Nevada County picayune., 1891-02-05
A SUBSTITUTE.

Obcron. AT least our house was in
the village, and the forty-acro farm
ran back to the banks of Lash creek
which was our southern boundary.
Our family consisted of father,
mother, brother Ralph, and me.
Ralph had enlisted in "a company OF
infantry, organized about Oberon
in 1861, though only twenty years
of age. No one thought the war
would last long, and father said it
was the duty Of all loyal citizens to
assist in putting down the rebellion.
SO we felt proud of our Ralph when
he babe up goodbye, and the COM
pany marched out of town in their
new blue uniforms, and with their
glittering muskcts, though tears were
in all our eyes. "Don't cry" said
father, "Ralph will be back by har-
vest time"
But Ralph wasn't back for year,
and when he did come he had left
one arm behind him on the battle
field. His soldier days were over.
1t was in the spring of go, and Twas
just seventeen years old.
Ralph's constitution was very
much shattered, and it was fully a
year before he could do any work.
Then, of course, he couldn't do
much on the farm, so father mort
gagged it for five hundred dollars and
sent Ralph to Cincinnati to study
medicine. He said: "My boy must
have work that can be. done with one
arm"
Ralph had been gone less than
three months when the first draft
was made, and father was drafted.
He was just within the limit, a. he
had not quite completed his forty
fifth year. He couldn't go and
leave no one at home but mother
and me; so he found a substitute
and to pay him mortgaged the farm
for five hundred dollars more.
The two debts worried father
greatly. A man named Joel Griffin
who lived in the village, held botf
mortgages. He was the owner of 8
grist- and it was said that he
made most of his money by robbine
the farmers in taking toll. He wa:
as old as father, and a dried-up lit
tie man, always winking and blink
ing. He used to cross the road tC
keep from meeting him, but he
seemed to try to meet me; and he
would put out his hand, which, o.
course, l couldn't refuse to take.
Good morning, Miss Nettie; yor
look positively charming this morn
ing you do, indeed. Do you know
Miss Nettic, if | wasn't so old I'd b'
looking for wife; l would, indeed
Yes, and l wouldn't look far, Mis-
Nettie; no, l wouldn't look far.
The mortgages were drawn for on'
year, Griffin had told father h,
wouldn't loan the money for Longer
term, but that if the interest was paiC
promptly he would take new notes
and extend the mortgage another
year,
Father died before the first mort
gage fell due, three months after en-
gaging his substitute. Ralph came
home to the funeral and remained
only about two weeks. He spoke o
giving up his studies and trying t.
work the farm, but neither mothe
nor | would listen to that.
"Why, how will you ever manage
to meet those mortgages" asked
Ralph.
Il don't know, Ralph" mothe
had replied, but the Lord will pro
vide way"
"When are they DUE" inquired
Ralph. Mother got out fathers &C
count book. The first was due Ma,
II, 1864, the second July %, 1864.
ut will be nearly two years We
before can hope for diploma, anC
it will take some time to build up
practice. ! trust il we can manage
till then our troubles will be over. >
Ralph went back. In Januar,
there was another draft which tool
our hired man, John Gober, anC
mother and were left alone on tn,
farm. About a week after join
Gober had been drafted was sitting
in the front room sewing when
heard a step on the piazza, and as ]
looked out | saw young man step
ping up to the front door. Iopenet
the door when he knocked.
lis this the Morris farm" he