The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-11-24

human II the straits he's in hasn't
folks say il Bub was to come along and
offer to fix things up the old man
wouldn't make no objections But the
boys got the Cissel stubbornness along
with his mothers tarnal perseverance,.
Sary Hopwood cut enough chicken feath-
ers off the quilts for to make a 90 pound
bed I"
The sunlight was something beauti-
full to see as the cowboys showed their
milk cans into the car and began to dis
perse around the station. 1t lay along
the fence rails in brilliant streaks, and
ON the frosty ground were silver sprigs
and silver stones Even the half frozen
road dirt lay in ridges of crusted white
ness 1t looked as if there would be
right good freeze soon and healthy
winter.
Walking across the frosty road, on
his way from the store TO the station,
was old Cissel. He was tall, old man,
with stoop in his shoulders that was
becoming more and more pronounced.
His beard was rough and straggly, the
ragged lining of his coat showed at the
pockets, he needed Bulbs aunt to see to
him, the plying neighbors said.
He looked up and spoke gravely and
politely to Shacklett. Then his face
frightened perceptibly. "Want to buy
a boss, Shacklett?" he inquired. 81 can
sell you as fine boss as you II happen
across in the country. I've got to sell
him. I'll sell him dirt cheap to you,
Shacklett. I'm wantin money. The
world amt got no use for man with
out money. I'll let you have the critter
for 1925. You'd best take me up, eh?"
He tried to speak all through in bust
nesslike way. in the manner of an in
dependent man offering his wares for
sale, but his voice faltered when he said
that the world hadn t any use for a man
without money and the fear showed it.
self in his eyes a hundred and TWEEN
ty-five dollars amt much for boss
like Hawk, Ell, Shacklett?'
mo, faint much, acquiesced
Shacklett, "but times is hard. i tell
you what you do, Cissel y He laid his
hand upon Cissels shoulder. "You git
tern you, though you's most so. You
jest git on that boss and ride him home.
The Teller in the county that wants the
boss worst is Bub.
Cissel threw off the kindly grasp and
drew himself up. Il reckon, he said,
las Williams'll be glad to buy the boss
on the present terms. | was speakin to
him yesterday"
I'm an old man, too, F" said Shack
lett, land / know thar amt but one
place on earth for old men. You'll be
sorry for it by and by, Cissel, and the
boy be sorry too You don't want the
boy to be sorry when it's too late when
it won't do him nor anybody else no
good?"
Old Cissel stepped forward with a
lurch steadied himself, Strengthened
his shoulders. 1.-The Cissels, he said
stubbornly, "never gifts sorry"
Shacklett shook his head in dismal
diSapproval and went over and climbed
into his milk wagon. He shook his head
again on the way home, with the lines
hanging loose over the neck Of his
mare. Its the boys place TO come for
ward, he muttered. Hes young.
It's too hard for TO expect an old man
TO give up to his own boy. But Bulbs
got the mothers perseverance. She cut
enough of chicken feathers off the quill
for TO make II % pound bed. "
The Washingtons kept old Cissel six
weeks before Mrs Washington spoke in
all earnestness and severity about the
board money. "Some n SCOT to bedone, "
she said emphatically "Times is hard.
Ann carp KEEP you four weeks, and she
amt had cent from you yit. The boss
is eatin his head off in Cramer's stable,
and you re OWN me six weeks board.
Now and then have KEEP boarder to
help along but I've al'ays been paid at
the end Of the week. OF course if you
was TO sell the boss at once l ain't say
in you mightn't stay on, but you've
| been yer six weeks tomorrow evenin,
and you ain { no nearer sellin him than
when you come. Washin ton was sayin
yesterday it's all fullishness you settin
price on the boss. You might "a got
$l25 by the rattle, but you amt gunno
| git a hundred right down from farmer.
What you can git for the boss that's
what he's with "
1.-THE boss comes from good stock, Z"
said the old man family "If any one
wanted fine trotter'-
"No matter who's wantin fine trot-
ter, they amt wantin it at a fancy
price," said Mrs. Washington "Of
course if you must keep the boss, then
it's Bulbs place to keep the two Of you.
II he won't let you stay at the farm, he
ought for to make arrangements about
yer board Laws" she added, looking
keenly into the old mans face II
should think as the boy'll be mighty
sorry after while if he does nothin
now.
THE Cissels, said the old man bro
kenly-"they never gifts sorry"
81 don't want to do nothin mean, Z"
said Mrs. Washington, "but the boy
oughter come fawward now if ever. To-
morrow's Thanksgivin
The old man rose and went out of the
house. He walked very slowly across to
the station and fingered about, but the
people evaded him. Nobody wanted to