Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-30
BENNIE-REA.

ENNlE-REA.
1t was a sad day at the old farmhouse
when Douglas Rea closed his mortal
eyes, and his soul started on its journey
back to the God which gave it being.
Only few months before his patient
and loving wife had laid down her
burden, folded her tired hands upon her
breast, and sunk to sleep forever. After
her death, Mr.. Rea had gone about like
one in a dream. Slowly but surely he
wasted away; his cheeks became sunk
EN-; his eyes grew prominent; his step
lost its accustomed elasticity, and his
daughters realized that they soon would
be orphans indeed.
They were pretty girs, Ruth and
May. The former very much like her
father, tall, graceful, stately, with
heavenly blue eyes and golden hair; the
latter, small i'll stature, with wavy
brown hair, brown eyes and silken
lashes-like her mother.
Upon these two frail young girls de-
volved the management of the farm and
the care of their little brother. BennIe,
two years old at the time of his
mothers death. They were brave girls,
and did not shrink from the trust; but
The farm was heavily mortgaged, and
| for two seasons there had been almost
a total failure of crops; SO that at the
| time our story opens, four years after
| the death OF Mr.. Rea, they found them
I selves without money to meet the last
payment of five hundred dollars.
The mortgage had changed hands
several times, and no one knew Just who
held 1t. except the agent, Mr.. Gray, "a
very close-fistei, exactiDg man, who
never failed to be on hand when pay
ment was TO be made. Ruth and May
had succeeded, 10y hard work and close
economy, in meeting all the payments
| mp 10 the last and largest one now due.
but, with all their management, they
were unable to raise but little more
! than one hundred dollars; and it was
with sad hearts and troubled faces that
! they saw Mr.. Gray drive up and dis
| mount before their gate.
Ruth me- him at the door and ush-
cred him into the family sitting-roOm,
! where May sat in little sewing-chair,
busily employed in putting the finishing
touches 10 a hat which she was trim
ming for neighbOr, and which would
add a couple of dollars to the sum they
were boarding TO pay off the mortgage
on the dear old homestead.
We'll, ladies' said Mr.. Gray, in h's
crisp, buSInesS-hke tone, and with IA
dry cough which always sounded to
delinquent debtors like command to
stand and deliver, Il suppose you are
prepared TO take up the balance betwc ell
usF'
L am sorry, Mr.. q ay,' said May,
who generally transacted the business
of the little family, but We shall be
able TO pay you only part of the money
due'
Mr.. Grey's under jaw fell, and his
eye brows seemed to come down over
his eyes i'll very unpleasant way; his
| hands, too, went deeper into his pock-
cts, and his head settled down between
his shoulders, as though each OF the
dollars short on the payment repre-
sented departing joint in his spinal
column.
" ou do not mean to say that you
viii dishouOr the paper?' he asked in his
cold, smooth voice. pressing his hand
against the pocket that contained the
last note.
No, SIR returned May quickly, while
the color in her cheeks became a deeper
crimson, we will give you what money
we have tO-lay, and then. if you will
kindly renew the mortgage for year,
Mr. Gray, we shall be only too glad to
pay you the interest
impossible, lidit S, he returned My
empl yer has made other arrangements
for the use of Ills capital, and can em-
ploy it in more profitable manner
The girls ape lied to his sympathy in
vain. He was not acting for himself;
the gentleman who held the mortgage
had already given hin instructions for
the investment of the money; he could
not even take the responsibility of call
ing his attention to their proposition.
The money must be forthcoming at
once.
AID so he went away, leaving the
girls in tears; and in Il few hours notices
were posted about the country, setting
forth that the Rea homestead would be
sold Oh certain day TO satisfy an un-
paid mortgage.
Little four-year old BennIe, playing
on the floor with his tin elephant and
camel, much the worse for wear-being
The sole survivors of goodly menagerie
which Santa Claus had brought to him
the preceding Christnas-had listened
to this conversation between Mr.. Gray
aud his sisters without much apparent
interest; and, except for grunt of dis
approval when Ruth began to cry, and
another Indicative OF satisfaction when
Mr.. Grey took his departure, no one
would have supposed that he was aware
of that gentleman's visit.
But Bennie verified the truth of the
Old adage that little pitchers have
long ears for nothing that Was said by
Mr.. Gray or his sisters had escaped him.
lie had confused idea in his mind
that something was wrong; that Nj.
Gray was a bad man, for lie had made
Ruthie cry, and that both May and
Ruthis wanted some money very much.
AS his sisters talked together i'll low
.ones, Ruth with her fair hair pillowed
in Mays lap, and May stroking her soft,
rich hair, Bennie came in on tip-toe and
laid three pennies and a well-worn
nickle IN Ruthie'S hand-hIs entire saw
ings for the coming Fourth of July
and ran out hastily, so they might not
hear the sob that came up in his throat
as he saw hiS1ong- treasured vision of tire
crackers and popcorn balls disappear
NTH the giving up of his money
How the hearts of the sisters We're
touchedl And how quickly they sough.
out the little fellow in his hiding place,
rubbing his fearful eyes with his chubby
little fists, his pretty lips Quiyering with
suppressed sobs, so hard was 1t to give
up his long-anticipated pleasures, yet
with his baby heart strong in its devo-
tion and self-sacriiice to his dearly be-
lo,al e;,ta,o. haxu fhov oavorol