The Somerset reporter., 1891-07-30
SELECTED.
TWO DEBTS

TWO DEBTS
When Ashbel Dean died, and his earth
| ly debts and credits were looked into, II
was discovered that the credit page was
nearly as spotless as the sheet that had
covered Ashbefs still form, while mort.
cages for the full value Of the farm were
| recorded on the other side. Ashbel hao
been considered forehanded. His neigh.
bors said he ''speculnted west" and were
astonished when his death revealed tn,
fact that he had sacrificed all in endeavor
TO save some shreds of his financial rep.
utstion.
| None were more surprised than his
own family. This included the widow,
and Amanda and Israel twins, twenty
years old. They were crushed. They
shrank from 1t as from the presence OF
death-the first one--in the family. For
days they dared not speak of it, but II
was always in their thoughts. At last the
widow reused her energies, and sum
moned her children.
I'VE can save the farm she said.
"Manda, you can keep the district school;
Israel and l will carry on the farm. We
must all stand together
For twenty years they were possessed
Of that one thought, urged by that one
motiye-to pay the debt
They stood together twenty years, and
at the end of that time they owed no man
anything.
The mother looked scarcely day older.
The work of directing had kept her facul-
ties fresh and vigorous. But son and
daughter had passed from anticipative
youth into dull middle age. The debt,
INSCRIPTIONS and avarcious, had left
them no enjoyment. 1t had robbed them
Of life's most desirable part.
When Amanda was twenty she was call
ed pretty. Gatherings had been incom-
plete without her. After that, she never
attended another. The attentions of
young men, which came unsolicited, were
refused Now she had become thin and
sallow. She knew she could hope for no
return of loves pleasures. Ii thought
of marriage crowded itself upon her, she
shook it off as unwelcome She could
give up her school now, and devote her
time to home, to her mother and brother.
And Israel was free. He took long
breath and stood up straight, easing his
CALLED shoulders of the burden they had
just cast off Life looked pleasant sud
denly. He would make some needed i'm
provements on the place. The house
should have coat of paint. He stood In
the sunshine, and, looking up through
the June foliage of the naples, through
the seed-pods looking like the legs of so
many elhn painters dangling there paint
ing the sky. Then he laughed at himself,
and said he must be getting young and
frlskyn
When he was twenty he had thought to
be married. Now, at forty, he thought of
1t again. When he stopped his visits to
Harriet Downer, she understood why.
She had had no company, he told him
self since then, and his heart gave great
bound at the thought. Why should he
notI
One day he came to his mother and sis
ter, and said bluntly, a am going to be
married to Harriet Downer."
There was silence for long moment /;
then his mother said coldly. I'VE know
it,"
BY the tone and attitude, Israel under
stood that his mother and sister gwould
not welcome the woman he meant to mar
ry. He understood that they thought the
lie of constant effort OF the past twenty
years as binding as wedlock, and did not
wish 1t broken.
But once after that Israel spoke of his
marriage; II am to marry Harriet to-
morrow Shall you be there?'
| And his mother answered, No"
| But Israel would keep his vow to Hsr-
riet. The twenty years struggle had cul
tivated in him the logged resolution in
herited from his mother.
He married Harriet, and after week
brought her home. No one appeared to
greet them.
| Mother" he called, as he went through
| the house. In two remote rooms he
| found his mother and sister.
Harriet is out there" said he.
And we are here we shall stay here"
| said his mother.
| Israel looked about him dazed. lie re-
membered afterwards that he saw stove
with pots and pans and dishes, and in the
| ,ther room bed, table and chairs. The
two women had made all preparations for
living by themselves.
And this was the brides home coming !!
| Yet the married two lived happy life
ogether. Israel felt keenly the mental
misery his wife must endure, and strove
TO alleviate 1T by every kindly attention
N his power, she understood his motive
and resolutely mid all traces Of pain. Life
for each was as the other made it,
There was no communication between
The two parts of the house, and no mes
sages passed, no visits were exchanged.
Thus for two years, when a baby WAS
born. Then one day Harriet said to Israel
Take the baby, and 60 to your mother"
He understood, and taking the child in his
arms, went and knocked at the door.
"Who is it2' said his mothers voice,
Your son and grandson he replied.
There WIS slight noise and q pause
within. Then Amanda said we are too
busy to see you
He returned aud laid the baby by his
wife. She did not need to question him
by word or eye.
Two years more wentlby. One morning
Israel called his wife to come down into
the garden. He had some vegetable won
der to show her.
"But can't take the baby out In the
dew she objected,
Leave him where he Is. He'll do no
harm for five minutes"
Then toddle, toddle away-the little
feet knew the path that was forbidden
them-straight on through the unused
passageway to the door at the end. He
pushed and shufied babily against 1t.
Whats that queer noise at the door,
'Manda?"
Sounds like dog" said Amanda.