early. soro late. scmc
mellow and sveet and some sour anj
worthless The early sctslers used e,
ccrs - hir1 fo- gratis when they wers
planting trees.
Ono frosty morning IN March. Oh
uei-hbc Anderson cano over to GO
r-af-s for his trees and while h'
warmed a. the dre. father sent Jacoi
and 7 - Eet TraftinE sprouts from th,
hess trees in cur orchsr3 As W went
T proposed - focl re old nsn ~ Tivinc
hin scr,e hastari SPROUTS from . worth
less trse that grew over in the past1rr
&C. TIE old nan VIII thlnk Ms tree
rav. bsen hevi .ched when 10 comes q,
gather his scples. added Jacob. plesset
-ith The Has. Wen put a evii spiri
g. every srrcus
irrs r4s easier s-ne than either - q
Imagined. We rut The rhcst ~ False
hood n ever graft AMI al M life "a