Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-05-01

AssSSSsI stretched deso.
A'A"''I'' lately away as hii
feet and wore an apologetic aspect. q,
though ashamed to call attention to
the meager array of cornstalks and
diminutive yellow pumpkins, which
was their utmost effort in the way OF
crops. It was a poverty-stricken in
heritance enough; land that had ''rnr
out" from lack of enriching: belt OF
once glorious woodlands, now sadly
shrunk and spoilt by repeated Telling
and the low, gray farmhouse, un.
painted for many a long year and
showing the ravages of time and
weather to an alarming extent. despite
all Zedekiah's unfagging efforts al
patching and repairs.
Yes, it was poor patrimony and
yet Zedekiah loved every tree and
every stone--there were plenty-on
the place and his heart swelled within
him with sorrow and passionate re-
gret at the thought that that terrible
mortgage must be foreclosed next
Monday and Birch Brook farm lost te
she name of Barnes forever.
1t had been a desperate struggle to
keep their heads above water ever
since their fathers death, two years
before. Farming carried on by
delicate widow and q boy of fifteen,
however much energy and good will
they bring to bear between them on
the work in hand, can hardly be ex-
-pected to afford brilliant results and
the wet season just passed had ''fin.
ished the job" as Zedekiah himself
would have said. The hay was spoilt
and the wheat was sprouted and where
the magnificent income of the owners
Just sufficed to buy the salt for the
ltir-about, which the ruined corn
hould have supplied, that meant ruin.
And so the mortgage was to be fore
closed next Monday and the Barnse,
we're to be homeless.
''Zedl Zedr" 1t was n gentl,
voice that called, and Zedekiah, with
shake of his shoulders, forced a
ghastly smile of assumed cheerfulness
and turned to greet his mother at the
open door.
She had been a pretty woman once
and even now, faded and worn though
she was, there was certain grace and
gentleness about her, which accounted
for her sons devotion, even though
the little plaintive voice and manner
showed, poor woman, that life had
been a pretty hard and bitter strug
gle.
Come to your supper, Zed," sh
called again, as he came up the tagged
walk with an air of intense iaunti-
ness to hide the fact that he was foot
sore and lame where the fints had
bruised through the worn boots. "The
children are that hungry that cant
keep Them quiet, and they ought tc
nave been in bed, poor things"
Two yellow haired little girls ran u,
. they entered.
'.Ah, Zed!" cried little Mamie. 81
sin't had no supper yet; wasn't you
bad to stay away so long" While
Baby Garry chimed in: "Yeth, Zed
velly bad boy, shan't have no suppe:
Aisselfl'
''Hush, hushl' said the mother.
"Children, how you talkl One would
think you were beggar children tt
talk like that !"
Zed's forced smile faded into {,
quick look of pain.
''They ought to go to school," h.
said; then checked himself at the rec.
election Of the cost Of school books.
He was staring hard at the red en-
bers of the fire as his mother returned
from giving the little girls their good
night kiss and sat down in her shabby
rocking-chair tc the darnlng and
patching, which was the usual evening
occupation. He reused himself again
at her approach; he was always trying
20 cheer up for her sake, poor fellow
81 guess I've got that place, mother
he said. 81 went to the store Mr..
Norton told me of and they've pretty
well settled to take me on. The wages
don't seem fabulous, to be sure, but
they'l IL be something, and then there's
he prospect of rise"
"Oh, Zedr' The darning fell into
Mrs. Barnes's lap. ''You poor bov !!
Yes, the wages are something, and no
mistake, but can't bear to think of
you, just common errand boy for Q
grocery store!'
Zedekiah's sallow cheek flushed.
81 don't see why" he said, stoutly
Groceries are honest enough, and
they're clean, too-a great deal nicer
than good many other things, think.
Besides, errand boys always make
their fortunes right away. Did you
ever hear of millionaire in q book
who didn't begin by sweeping out
tore?"
"Ah! if your Uncle Zedekiah hsd
,nly left you all his money, as ne
promised ~ sighed the widow, taking
Up the tattered sock again.
''1nstead of only his name and the
,ld clock, eh, mother?"
ooh yesl 1t was too bad of uncle.
He ought to have been ashamed. And
after making us give you his horrid
Name, tool"
"Never mind, mosherl It's NJ
nonest name, even though the first
man that owned it wasn't much in the
way of king. He's been dead so long
that his name ought to have grown re-
pected again by now"
'.And then to leave you nothing
Iter all"
"I don't believe, do you know, that
he had anything to leave. Folks say
that he was really very poor"
''Poor? Not he" Mrs. Barne,
was reused by indignation. IT guess
he wasn't! But he was an awful miser
for years just before he died, and he
lived for all the world like beggar.
We fancied he'd have left you hun.
lreds-and there was nothing"
"Don't forget the clock"
1.-THE clockl" scornfully. "Ah, BY
n-}xb. ~ -a,,n;n Ia me There WAS