The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-09-29
Old Mr.. hudson'S Bible.
BY Mary Emily Hull.
SON George gave it to me-" Mr..


Y SON George gave it to me-" Mr..
lvl Hudson was explaining to an
old neighbor, Caleb Sawyer, who had
come in to chat for a few minutes.
George is in New York, you know.
He's a lawyer, and guess he must be
doing pretty we'll, for Lefty says-she
just got back yesterday he lives
in fine, big house, and they keep three
hired girls, besides man to drive and
look after the horses. Oh, George is
smart!'
The old man rubbed his hands and
smiled in evident satisfaction. George
was his only son, and Lefty, who kept
house for him, was the orphaned child
of his only daughter.
Mr.. Sawyer Wi ped his gold-bowed
glasses on his faded silk handkerchief,
adjusted them carefully, and began to
examine the present-a large Bible
very critically. He was small, weazen-
faced old man of an extremely pessi-
mistic temperament; quite the reverse
of CHEEKY Grandpa Hudson.
''The print is clear" he said, after
survey through Genesis.
eyes. George knew my eyes were get
ting dim,' Mr.. Hudson said, $50 he sent
me one with good large print. I can
almost read it without my glasses"
"But it seems to me the binding amt
overstrong," the neighbor continued.
''Looks as if it might come to pieces"
II guess it will last me-" the old man
answered, quietly, though I should
like to leave it to Lefty when I'm gone.
I keep a newspaper around it most Of
the time"
''Is that your sons writing?" Mr..
Sawyer asked, as he turned to the first
fy-leaf and gazed with wonder on the
elaborate fourishes which he finally
deciphered to mean: "Presented to
Josiah Hudson by his son George
ooh, no." Mr.. Hudson replied, hur-
riedly, land I don't mind telling you
don't let it 60 any further-but that's
the only thing about the book I don t
quite like. I wish George had written
that himself, for I don't see much of
Georges writing," he continued, pa
thetically, land it would be nice to have
some where I could see it every day."
He stopped for a moment, and then
added, with an attempt at cheerfulness:
"But Lefty says it's fashionable to have
names written that way, and Georges
folks are real fashionable"
AS Lefty sat in the sitting-room that
afternoon, sewing, she noticed that her
grandfather was busy at his desk. He
was evidently writing letter, and the
undertaking was arduous, for he bit his
pen, used up several sheets of paper, and
succeeded in getting much ink on his
fingers before the unaccustomed task
was done.
Lefty usually wrote his letters fol
him, and she wondered why she had not
been asked to write this one; but she
asked no questions.
From that day for nearly two weeks
Mr.. Hudson went about with an air OF
mystery. He mended the few broken
places in the fence, whitewashed the
chicken-house, and was very solicitous
as to the condition of the late fall gar.
uCAs CVC1y CVCAAAS ZIG LIZ NC 0SCu
walking to or from the town.
Its only half mile," he replied
to Letty's protest, when this daily walk
had been kept up for a fortnight, land
I need exercise. I don't get near
enough to do here. The kindling to
split and the cow to milk! Why, they're
only play!" and he started toward town
again at a nimble gait.
'Anything for me to-day, Mr.. Jones?''
he asked, as he walked into the post
Office, trying to speak as if it were a
matter of no Importance.
"Why, yes" the postmaster replied,
slowly, there is letter for you around
here somewhere. Hank Colder was Just
in, and we were curious to know who it
could be from. You don't get letters
very often, you know"
But the old man took his letter, ig-
nored the hint and went out without
giving any information.
Think he might have been more so:
ciable!" muttered the postmaster-he
was storekeeper as well-as he began
weighing out sugar for a customer
"a body likes to know what's go.
ing on!' y
It was not until after supper that
Mr.. Hudson found time to read his let.
ter. 10 be sure, he had gazed at it al
the way home, studied the postmarl
and wondered if it was Eyes" or 'no;'
but he would not open it till he had
plenty of time. Then he read it severa
times before he mastered the whole.
81 guess we'll get up early in the
morning." he said to Lefty, as she came
out to empty the dishwater. n s.
"Why, grandpa?' she asked, in sur
prise. us there anything special to
morrow ss
"We're going to have company" thu
old man answered, complacently.