Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14

skillet Their hain't no doubt Nv il
Slime, es how they he'd borryed O. you
thought it proper ter ride over an let We
know"
But ther lam Simon said, all ther
acres
"Yas, know, but thet's kinder mort
J gagged an decided around among their
iselves an their wives. till there hahn t n
dom nothin with it. Leastwise thei
creditoes cant tech it.
Simon Shrimp got down to the groun,
IN some way though he could never tell at
forwards how. All that day lie felt Xix
one in dream, and for years after. tina
time rose up before him as a horrid night
mare.
1t was several days before he was able t,
ride, but when he felt equal to it he had
horse saddled, and rode over to Bob Her
rington's He was shown into the bes
room, AID told to wait until Mr. Herring
ton came up from dinner. 1t was a eooC
half hour that Sine had to wait, and in the
meantime his eyes wandered about The
richly furnished rooms.
These fine fxin S. be unused. ARE
bought with my money. Them easy
chairs, an that cyarpet. my money paid
fer. An them pictures, too, and that pi
amer. I've been Eumpin' myself day il
an day out, year after year, making and
savin money jest SOS Bob Herring ton s
wife and gals could have all them pooty
things. while Liza an my gals has never
| had nuthin'''
Bob Harrington came in at last. as
smiling and as affable as you please.
Good morning, Mr.. Shrimp" he said,
Il am glad to see you. | hear you have
not been well. "
mo, | amt been very well lately
'Well, what can do for you to-day Mr.
Skrimp?''
Il rode over" Shrimp began to say, ''to
see about that money.
Yes, yes, | am glad you came, but you
see we are not in & position to do anythin.
now. The matter is in the courts and will
be adjusted in time. All You can do is to
wait And before Mr. Shrimp hardly
realized it be was gently worked out
of the room and the door closed after him.
AS Shrimp rode slowly along on bis
homeward way, he fell to bordering very
seriousI over what had transpired the
last few days and at last he asked himself:
what is Teller ter do with his money
If he buys Ian he don't need. it is er cum
brance upon i'm, an the taxes eats it up.
Ef he loans it he gets beat outten it. An
eff he buys too much stock it eats its head
off, y and he shook his head disparingly.
Just then he came even with Smith s
and Smith being in front invited Sine to
step in for dinner
''Thankee, he said ''but l guess I'd
better go along"
But Smith insisted and Slime yielded
and followed into the house.
He was introduced to Mrs. Smith and
was struck with her happy, healthy, con-
tented look and he could not bel D con-
trasting her with his own pale-faced,
tired and patient wife. Then there came
floating in from the adjoining room sweet
strains of mnsic-a mlngling of sweet,
young voices with the vibra- lions
of the piano, and IL smoothed him
and rested him. Then he looked at Smith
with his jolly broad face and his beaming
smile and he envied him. Simon could
but contrast the surroundings-the air of
sweet content and peaceful quiet-with
his own home life
Did you lose anything by the Herring ?
tons ? Sine asked.
Not cent Smith replied, though
might if Id had money to lend. AS it
was [ used all / lad to spare from the
farm, in repairing and furnishing the
house. | hear you lost quite a sum, and
you have my sympathy
Il don't want no sympathy" Simon
said. I've been er fool all my life. an
now I've come TO my senses, an | dunno
if it hahn t er good thing fer US that the
money is gone. Some people won't new
er learn nothin' 'thout payin well fer it,
I'm one o that kind. y
Shrimp returned home more cheerful
than he had been for Years. The next
morning early he hitched the horses to the
the big lumber wagon and drove off to
town, but before leaving he came and put
his arms about his wife and kissed her
something that he hadn done for so long
that it surprised and startled her, and the
tears came to her eyes.
Il pear to be mighty Ii ght hearted. y
Simon unused as he logged along the
lanes, up hill and down. 81 hahn felt SO
happy for ten years, an | reckon some
other folks II feel lifted up tonight when
I get back
For hours old Slime poked around
among the stores in the city, and some,
how everybody looked happier and light
erhearted than he had ever seen them.
Looks like the ole world is gittin
brighter, some way" Simon unused as he
drove homeward in the cool of the even
ing. Il never see the sun shine so bright
an even that little brook down in the
edge of the woods sings merrily long its
| wav. | never noticed that afore.''
It was getting dark when Simon drove
up over the last hill on his return home
Mrs. Shrimp and the girls were out at the
gate watching the rumble of the wagon
and looking up the road, they saw that 6
| great box filled the big wagon bed.
'Wonder what Shines been er buy
in % the mother said.
Looks like big box one of the girl;
replied
Yes, know, but there must be some
thing in it
''Oh, l reckon it's just to put the whea
In when he threshes. | heard him say ht
would need cne.'
Hi, ther," Shrimp shouted. ''Clar,
outen the road and open ther gate thar,
eotter Grive inside with this ere box
Here, you boys, fly erroun' you rascaIs, an
help git this out" And Shrimp tried hi
| best to appear as sour as possible. bn
made a most miserable failure of tn,
! effort.
What have you got, Sime?" the wifi
asked.
"Nuther box fer wheat. Just the thing
| | need"
''Feels mighty heavy" one of the bow
remarked, after lifting at an end of it
Must be something in it. y
! Simon was unable to hold back thu
smiles any longer, for his happiness KEEP
buboling up, and refused to be KEEP
! down.
Its pianer." the boy shouted .'it's :