The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-07-29

jest WISH was WuJu u HlliilOu uOi-
lars !" said the old philanthropist. ard
give Pete Putney and Lo-i.sy Hill the
finest farm in Middle County. don't
see what possesses old Adam to stick to
his stony fields and mullen pastures so
tight, when the railroad people offer him
five thousand dollars for 'em. Guess I'll
go raound an see him about It. Lo-i-sy
Hills too pretty gal and too good
one to be kept waitin' until Pete can dig
home out of the rocks for her. It amt
no pa'tickler fun that 1 know of, doin'
housework at Desperation Hail."
And so, on the evening of the Widow
Blivcn's masquerade party, Old Man
Mixall trudged around by the Putney
Farm to see his ancient contemporary.
Old Adam sat warming his venerable
bones in the sun. Sunshine was cheaper
than firewood, if less satisfactory, and
he returned his greeting.
$50 We won't sell the fam to the
Quantick Company" said Simon, sitting
cheerfully down on the wooden settee
beside his friend.
III can't sell it," said Putney, drum:
ming his wrinkled fingers on the win
dow-sill.
"Why can't ye sell itl'
"He won't let me-"
''Who won't let you4"
''NIy Gran 'ther Putney."
"Land alive, man, what We talking
about2" cried Mixall. "Yer Gran'ther
Putney, he's been dead an buried this
seventy yearsl"
III dream about him every night"
said Adam Putney, In the same slow,
mechanical way. ''I see him a-settin'
on the old oak stump by the we'll. And
he's always a-sayin', Don't sell the farm,
Adam2' 1 can't go agiu him, can II"
"Wal, calc'late l should II was
you" declared Mixall. "Dead an
buried folks hain't no business meddlin'
that away"
al can't go agin himl" repeated Put
ney, with the slow, settled policy of old
age.
"But here's your nephew, Peter, as
smart lad as ever stepped, and Lo-I-sy
Hill, the prettiest gal goin.' They'd
have money to go to housekeeping If
you'd listen to reason"
81 can't go agin Granther Putney."
"And here you be, poor'n Jobs tur-
key, holdin' on to the rockiest farm this
side O. Serape Mountain, all jest for a
consarned whim!" persisted Mixall.
VI can't go agin Gran 'ther Putney," +"
dreariiy repeated Old Adam, winking his
bleared eyes in the sunshine.
And Old Man Mixall, fairly out of pa
tience, got up and trotted down the
road, muttering unutterable things as he
went.
"There amt such dumb fool as he in
all the foolish ward at Desperation Hall, "
said he.
And it took good deal of the laugh
ter and merrymaking at the Bliven mas
querade to erase the disagreeable impress
sion from his mind.
Old Man MiXall was q favorite every
where, and the hospitable dame in charge
of the refreshments cheered him with
hot coffee, newly Drowned waffles,
chicken salad and frosted cake, before
he went in to see the young folks dance.
"That's Lo-i-syl" he cried, shrilly,
"Ain't she jest as pretty as a pink In that
Quaker gownd and the scoop hat9 And
there's Pete Putney cuttin' pigeon wings
in old Squire Lomax's Revolutionary
togs. Wal, never!"
And Old Man Mixall laughed until he
shook like mold of jelly.
Cap'n Elias Fotherindye was seriously
alarmed when his oldest boarder did not
return until the next morning.
'Why, swan to gracious" said he,
'I allowed suthin had happened t'ye!"
''No, cap'n" said the old man,
"nothin' hain't happened. But Pete Put
ney. he axed me, seeiu' / was comiu'
right past the place, to leave his RevOlu-
toner rig to Squire Lomax's; an when |
got to Squire Lomaxs, they axed me to
stay all night. Dre'tful sociable folks
them Lomaxes!"
And the Old Man MIixall went out
to water his marigolds and scarlet run
ners.
The sun was setting behind the to-
mato vines in the back garden when
Louisa Hill came breathlessly up the
path.
"Oh, Mr.. Mixall," said she, "Peter
has just driven awayl He has taken me
for ride"
"Eh2p
"And what do you thiuk2 We're to
be married next weekin
I-want-to-knoww
"And Uncle Adam is going to sell the
farm to the Quautick Company, and give
the money to Peter, and he's to live with
usl"
"Wal, l declared"
"Uncle Adam says he saw Gran 'theI
Putney last night a-settin' on the old oak
stump by the well, just at midnight.
And this time he was all dressed in the
suit he fought at Bunker Hill in-mus-
ket and cooked hat and all-and he says,
says he, Sell the farm, Adam-sell the
farm, as distinct as ever ye heard any
thing in your life. And Uncle Adam
he says it's direct message from his an
cestor, and the deeds are to be handed
over tomorrow. And we shall be happy
at last !"
"Did-you-everw said Old Man
Mixall.
at was a dream, of coursel" said
Louisa.
"Oh, of course ~ said Old Man Mix
all.
But when she was gone to tell Mrs.
Fotherindyke, the octogenarian walked
slowly out TO his scarlet runners, and
laughed long and silently.
81 hain't outlived all my usefulnes.