The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-06-22

Va "9N - tOnNhcieN hIth II
~YES1 that whatever hap
Es% pens III one corner
OF the county is noised over every
part of il, and that the affairs Of every
person in the county are Intimately
known to every other.
In one of the fifty parishes, which
shall not be named, because to name it
is unessentinl, lived youth named
Joseph Samuel Wnrdley. He was the
son of blacksmith, was al able
bodied, fine-lookiLg fellow, broad
shouldered. hroad.breasted, with light
red hair, and eyes that seemed to have
fallen into the copper when his mother
was washing. and TO have had the color
boiled ont of them, so light were they.
Joseph Samuel Wardley was-if viz
tue consists i'll series of nogatlves-a
most exemplary character. He didn't
swear, he didn't drink, he didn't quab-
BILE with his fellow-men. II, however.
virtue consists of positiyes, then it
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wardley was distinguished for
his virtue for, as matter of fact. il
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wardley did that was good.
He was slow in his movements, slow in
taking in ideas, slower in making use
of them when he had received them
into his brain.
He had worked with his father at the
forge, but his father feared that he
would never make n blacksmith, as he
tired the horses ont and made them
restiye before he had shod all their
four feet. Then Joseph Samuel was
sent to work on farm, but he vas so
slow at the plow that the farmers
would not retain him in their services
1t was said that Joseph Samuels was
always Psleepsa IT. This sss y1s y n TSat exactly
tioie .-3sepn SAMUEL was so drowsy
and indolent over his work by day,
that he was never sufficiently exhaust
ed by his efforts to enjoy sound sleep
at night. He was half asleep by day,
he was half awake by night. There is
nothing SO conducive to nll-forgetting
sleep as the exercise of the full ener-
gies by day. Joseph Samuel did not
put forth even one-half If his energies
by day. The other hall remained to
disturb the tranquility of the night !;
consequently he was light sleeper,
and sometimes il was as doubtful
whether he were asleep at night, as it
was doubtful whether he were awake
by day.
As he was dismissed from the plow-
tail, he returned 10 his father, who
employed him to work the bellows
which kept his FIRE going in the forge.
But" AS the farrier said, "a chap
cant 60 on all his life blowing bel
lows. | must find some profession or
trade for which he is suited"
Accident or Fate seemed to give the
requisite indication. The father OF
Joseph Samuel had been an industri-
Gus man all his life, and it was believed
that he had amassed money. He had
no dealings with the bank at Oakham :;
that was well known. Where, then did
he keep his money? Ii was whispered
that, singularly enough, whenever he
had received payment of a heavy bill,
Mr.. Wardley was observed to mount n
ladder to put straight, as he said, one
of the tiles in his roof that was out of
place and let the water through. That
the coincidence was noticed, and was
matter of discussion, never uc-
Cured 10 the blacksmith. The last time
he brought in his bill to the Squire it
was for the sum of five-and-twenty
pounds and some odd shillings. No
sooner had he received the money than
it Was remarked tile was again loose
in his roof
One night that Joseph Samuel lay
awake, unable by any means 10 induce
sleep-such as by counting sheep GO
ing through a gap in the hedge, re-
peating his catechism, listening 10 the
snores of his parents in an adjoining
room-he thought he heardR sound on
the tiles, as If some one was engaged
repairing the root. He got out of bed,
peered through the window, and saw
by the light Of q crescent moon that a
ladder was set against the house, and
that pair of legs were visible on the
ladder.
AS Joseph Samuel was inclined for
activity all night, and was prompt then
in his resolutions, which was not the
case by day, he stole downstairs on
tiptoe, and opened the back door
softly. He was in his robe de mutt.
That did not matter. The air was cool
but not frosty, and no rain was falling.
He was at the back of the house-the
opposite side TO that at which the
ladder was set up, and where he hal
observed the legs. He knew where
his father kept ladder. He went
barefooted 10 the spot, removed the
ladder planted at the back of the
house, climbed up it without causing
the smallest noise. and succeeded in