The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-08
TWO DEBTS.

When Ashbel Dean died and his
earthly debts and credits were looked
into, i, was discovered that the credit
page was nearly as spotle.s a. the sheet
that covered Ashbers still form, while
mortgages for the full value Of the farm
were recorded on the other side
Ashbe had been considered fore
banded. His neighbors said he "specu.
lated West. and were astonished when
his death revealed the fact that he had
sacrificed al in au cndcavor to save some
shred. Of his financial reputation.
None were more surprised than his
own family. This included the widow,
and Amanda aud Israel, twins, twenty
years old. They were quite crushed.
They shrank from it as from the pres
epcs OF death-the first one in the
family. For dsys they dared not speak
OF 1t, but it was alwsys in their thoughts.
At length the widow reused her energie.
and summoned her two children.
I'VE can save the farm she said.
Mandy, you can keep the district
school; Israel and will carry on tho
farm. We must all stand together,
now
For twenty years they were possessed
OF that one thought, urged by that one
motive-to pay the debt.
They stood together twenty ysars, and
at the end of that time they owed NO
man anything. The mother looked
scarcely day older. The work Of di.
recting had kept her faculties fresh and
vigorous. But son and daughter had
passed from anticipati'e youth into
lulled middle age. The debt, unscrupu.
Gus and avaricious, had left them no on.
oyment. 1t had robbed them Of life's
aost desirable part.
When Amanda was twenty she was
called pretty. Gatherings had been in.
complete without her. After that she
reTer attended another. The attentions
OF young men were refused. Now she
had become thin and sallov. She knew
she could hope for no return OF loves
pleasures. II thought OF marriage
crowded itself upon her she shook it of
AS unweIcome. She could give up her
school now, and devote her time to her
home-to her mother and brother.
breath and stood up straight, easing his
CALLED shoulders Of the burden they had
just cast of. Life suddenly looked pleas
amt TO him. He would make some
needed Improvements On the place. Tho
house should have a coat OF paint. He
stood in the sunshine, and looking up
Though the June foliage Of tho naples,
thought the seed pods looked like the
legs OF SO many el6n painters dangling
there painting the sky. Then he laughed
at himself, and said that he must be get
ting young and frisky.
When he was twenty he had intended
to marry. Now, at forty, he thought OF
1t again. When he ceased his visits to
Harriet Downsr, she had understood his
reason for doing so. She had had no .
company since then, he told himself, and
his heart gave a great bound at the
thought Why should he not2
One day he came To his mother and
sister, and said bluntly,-
Il am going to marry Harriet Down.
cr."
There was silence for a moment then
lis mother said coldly,-
"We know it.
BY the tone and attitude Israel under
stood that his mother and sister would
not welcome the woman he meant to
marry. He understood that they thought
the tie OF twenty years to be as binding
MS that OF wedlock, and did not wish it
broken.
Only once after that Israel spoke of his
marriage.
Il am to marry Harriet tomorrow.
Ihall you be thereI"
:" No, his mother answered.
Bat lsrae! would keep his vow 10 Har-
:iet' The twenty years struggle had
cultivated in him the logged resolution
.le had inherited from his mother.
He married Harriet, and after week
brought her home. But no one appeared
" welcome them
"Mother!" he called, as he went
through the house.
In two remote rooms he found his
:,,other and sister.
Harriet IL out here" he said.
And we are here; we shall stay here,"
eaii his mother
A5Iurl ttOt.IS dbObL AdLcu. Ilt
I:r-i af.erward that he saw O stove,
th pots and pans aud dishes, and in the
other room a bed, a table and chairs.
The two women had made all prepara-
fi1,.s for living by themselves.
And this WAS the brides me.comingl
! the married pair lived happy life
together. Israel felt keenly the miser.
aL.a .fc his wife must endure, and