Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-11-24

uarhcb stau ye!
"Part of them; Margaret intends some
of them for Christmas believe. Turkeys
are the little maids property mostly
with smile and nod toward Susy, who
was wondering when the chattering old
busvbody would cease.
"Oh, and who owns the geese and
ducks? fine lot they are.''
"Really, II may say so, you're quite
interested concerning our belongings, y
said Miss Margaret sarcastically. "Tne
geese and the ducks belong to me, per,
sonally. Perhaps you may have hea rd
that the cackling of a goose saved Rome
from destruction. / begin to fell as if
one ought to cackle for the salvation of
the Ashbys."
"Why Margaret, don't, DON'T" and
her mother took off her glasses and COM
menced the customary process OF polish
ing with the corner of her apron.
"Huh!" was all Mr.. Field could eX
press in his ignorant bewilderment.
Lafayette ratified the old pairing machine
fiercely, splitting half the apples to the
center, crowding them on in his wrath
and wishing it was ST Fields jaw he was
tanning on. Susy chopped with a vigor
that was detrimental to the tray, to say
the least, and Margaret cuffed the cat
which had leaped from the floor to the
lightstand, which astOnished the cat as
much as it relieved her mistress. What
was an irritation to the others was to
Margaret the tortures of the inquisitorial
chamber. Did not her father know,
could he not see what this was tending
top
Poor, dear, dear old father, whose
life had been such worthy though la
borious one. He, the old patriot and
soldier, who was so grand in her eyes,
crowned with his old fatigue cap and en-
veloped in his big blue army overcoat.
She could have faced the whole army,
bayonets, guns and batteri' S, easier than
what she knew she must face. The
color died slowly out of her cheeks, she
grew white to the very lips but she kept
her voice. ''Perhaps you'd like to see
the cheese I've made and count them;
would you like to know how much lard
and tallow we have on hand and the
number of eggs stored aud the tirkins of
butter in the dairy cellar? We We few
pounds of honey on hand and few
cakes of beeswax. We have quite a few
hops | believe, and some barberries.
Mother has few dried currants and
blueberries aud several pounds of pump
kin and | won't forget the black-cherries
we dried nor the quart OF cherry rum
father has on hand. think, too, we've
a bit of gooseberry wine on hand and
big, big tub of sailed cucumbers, then
there is some candied citron for the
Christmas cake and-and-oh, yes! the
rennet for the cheese, we have several;
and feathers also, hens feathers "a I'd
a few, very few geese feathers. Is
that al!-no! | remember now, there's
few pounds of tag-locks and part of
barrel of soap-grease; the ashes are out
of my line but father can tell you the
quantity. Farming implements and
household articles are too numerous to
for the moment and the children, who
only saw the ludicrous side, were already
laughing and Lafayette, if he had dared
would have said ''you're brick"
Mr.. Field said, 'sWhy Margaret, you're
funnier'n ever.'' His next question was,
as the boy said afterwards, a sumner.
ssWhat'll you take for the bay colt? l
came oyef-to buy him."
'.The bay colt is not for sale, Mr..
Field. He is not fit for driving either"
''Sam told me Lafayette had broke
him to the saddle"
'.He has the colt belongs to him;
gave him the colt for his own when it
was year old. It's the best property
on the farm To this there was no an
sWer.
"You won't sell him?'
mo, certainly not, when he is not
mine.'
"Then is there anything else you'd like
to turn over to me on the mortgage?"
The old man was white now, as white
as his daughter but unlike her had no
power to speak.
"Father," said Mrs. Ashby, tive for
got; but the time has come it seems
when he wants his own"
sit never was his own, mother, but if
Josiah Field will leave US alone we will
give him an answer" said Margaret.
'You could give me an answer that
would make easy payment If you warn't
so blasted proud"
''Perhaps my pride may serve as good
a turn as the cackling of goose"
81 don't know what you mean but If
that mortgage amt lifted your goose'll be
cooked I'll give We until the Monday
after Thanksgiving to do it and if faint
done then I'll foreclOse," and he went
oY; :, :, - .,,X,.,o ),
odiA 1IoAdJ OCOO.
ssThe old OGRE" said Susy and the old
people only wept.
'sGoodness me, Miss Ashby, I've been
thunderin' at the back door full min
ute did you grow deaf all of sudden
Brought stranger, says he's come from
city to see Miss Margaret
Ashby here's your mail-big document
for the deacon-good night" and the
Jolly stage driver was off.
margaret, had promise from you
long ago that when these children were
grown if | asked you to redeem it you
would do so.''
colin Starkweather as I'm alive,
mother.'
What hand-shaking there was, what
and the story of Mr.. Fields
visit was told.
'sNever fear, Margaret, the mortgage
will be lifted and many other burdens
too heavy for you to BEAR" was DIN
reply.
''Your letter, grandpa; shall l open it?'
'Yes, lad"
s'Oh Gritty, its the pension; it really
is; after so many years. Back pay aud
ali he's going to have. Now We'll have
a glorious Thanksgiving, won't wer
N,l .hor lid NarUorQt Stark