Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-04-27

True, gOodly portion OF the house
was tenable, but the kitchen was
gone, leaving the huge, old-fashIoned
chimney standing alone, supported by
few charred timbers.
The friendly villagers offered what
assistance lay in their power to make
the unfortunate family comfortable,
and the Bemis household were urged
by several to take up their abode With
yome of the neighbors.
This, they were disinclined to do,
there being rooms enough left in the
old rambling structure which could
be rendered habltable.
That evening as Reuben stood con-
templating the scene of devastation
he felt gentle touch on his shoulder,
and turning he saw Mr.. Stewart
standing beside him.
Il am very sorry for your loss, my
friend" said the rich man, ''for you
can i'll afford to bear it. Believe me,
/ do not wish to take advantage of
your misfortune, but the offer which
Imade you few days since still holds
good. l care not for the buildings.
tear them down anyway"
Il cannot, sir. l cannot sell even
what remains" replied Rueben as he
fairly sobbed in his grief.
Then you must allow me to assist
you in your distress, for / am sure
that you need some help" and kind
hearted Mr.. Stewart pressed a bank
bill into the hand Of the young
farmer, turned quickly, sprang into
his buggy and drove rapidly off.
When Reuben recovered himself
sufficiently to note what he held, he
saw that his generous neighbor had
left with him a hundred dollar bank
note.
Mechanically he walked toward
what remained of the house and en-
tered the apartment in which his
mother and sister were seated and
carelessly tossed the money into the
TAP of his parent.
"What does this mean, my sonf
Where did you get it?" quickly in
quired the widow.
"Mr. Stewart pressed it upon me, a
moment ago."
"Oh, how kind, how very kind!"
exclaimed Mrs. Bemis gratefully, as
the tears sprang into her eyes.
"But, mother, he wants to buy the
farm, and probably this act Of his is
simply an inducement for us to con-
sent to SELL"
"Why should we not, my boy?"
because it was fathers request
that the place should not go out Of
the family"
True, true, l forgot" replied the
mother with sigh.
Long that evening the little circle
1T, broOding over their mIsfortunes;
but when Reuben went to his bed he
had fully made up his mind to allow
the last tract of land which had be-
longed to the gallant colonial Colonel
to pass out of his hands.
With the early morning sun the
young farmer was astir, and though
with no particular object in view he
began to turn over the burned and
blackened timbers that had formed
portion of the kitchen.
The intense heat.of the fire had
displaced several bricks of the old
chimney, and to his intense surprise
Reuben saw what appeared to be an
iron plate that had been covered by
the masonry.
Calling to the faithful Nathan to
assist him, the two men began to
throw aside bricks and mortar and
soon laid bare metal chest of no
small dimensions.
With considerable difficulty they
drew it forth from the place in which
it had rested for several generations,
and though it was still almost too
hot to handle, they carried it to the
yard and laid it upon the stone we'll
curb.
Reuben called his mother and sis
ter, saying:
"Come, come, see what we have
found. This is the reason why Col.
Bemis did not wish the Homestead to
pass out of the family" pointing trl-
umphantly to the iron box.
With the aid of crowbars the lid
was forced off, and there to the as
tonished gaze of the four spectators
was revealed large quantity of good
english gold.
In the midst of the top layer OF
coin was a small casket which Reuben
quickly opened, it being provided
with no lock, and therein found a
piece of parchment on which was
wrItten,-
Fearing that the British max gain the
day In the coming struggle. and sweep the
yUhinh y mn
ones. have converted such of my property
as was possible into specie. and have se-
creted 1t on the south side of the chimney
Of the homestead.
If it is found after my death, know all men
by these presents. bequeath it to the heirs
of Reuben Bemfs.@
While the little group We're staring
at each other, and the treasure, in
blank astonishment, Mr.. Stewart
drove into the yard and alighted.
As his eyes rested upon the iron box
he exclaimed
"What, Reuben, found a fortune
at last in the old house?"
81 think we have, sir, and best of
all, it belongs to US" and the young
man placed the parchment in his
neighbor's hand.
When he had finished reading, Mr..
Stewart slapped Reuben on the shoul-
der, and said, heartily:
'My friend, / congratulate youl
But now that you have come into
possession of that which was intended
for you by your thoughtful ancestor,
perhaps you will not refuse to sell me
/ the bare land?"
"Sir, kept the place when IN pow
erty, out of respect for the request OF
the man to whom this gold once be-
longed. Rather than sell, / would
purchase from you and Others the
acres which my grandfsthers were
obliged to sell from time to time, and
combine. once again, uNder one title
the lands which formerly belonged to
Reuben Bemis, the patriot"
"My friend, answered Mr. Stewart