The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-20

! war. Silas had mOrtgaged the plantation
heavily to obtain money 20 start anew. but
each successive season only found HIM moro
| deeply involved. lie had been accustomed
10 rely upon tho labor Of his own slaves. but
now all OF his calculations were wrong. IL he
put IN big crop At n critical timo his labor
iail>d him. Disaster followed disaster. and
now this Thursday morning in June. 1871:
lad arrived. when tho plantation. the od
home and their al was to be sold ITO
know thnt all of his belongings could not brinR
tho amount for which the property was
mortgagod
Officers had been in charge of tho premises
for sOmo days.
The old man md his wife drew their chairs
up 20 the table 10 partake of their lhst iheai'
Tears wore in their eyes and theE Te d u fai,b
lous and felt forssken. Old Aunt judy, i",en.
ful til tho last. placed on the table the last
meal Of ham and eggs and coffee and some OF
her priced white rolls.
"Gh. Mar. Sils.. Mars Silas. my poor old
master. what's Goin' TO come 90 We Ana
the poor old soul burst into flood of tears.
Good knows. Judy. you faithful creature.
hut Won and and your old miss are on the
town at last. Eat, mother, eat
"Oh Silas. my husband. l can't ent To
think YOU and ! and Judy can't even rest
after the end Of life meath the soil of the old
plantation II IS more than / can bear
But didn you say, ole miss. do clouds
wouid roll by"
Yes, Judy, yes; but perhaps we'll reach
tho oth,r shore first That bell, S!as, hear
that boil ="
It's for tho commencement Of the sale. dear
wife. A balf-hOur more and we Will DO
homeless. SEQ there. carriage stopped IN
front Of the auction stand. Some OF tue city
people 20 buy our home"
Thor aged heads were bowed upon the
table, while Judy with her apron to her Dyes.
seeks relief In the open air
The suctiOneer hss mounted his stand.
This plantation, gentlemen, consists OF 40
acres. II If needless for me TO describe II. Il
viii be sold for cash to tho highest bidder.
Tho amount Of the mortgage and the interest
on the same due on the property - $4,000 and
we must got al We can for tho property, rs
thero is no other that can be attached. and It's
doubtful r enough will be realized TO satisfy
the mortgage Now. how much tor the entire
property"
At this point two gentlemen got out Of the
csrrihge that had Just driven up, evidently
strangers in the section
Where is the owner, Silas Merritt" said
one Of them. nnxously
In the house with his wife" said tho auc-
tioncer. The old people are heart-broken ut
having 20 lose their home
Thank God muttered the stranger:
How much did you say tho mortgage and
interest amounted tor"
Nine thousand six hundred dollars" re-
piled the auctioneer.
is it too Into to take up that MORTGAGE"
asked tho stranger
No" replied the auctioneer: but the
property will probably not bring that
amount
Never mind. ,aid the stranger. Il will
pay tho amount Of the mortgage and inter
est
II shall deed the property to you" said the
snoti0neer "What name"
rclaoea the rprrfCero - Eilaa harrit
and wife. Here is the $500 70 show good
faith. 1 viii meet you at the courthouse at
10 o'clock 10 morrow 10 conclude tho trans
action. Dismiss your audience. The sale OF
Sllas Merits ELECTS is over
Two ltdiss and three children were As
sisted from the carriage; but see. the one
leading that little boy 10y tho band las the
features Of Alice only she looks more ma
tronly Can that DO the young lieutenant
who stole her away from home Listen, she
calls him James
The other gentlemen. bearded md brown.
looks as though he came from another cline.
he bears little girl IN lis arns. They ap- |
proach the door, II opens and Alice IL in tho
arms of her mother The boarded stranger
rushes by and throws open bedroom door. |
Standing IN front Of looking glass IN his |
shirt sleeves with collar of aud shirt unbut- |
toned at the neck, a razor elapsed IN his |
shaking hand is Silss Merritt
~ athor father"
Tho razor drops to tho floor. and with the |
words My con. my Stephen" the old man |
falls upon the neck Of his boy
Oh. there was JOY In that household. for |
-ila. had no more than regnined his reason /
han Alice, bis loved daughter. was in bis /
srms' while Mother Morrit was crying over |
her boy.
Soc, father said Alice, here's young |
'ilas, your grandson. aud Mabel, and jennie
stephens little girl
Yes, said stephen. and. father, here's
ny dear wife. real 1.-Two Yankee girl"
Midst al the racket tho outside door opened |
again, and Aunt Judy came IN. Bless de |
Lord. bless de Lord De clouds is rolled by |
,uro enough. Bless DO Lord Ny voung
miss m Is dis big gemmen my young master /
An al dese children for de Lord sake. hon
Us, como TO you ols fnainmy. Now know
lie clouds II rolled by"
"Yes. Aunt Judy said Stephen, the
'louds have all rolled by. The rest Of your
ife YOU shall live In clover. When | was
liberated from priton. At tho close of the war.
Ather, went 10 Australia. where / made a for
une and married my wife. We returned 10
The States less than one month hsO. We met
llico and her husband at the Palmer House n
chicago and ws made family party on our
rip South. The reason she never received
-our letters Vas that sho had removed from
jncinnati 10 Chicago but now wo will DO a
united family"
And |. too" said Aunt Judy.
Yes God bless you. and you, too. Aunt
Judy"
And you will forgive James and me.
athsr" said ALICE. Il know you will when
on sea how happy we are
Heaven bless you oil, said Sas Merit,
'but thank God you were not ton seconds
stef ," and hs shuddersd IS hs looked at bis
on.
"Silas said his wife we will yet rest be-
iesth the soil Of tho old plantation
"But after many years dear mother, after
many years said James.
stephen and James stocked the old planth-
ion up md robnilt the fences and outbuild-
lgs SilAs and his wife and Judy are fulls
fteon years younger than they were before,
nd ss Annt judy often says
Pears ike dem clouds IS rolled by"