The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-12-31
Hrhe, Of ali Leavenng r0veu Govt Report Aas ~ 1859
Roe! q! Bssi9s Bsxass7
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
THE STORY OF A MORTGAGE

THE STONY OF n hoNtohSL
10 th. fret place. the mortgage neveI
should have been made.
Beu Morgan WAS oDe Of your seiiye men
one Of the class termed Lusilers 10 tbes'
,es,s Of new word coiuiDgs lie WAS Ia
some regards . brilliant lasp. People said
he could make money ct snythina He
bad DO regular business aside from the
farm, bnt be vas thrifty, alert ani foitu
nate. Sometimes he bad thousands of dol
lars on band; sometimes be bsd TO borrow.
/, vas on one OF the latter occasions that
he put the mortgage on the farm. II was
the first time he had ever done such a
thing Perhaps II Sam Morgan. bis only
sou, who was away Ut school 10 the State
| University had not fallen into trouble,
the loan would never have been made. Blu,
ii would have been better and kinder and
wiser to have ssked Sam TO pay the fiddler
since he bad iDsited on dancing
| However, there was the mortgage, and
there It bad been since the fatal Novem Der
20. 1885, Mrs. Morgao didn't really un
derstsnd what It meant when she had
signed the paper. She was suffering keen
ly, as only q mothcer can, and silently,
over the knowledge that Sam bad been ex'
PEELED. Sne knew very little OF ber hus
bands business. He never talked OF j,
mucL. to her or any one. She never knew
what he did with the money. but she knew
by his sleeplessness, by his evident mood
Of apprehension. by the puzzled express
ion. by the sobered fpce, and finally by
the hopeless return enc night, that affairs
had not prospered.
Sue sat beside the bedside that early
winter, she gave the medicine all through
that season OF illness, she followed bin
over the irt zen ground when they buried
him in January.
And then she came home and tried to
take up bis burden 10 addition to her
own.
Fanny was eighteen, and almost out oil
the high school. Madge Was three years
yolbger and would not be consoled. AL
- was twelve, and resolute to help his
mother.
First she sold the pony to pay the doc
tors bill, and Fanny walked to town each
mo- ing and home each night. Then she
SID some OF the cattle, for the feed S
running short as the spr ng approached
Then she rented most u the fields. for
Allen WAS too small TO farm.
Bot the men. who gave her out.third in
the field, set med to take very large two,
thirds for themselyer..~And it was not easy
To meet the constant claims which came
up against the estate during the first year.
She wondered that her husband had left
nothing, and fully believed the tlmo
would come wien some one would find q
fortune slowed away aud waiting for her.
Fanny began teaching school 10 the
spring Of 81, but the pay was small, and
the girl was away from home so much.
How the widows heart hungered for
her children; for little Of the com fort
that bad gone ept Of ber life when that
strong man laid down and died.
Msdge grew restless in the loose restra'
int. and troubled the mother not little
Allen worked lika Trojan in the garden
aod orcbard. Ifit had n been for the
interest, she would have gotten along
very well.
But there before her, less than four
years away now, was atimpendins mort
gage, aud nothing on earth, unless 1t we're
the hidden treasure. could ever vapquish
II.
SO ote year grew iuto two; snd two into
three; and thre years finally added to them
selves q fourth. Fanny was strong
wom 40 low. She had found her footing
On ! the world did not daunt her. She had
proven her worth, and her services were
rewarded.
Msdee bad never attempted high school
TIE walk was too long. spd besides. her
mo.her could not consent 10 lose her.
A Il. n bad saved Int e. aud bad develo
pe some OF his fathers talent Tor trading
TIE .heep and the caf7es Lad grown into
m ,ney. Ee hsd made nore money with
them. Fanny bad flushed her school
an the three children we're sitting With
their mo,hsr ,bou, the fire 10 the EVEN
ing.
We have just msuseed to live and keep
up the iateresi, said Mrs Morgan. No one
hot a Sidow can know how The farm is
stripped vhen The good man dice.
But We bsve siusys held together, and
We are very hsppy, ssid is'es'hearied
Fanny.
Ifnxsm'i for the mortgage We would
&c. slong III risht. aid Allan
Bot the mortgage 10 there. sighed moth
ar. We cannot NEE, u 10 any way csn
see. aud neI, yesr We must lose the farm.
Some oue /. coming, sSii Msdee. The
dog bessu barking 10 most fofdidding
usy. He tempered the ibresisnins tone
l little By little, snd presently they knew BY
the r.ppins Of bis tail ou the kitchen d. o
,hs, he lre~ Tie visitor sod would vel
come bin
/, Vas Squire Folkrione.
Thought sould call smiou'e. ssid
the farmer He never called unless Tue
oastsrly interest vas dur, snd The widow
fy.s by no mesus sure his visi, poitsnded
uure liudness She remembered hos te'
lhusbssa bad seornsd TIE slos. sesrn'hs
oid mAn.
/ iasl wssifd 10 ssy sord about cut
ting dovn trees 10 The .oods. be eopiin'
ued. turning 70 Aiisn.
wtsl stout ui ssked the youns man
Allan vas taller snd hesyier thsn squire