Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-14


knocked on the panels of the door upon
whose sill the snow had already spread
mantle OF ermine.
A pretty blue-eyed girl came to open
II, with candle in one hand.
whats wnntlng?" she inquired,
briskly, but not unkindly.
Can come In and warm myself?'
asked the stranger. Its bleak night
and I've somehow missed my way"
Yes, yes. tell him to come In.
Phoebe!" called out voice that was
like Paul Copperield's own, score of
years younger and fresher, and Paul
obeycd the summons.
At was a smaller and less pretentious
abode than the other. Where a bright.
hued rag carpet had adorned the floor
Of Simon Copperields kitchen, there
were only whitely-scoured boards to
he seen here, and the supper-table bore
marks OF extreme economy. But Her
man Copperfield rose up with a CHEEKY,
welcoming face, and his apple-faced
wife drew forward cushioned wood
en- rocker.
''Take. this seat by the fire, sir" said
she; were just sitting down to sup
per. I'll get you bowl of hot tea di-
rectly. Phoebe, take the gentleman's
cap, and put another log of wood on
the fire.
bad night, SIR" said Herman, draw
ing nearer to the blaze. Have you
come some ways?'
quite distance" said Paul. avert
ing his face from the curious gaze;
land I've missed my road somehow.
Perhaps YOU can let me stay all night"
Well" said Herman, refectively,
I'VE was expectin' relative from
abroad, but he hain't put in an appear
ancc. and till he comes you're kindly
welcome to his room. Eth, wife?"
Certainly" said Mrs. Coppertield,
brightly. 1T amt much of place,
but it's the best we've got and our
Phoebe has been 10 work all the fall,
piecing a bed quilt, all OF the Jobs
Troubles Pattern to make her old I'M
Gle comfortable. We hain't seen him,
sir, for forty years.
You don't tell me sou said Paul,
huskily.
Eyes, sir. That's right mother; the
hot teal warm him up; and tell
Phoebe to set on plate of her sugar
ed dOughtnuts. And although it's like
ly he'll spend most of his time at my
brother Simon's. as is richer and more
fOrehanded i'm the world. we think
sight of seem the old man once
again"
Does he live up the road, this broth
err of yours" said the traveller. II
asked for admission there, and they
turned me from the door"
Just like simon said the sturdy
farmer, bringing his hand down on
the table with an emphasis that made
the cups and spoons rattle. He al
ways did squeeze siypence till it
squealed. He wouldn't give crust of
bread to nobody, not If they was
a-dyin' before his face! Now me and
Sally set out in life different. When
first | hung the door on its hinges, says
], Sally, there shan't no one be turn
ed from this door, and there never
has. Simon says that's what's kept us
poor; but I'll risk that and SO will
Sally"
But your uncle? Is he poor MANI
persisted Paul
well. folks do say he's got con-
siderable o property. / don't grudge
it to him. He's worked for it, and l
hope he'll live long to enjoy it. ST.
n, ~.
already how soon he'll fall heir to it,
It's money, money, with Simon!
don't believe he'll have comfort in
heaven, If there amt savings banks
and compound interest there! And I'm
Gle Paul's lease Of life ought to be as
good as Smon's. He's only 81 years
old"
you're wrong there, Herman" said
old Paul, Il am sixty-three this COM
in March, If live to see the thirteenth
day"
And he looked beamingly around the
assembled household.
why" began Herman, lit amt pos
sible you're my Uncle Paul?"
mo one else. said the old man.
Come and kiss me, Phoebe,
and then you shall show me the Jobs
Troubles bed quilt. 1t does n lonely
old man good to know that somebody's
been a-thinkin' of him."
The great fire of logs bIaZed up with
sudden CHEEKY lustre, but its light was
nothing TO that in the ces of the
family group and ther unexpected
guest.
"Tll go over and fetch Simon" be-
gan Herman, starting up and grasp
ing his hat.
mo, you needn't" said Uncle Paul.
Il have seen quite enough of Simon"
Thus the rich old exile came home
to his kindred, and thus he was re-
ceived. And Mr.. Simon Copperfield's
hopes of an inheritance are consider
ably diminished since that stormy
night in December.
Mr. Hobart's First Fee.
One of the neighbors told how the
vice president made his first fee as a
lawvar He was ampIovad Tn urito