The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-03
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CHAPTER ".
kr@HIta III nrInfrfeA

THE BLATCHFoRDS.
When old Farmer Green announced TO
the world that he had disowned and dis
inherited his son he felt he had put the
finishing stroke to his duty. When he
Numbered forth tho awful edict he ended
his connection with this story. SO we
gently drop him out of its pages feel
ing that his absence can well be spared.
Blatchford, however, cannot SO read
lily be disposed of, since he figures in
the narrative to the end. therefore it is
necessary to 60 back and give little
further account of him.
At the time John and Mary married,
Hiram Blatchford had been a widowcr
for two years, and he remained so until
after his daughter removed to Kansas.
Soon after that event. though, he met
Miss Sarah Spickler, an elderly spinster.
and asked her to share his home. Miss
Spickler having been on the matri-
monial market for good many years
with no bidders for her hand. was dcs-
perate enough to accept any sort of
offer. and accordingly she snapped
Blatchford up in short order.
Miss Spickler was anything but
pretty. end her temper was sourcd and
her intellect none Of the strongest. yet
she had not been in the Blatchford
home week, as Mrs. Blatchford, be-
fore she had her husband under her
thumb, and held complete sway over
everything and everybody about the
place.
Blatchford was her slave from the
first, and with him her word was law.
Whatever she wished she had, and
whatever she commanded to be done
was done without delay. She married
Blatchford for his money. and she was
determined from the first to have it.
A month or SO after his marriage
Blatchford began to study about his
daughter. and the more he thought of
her the more he became convinced that
he had ill treated her. In short, after
so long time he came to the conclu-
sion that he was as much to blame as
Mary, and, knowing that she must be
suffering privations, he decided to ex-
tend to her the hand of friendship and
offer to her and John some pecuniary
assistance. Having come to this con-
clusion, he fastened to mention the
matter to his wife for her sanction.
Sarah listened until he had unfolded
his plans, then with uplifted hands and
staring eyes exclaimed:
"Well, did ever hear Of such thing
as that! Hiram Blatchford, have you
lost all your senses?"
why, Sarah," Hiram replied, taken
back, whats the natter"
"Matter?" Sarah repeated "Well, I'd
Q never believed it. never"
Never believed what:" Hiram asked.
why, that you could ever have been
taken with such fool notions, Hiram.
Whoever heard of the like of ito''
''Why, /" Hiram stammered and
stopped.
why, you.' Sarah put in, swami
to be fool, Hiram Blatchford, a regu-
lar out and out fool, you do. That's all
there is of it. The idea of you making
the first step towards q reconciliation
between you and your daughter, when
she threw you away for the sake Of
John Green. Yes, if was you would.
Idgo and get down on my knees to her,
and own that was in the wrong. Yes,
I'd do all that, and beg her with tears
in my eyes to come back to my arms"
Sarah. /"
"Yes, l know what you thought,
Hiram. l know that your soft, silly
heart prompts you to make fool of
yourself. But before you do it, ask
yourself if it would be right. Wasn't
you always kind and indulgent to Mary.
and didn't You do everything for her
that father could do?''
Eyes, that's true" Hiram replied
with no little inward satisfaction, and
with growing feeling that he was a
much abused parent.
Then you have done your duty, Hi
ram, more than your duty. and if any
body is to bend the knee let it be the
one who has done wrong. / don't be-
ieve in father being made a slave to
the within and wishes of an ungrateful
child. If had ever had such father
a. you, and had ever crossed him in one
wish even, / never would have forgiven