The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-06-11
"How old is hep"
NC;vtaan ~

fully. "Such boy can be a great help,
il he chooses"
Fred was called in. He listened az
Mr.. Ford explained his mothers project,
and then said, quietly:
81 think Mr.. Ford, there is no need
of selling the farm, II you are in no
hurry for the money father owed you"
MY dear boy" instantly replied the
good man, ''you know ! have no idea of
hurrying you about any money that
may be due me. regret that cannot
afford to give you every dollar of It,
The principal, however, can remain just
as it is, and the interest can be paid
when it is convenient to you"
"Then," continued Fred, ~ see no
reason, mother, why we cannot stay
here on the farm. have thought it all
over, and am sure we can manage to
get along. l found in fathers desk a
list of the persons he owed. and when
in the village the other day | asked
them how much money was due them.
find that, including the interest due
Mr.. Ford, we owe, outside the mort
gage, three hundred and twenty dol
lars. Now mother, let us sell all the
sheep, and pay these outside bills. We
will keep Jennie, the horse, and all the
hens. We shall have hay to sell, if our
stock is reduced, and in this way we can
meet our other expenses. l know, moth
er, it will be good deal for me to
undertake, but am anxious to try it.
And" he added, lowering his voice,
"don't you think father would be gadto
have us stay here?"
Tears filed Mrs. Morton's eyes at
these words, while Mr.. Ford said, iu
husky tones:
1.-THE boy is right, Mrs. Morton; the
boy is right. l advise you to stay here.
1t won't take long to find market for
the sheep and cows. Leave all these
things TO me; I'll make the proper ar
rangements, and see that everything is
settled to suit you"
After Mr.. Ford had gone the mother
and son talked long and earnestly to-
gether. AS Mrs. Morton listened to
Fred's plans for the summer she was
more and more surprised at the matur-
ity of thought and spirit of determine
tion he displayed.
81 am confident, mother" he said,
that can take care of you and Lottie.
Of course l must give up school, except
in the winter, but 1 hope to read and
study some with you. / shall UNDER
take on the farm only what | feel sure
that l can carry through with little
help
Though Mrs. Morton had some mis-
givings as to the result of the undertake
ing she was glad to let Fred do as he
wished. 1t would delay the giving up
of the farm, if nothing more, and since
all the debts except the mortgage could
be paid she was herself disposed to re-
main. Had she known that her son
hoped to pay off the mortgage in few
years her misgivings would have been
greater still. The weeks that followed
were busy ones to Fred. Wood for the
summer was cut up, and the fences
about the farm were repaired. With
the coming of settled weather he pre-
pared to plant.
Mr.. Ford looked in on Fred every
week or two, and frequently sent his
man and team to do heavy work. 1t
would be a long story to tell of the
trials and triumphs of the summer. OF
course there were discouragements.
Once Lettie was very sick, and the
mother and son were well-nigh eX'
hausted by care and anxiety. But there
were blessings also. Mrs Morton's
health was unusually good The season
was promising one. The hay crop was
excellent, and a ready market was
found for all that could be spared And
best of all, there was careful manage
ment, so that Fred kept ahead of his
work and steadily avoided all, debt
The fall with its harvest came. AS
Fred busily gathered in the fruits of his
toll, he felt that his cup of blessing was
full to overfowing. In the husking the
mother found time to help; in the apple
gathering, even Lettie found something
for her chubby hands to do. One even
ing Mrs. Morton and Fred sat by the
fire in their sitting-room. She was sew
ing and he was busy with his account
book. They had that day received AZ
invitation to spend Thanksgiving will
Mr.. and Mrs. Ford, an invitation whicl
was gratefully accepted. Suddenly
Fred looked up, and with sound o
triumph IN his voice, asked:
Mother, shall ! tell you just how We
have come out this season.
Certainly, my son."
"We have sold,'' went on Fred rapid
ly, 'since last March, one hundred
dozen of eggs, which have brought u
twenty dollars. We have sold twelve
tons of hay at fifteen dollars per ton
seventy-fve bushels of potatoes at ont
dollar per bushel; fifteen lambs tina
brought sixty dollars, and for Brownie
calf we got six dollars. We have SOLE
fruit, wood and butter that amounted
to sixty dollars. We have expended
just two hundred dollars. This leave
balance in hand of two hundred an,
one dollars"
Fred hesitated a moment, and then
dropping on his knees by his mother
chair, and laying one hand on he
shoulder, he continued, earnestly:
This is saying nothing, mother, o
the corn in the crib, or the pork an,
vegetables in the cellar, some of whicl
we can still spare Don't you think i
will be safe on Thanksgiving day t,
pay Mr. Ford one hundred dollars O
the MORTGAGE"
Fred waited anxiously for his moth
er's reply. Tears gathered in her eyes
and a moment later she threw her arm
around his neck and sobbed aloud. Fo
ten years her husband had tried to pa
this debt 1t had been the burden O