The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-10-07
Old Mr.. HudsOn's Bible.



wi Hudson was explaining to an
old neighbour. Caleb Sawyer. who had
come in TO chat for few minutes.
George is in New York, you know.
He's lawyer, and / guess he must be
doing pretty well, for Lefty says--she
I just got back yesterday--that he lives
In fine, big house, and they keep three
hired girls, besides man to drive and
look after the horses. Oh, George -
smartl"
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 wiped his gold-bowed
glasses on his faded silk handkerchief,
adjusted them carefully, and began TO
examine the present. large Bible
very critically. He was a 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 a
survey through Genesis.
'Yes. George knew my eyes were get
ting dim," Mr.. Hudson said, $50 he sent
me one with good large print. / can
almost read 1t without my glasses"
"But 1t seems TO me the binding amt
overstrong," the neighbor continued.
Looks as il il might come to pieces"
~ guess IL will last me-" the old man
answered, quietly, though ! should
like to leave it to Lefty when I'm gone.
/ keep a newspaper around it most OF
the time"
SIS that your sons writingP" Mr..
Sawyer asked, as he turned TO the first
fly-leaf and gazed with wonder on the
elaborate hourishes which he finally
deciphered To mean: Presented TO
Josiah Hudson by his son George"
"Oh, no." Mr.. Hudson replied, hur-
riedly, land l don't mind telling you
don't let it go any further-but that's
the only thing about the book l don't
quite like. l wish George had written
that himself. for ! don't see much of
Georges writing" he continued, pa
thetically, "and il would be nice to have
some where / could see il 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 On 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 for
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
den. Every evening he might be seen
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 fortnight, 'and
j need exercise. l don't. get near
enough TO do here. The kindling TO
split and the COW to milk Why. they're
only playl" and he started toward town
again at 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 ii
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
ciablel" 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!"
1t was not until after supper that
Mr.. Hudson found time to read his let
ter. To be sure, he had gazed at IL all
the way home, studied the postmark
and wondered IL IL was yes" or "no;"
but he would not open il till he had
plenty of time. Then he read IL several
times before he mastered the whole.
II guess well get up early in the
morning" he said TO Lefty, as she came
out TO empty the dishwater.
"Why, grandpa?" she asked, in sur
prise. us there anything special to-
morrow"
Were going 10 have company" the
old man answered, complacently.
Company" the girl echoed. "Why.
who?"
II could tell" he answered, "but
you'd rather be surprised, would you
not?"
"Of course, IL you'd like IL that way,
grandfather-only l should like TO
know how many are coming. and just