The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-18

crook jail-he saw his eleven children
and his ifehe felt himselfa detected
elon, and that was worst Of all.
well, Peter, you'd ought to have
come right in" were the words that
came to his amazed ears, in John
Pontiac's heartiest voice. '"The mis-
sis would have been glad to see you.
We did go to bed q bit early, but there
have been any harm in an
old neighbor like you waking us up"
en- to me. It would be a pity if old
friends like you and me, Peter,
couldn't help one another to /. trifling
loan OF provisions without making a
fuss over it." And old John, taking
up the scoop, went on filling the lag
as il that were a matter Of course.
Peter did not spaak-he could not.
81 was going around to your place
tomorrow" resumed John cheeriully, |
ITO See if | couldn't hire you again.
There's a Job OF hewing for you in the
Conlongo shanty-a mans gone off |
sick. But can't give nore'n twenty
two, or say twenty three, seeing
you'rean old neighbor. What do you
say??'HS'
Petsr still said nothing was
4. had better have bit Of some
thineefs1ore than bacon and -four, Pc
ter, Sac went on, and Ill give you a
.han1sto carry the truck home. Iguess
yourwife won't mind seeing me with
you-then she'll know you've taken a
job with me again, you see. Come
along and give me a hand to hitch the
mareup. I'll drive you down"
s'Ah-ah- Boss-Boss!" spoke Peter
then. with terrible gasps between.
.Boss-O my God, Mr.. Pontiac
can't never look you-in the face
again!''
fPeter McGrath-old neighbor"-
and John Pontiac laid his hand on the
shaking shoulder, Il guess know all
aboutsit; I guess lido. Sometimes a.
man is driven he don't know how.
Nowwe will say no more ABOUT it. I'll
loadu and you come right along
With me. And mind, I'll do the talk
ing to your wife.
Mary Ann McGrath was in a terri
BILE frame OF mind. What had become
of Peter?
She had gone out to look down the
road and had been recalled by iSs,,.m.
Der. Eleven's crying. Number Ten
then climbed in, Nine too awoke and
determined to resume his privileges as
an infant. One after another, they
gotsup and huddled around her-crav-
ing, eraving-all but the three eldest,
who had been practically initiated IN.
60 che stoical philosophy with the
3giIsssfai decrease OF their rations. But
these bounced up suddenly at the
sound OF a grand jangle of bells.
Could it ~ ~ Mr.: Pontiac they had
no doubt about, but was that real
bacon that he laid on the kitchen ta-
BILE? Then side Of beef, a can of tea;
next q bag OF -four, and again an act
ua keg OF syrup. Why, this was al
most incl edible And last he came in
with an immense round loaf of bread!
The children gathered about it; old
John almost sickened with sorrow for
them, and hurrying out his jackknife,
passed big hunks around.
''Well, now, Mrs. McGrath," ne said
NoA tiiS CuSSCt OP0I 1oaOuS, IL uO0
hardly take it kindly OF you and Pc
ter not to have come up to an old
neighbours house before this for bit
OF a loan. It's we'll I met Peter to.
night. Maybe he'd never have told
me your troubles-not but what I
blame myself for not suspecting how
it Was q pit sooner. I just made him
take a little loan for tie present. No,
no, don't be talking that way. Char
ity! tut! it's just an advance of wages.
I've got a job for Peter; he'll be on
pay tomorrow again."
At that Mary Ann burst out crying
again. "Oh, God bless you, Mr.. Pom
tiac, it's a kind man you areI Nav
the saints be about your bed!"
With that she ran out to Peter.
who still stood by the sleigh: she put
the btaby IN his arms and clinging, to
her husbands shoulder, cried more
and more.
And what did obstinate Peter Nc.
Grath do? Why, he cried too, with
gasps and groans that seemed almost
to kill him.
eco in, he said; Ego in, Mary Ann
go Inland kiss-the feet Of him.
Yes-and the boords-he stands on.
You don't know--what he's done-for
me. It's broke I am-the bad heart
OF me- broke entirely-with the good
ness OF him. May the heavens be his
bed!''
"Now, Mrs. McGrath," cried old
John, "never you mind Peter; he's a
bit llght.headed tonight. Come away
in and get a bite for him. I'd like a
dish OF tea myself before 90 home"
Didn't that touch on her irish hos
pitality bring her In quickly!
Mind you this, Peter said the
old man, going out then, don't you
be troubling your wife with any little
secrets about tonight; that's be-
tween you and me. That's all ask
OF you.y
Thus itcomes about that to this day,
when Peter McGrath's fifteen children {
have helped him to become q very
prosperous farmer, his wife does not
quite understand The depth OF worship
with which he speaks Of old John
Pontiac.
Mrs. Pontiac never knew the story
Of the night. 884a