The Somerset reporter., 1891-02-19
SELECTED.
TWoM RLEYS FOLLY.

" ~ - - \
By Asa r Ferry.
The Widow Appleby, called Aunt Sa
manthy' by her neighbors, was tidyin,
up q room which had been furnished 70
a sleeping room and had in 1t also
book case and little row of drawers, il
which fragments precious to geol )gis
had been carefully stored. The desk ant
bookcase Aunt Samanthy regarded will
reverence. The case she did not understand
Bits of stones bits of ore; she emptie(
them them all into her apron, and dump
| cd them with other odds and ends out o.
the window upon flower bed that hat
not been dug up that year. Aunt SamaE
thy had no heart for gardening. Thing
had gone very wrong with her. and thu
death of her oil boarder, q returned Cal
ifornia miner, who had made and lost sew
eral fortunes, had put the finishing toucl
to her woes. His room 1t was that sh,
was now putting 10 rights; knowing tina
she should never see his old whit,
head and kindly smile again.
As she spoke, there came a heavy stct
on the porch, and, looking out of tn,
window, she saw her COUSIN, Jededial
Twombly, standing there. Jededah was
a,rich man. lately made richer by an in
hertance from his grandfather, who hac
| lived to be one hundred and five years
old, and died. leaving all to his wealthy
grands on and nothing to his extremely
poor grand. daughter. 1t was natura
that the thought should sting the widow
as she looked at him.
Morning. said Jedediah. "Morning
Cousin Samanthy. | stepped up to get
the shade. l feel the sun considt rably,
and my horse has lost shoe, aud I've
sent Simon to get it fixed; thought I'D
| light here and see how you got on
81 don't get on at all, Jedediah," said
Samanthy. mot as | should il Grandpa
Twombley had left me suthin, as | al
way reckoned he would and now my
poor old boarder is gone, l've got to that
pass I've had to sell the cow"
"Too bad" said Jedediah. "Well,
come and get pan of milk any time"
1.-TWO miles there and back; thank We ~
said the widow. do you know if | was
you; Jedediah, what I'd do? I'd say
Cousin Semsnthy, I'm rich and you are
poor. III give you little slice of the
Dig I'M grandpa left me-. That's your
Christian duty, seem grandpa was a hun
dred and five, and wcak-mindei when he
died. He'd hev done it himself ten years
ago, and you know it,"
"Pshaw !" laughed Jedediah. but
you're woman, that's your excuse for
talking idiotic. Pm not mean man
IN live you five dollars down Samanthy,
and property is property, and wills is
wills. and not to be broken"
Well, don't set up for proud and I'm
50 poor that this is good deal to me, "
said Samanthy taking the money. Il
reckon erandpss spirit is around some
where, prompting you to do right, see
ing you Influenced HIN to do wrong"
Now, Samanthy, grandfather wasn't
influenced by mel That can tell you"
said Cousin Jedediah. ale always felt
YOU made mistake stepping OH with
Peter Peter was one of them folks that
never prospers. What's the use, grand
father u ed to say to me, of helping Sa-
manthy, when Peter"
"Poor Peter is gone" said the widow,
taking her handkerchief from her apron
pocket. Don't talk against him. He was
jest as kind as kind could be to me-
mo doubt" said Jedediah htfredly-
mo doubt. | didn't mean any ofense.
always thought Peter qult,-quite-
But what was you a-don' when | came
in--house cleanln'r
81 WIS cleanin out the spare room"
said the widow. "It's been shut up quite
slell-since the Californy gentleman
died. thought I'd let it if l could.
might take few boarders this summer,
If they would come"
"Ill pay for an advertisement said
Jededah, who was worth a million and
a half; and I'd let you have lots of Gu
cumbers of our place. You could grow
'hings here now, If you were TO seed this
bed up instead of pitchin' rubbish on IT.;
you could grow radishes right under ycnr
window Summer boarders generally
thinks radishes hulsome."
81 jest emptied the bureau drawers
out onto that bed. There was lot of
rubbish in 'em; and meant to dig /. over
only l amt very strong"
I'm let Simon dig IT," said Jedediah
land you seed it, and it will be com
fort to you"
BY this time, Simon, who had been
,l)wly driving up the hill, stopped at the
gate. and Jedediah called to him sharply
Simon you jest take the spade, and dig
over Mrs. Appl by's garden. I'll drive
home myself. Goodbye, Samanthy.
think that idea about the summer board
ers is a good one !" aud jumping into his
| wagon drove up the road glad TO be rid
of his poor cousin.
Simon looked after his master with p
very pecul ar expression.
''Some folks is born for luck and some
for children" he said sententiously.
1--WE got four"
"Aud I've got three" said the widow.
"Now, Simon, don't do that unless you
feel like it. know you have plenty to
TO-"
nd jest as lief" said Simon. What
Won been throwin' out here, Mrs. Apple
by!'
Rubbish cut of my Calforny board
er's bureau drawers said Mrs. Appleby.
What he kept 1t there for dunno"
Simon laugh d, and STOPPING, picked
up one or two bits of something, aud put
them In his pocket.
The bed was nearly spsded when Mrs.
Appleby looked out again, and Simon was
gone.
As Mr.. Jededlah Twombley sat on his
porch that night, counting up the profits
| Of his hay crop voice behind him cried
MIR. Twomblev. I've got guthin'
want to show you'll"
He turned 1t was Simon who hat
spoken and he held in his hand frag
ment of something that looked dark an(
heavy.
"See here" he said, in a whisper "I'v,
been to the gold.mnes In my time, ant
II this amt gold, III give up and say In
lacking"
"Why, to be sure To be be sure,
said old Jedediah, clutching the littl'
chunk Of gold In his hand. ITO be sur
where did you find it1''
why. In the Widder Applebys gar
den. Dug It up outn the Il ,wer-bed yol
told me to spade up for her." said Simon
"Then there's gold on the place. sal,
Jedediah. i've always thought Their
was gold here. I've always said So"
"Yes, Zee hecrd you" said Simon wit
. twinkle In his eye. Now, what
thing that will be for the wilder.
gOld.m!ne on her place"
"lIush" whispered Jedeiiah, with hi
eyes cleaning greenly IN the twilight
Hush, slmoni promise me you won
tell her or anybody. I'll make 1t a
right with you. You're kind of uncon
Portable where you be, with your sma
J family. Ill allow you to have the franz
house on the I'LL at the same rent. Den
mention ANYTHING about It, III make
right with Mrs. Appleby. Though. afts
all, this mayn't be gold"
, "P'r'Aps not: hut old miners, like m
rather calculates to know" said Simo
"Ef you don't mind, III move up to u
: frame house, tomorrow. Wait . bI
Lets 20 over to the widder's, Ill prefer
IL to SOW the radish seed. II you'll 81