Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-08-22

post, for all that some would iump
over them aud back again, or maybe
swing round them, holding by their
bands. Every day the neighbors would
20 into Cornwall to give my grandfather
the good word, and they would offer tc
pay Tougal Stewart for the other half OF
the plow, only that vexed my grand
father, for be was too proud to borrow,
and, of course, every day be felt less
aud less able TO pay on account of him
having to hire man to be doing the
spring blowing and seeding and max
ing the kale-yard.
"Ail this time, you'll mind, Tougal
Stewart had to pay five shiIlings week
for my grandfathers keep, the law being
so that if the debtor swore that he had
not five pounds worth OF property to
his name, then the creditor had to pay
the five shillings, and, of course, my
grandfather had nothing to his name
after he gave the bill of sale to Alexander
Frazer. A great diversion it was to my
grandfather to be reckoning up that if
he lived as long as his father, that was
hale and strong at ninety-six, Tougal
would need six hundred pounds for him
and there was only two pound five shil
lings to be paid on the pillow.
80 it was like that all sumner, my
grandfather keeping heartsone, with the
neighbors coming in so steady to bring
him the news of the settlement. There
he would sit, just inside one of the posts,
for to pass his jokes, ard tell what he
wished the family to be doing next. This
way it might have kept going on for forty
years, only it came about that my grand
fathers youngest child-him that was
my father--fell sick, and seemed like to
die.
"We'l, when my grandfather heard
that bad news, he was in a terrible way,
to be sure, for he would be longing to
hold the child in his arms, so that MS
heart was sore and ike to break Eat
he could not, sleep he could not; all
night he would be grooming, aud all day
he would be walking around by the posts,
wishing that he had not passed. his HE
Ian word of honor not to go beyond a
post, for he thought how he could have
broken out like n gentleman, aud gone to
see his sick child if he had staid inside
the Jail wall So it went on three days
and nights before the wise thought came
into my grandfather's head to show him
how he need not go beyond the posts to
see his little sick bov With that he
went straight to one Of the white cedar
posts and pulled it up out of the hole,
and started for home, taking great care
to carry it in his hands before him, SO he
would not be beyond it one bit.
My grandfather was not half a mile
out of Cornwall, which was only little
place in those days, when two of the
turkeys came alter him.
Stop, Mr.. McTayish, says the turn
keys.
What for would l stopT says my
grandfather
You have broke your bail, seys
they.
Its lie for you, says my grand
father, for his temper Jared Up for any
body to say he would broke his bail.
Am beyond the post2' says my grand
father
"With thnt they run III on him, only
that he knocked the two of them over
with the post, and went on rejoicing,
like an honest man should, at keeping
his word and overcoming them that
would SANDER his good name. The only
thing that pesides thoughts of the child
that troubled him was questioning
whether he had been strictly right in
turning round for to use the post to de.
fend himself in sucl a way that it was
nearer the Jail than what he was. Bat
when he RENE nbcred how the jailer
never complained of prisoners of the
limits chumping Offer the posts it 50 they
chumped back again in moment, the
trouble went out oil his mind.
"Pretty soon after that he met Tun-
can Macdonel of the Greeuields, com
ing into Cornwall with the wagon.
"'And how Is this, GIengatchie2 says
Tuncau For you were never the man
" ptOht your Dali.
"Gleugatchie, you'll understand, sir,
is the name of my grandfather's farm.
Never fear, Greenfclds, says my
grandfather, for I'm not beyond the
post
Get in with me, Glengatchie, says
Tuncan, and turned his team around.
"bTy grandfather did so, taking great
care to keep the post in front of him ali
the time; and 50 he reached home. Out
comes my grandmother running to en-
brace him; but she had to throw her
arms around the post and my grand
fathers neck at the same time, he was
that strict to be within his promise.
Pefore going ben into the house, he
went 10 the back end OF the kalc yard
which was farthcst from the Jail, and
there he stuck the post; and then he
went back to see his sick child, while all
the neighbors that came round was glad
to see what a wise thought the saints had
put into bis mind to save his bail and his
promise.
$50 there he staid week till my faith
err got we'll OF course the constabes
came after my grandfather, but the set
Element would not let the creatures come
within mile of Glengatchie You
might think, sir, that my grandfather
would have staid with his wife and
weans, seeing the post was all the time in
the kale- yard, and him careful not to 60
beyond it, but he was putting the settle
ment to great deal of trouble day and
night, to keep the constables off, aud he
was fearful that they might take away
the post if ever they got to Gleagatchie,
and give him the name of false, that no
McTavish ever had. So Tuucan Green
fields and Eaeas Sandield drove my
grandfather back to the Jail, him with
the post behind him in the wagon, so as
he would be between it aud the Jail. OF
course Tougal Stewart tried his best to
have the bail declared forfeited, but old
Judge Jones only laughed, and said my
grandfather was lIielan' gentleman,
with very nice sense Of honor, and that
was chust exactly the truth.
show did my grandfather get free in