The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-11-29

Joseph to himself; can I'll not take
EN- altogether neither. | wouldn't
lave the poor chap wi a great gap in
the rank
Joseph dropped something carefully
unto the sack which he carried over
| his arm, and then he drew together the
! disturbed clods and patted them down.
i Then waddling along with his legs
across the drill he cautiously removed
another ''set," and then another.
| 'That'll do for Ed'ard, he muttereds
"'Tis for feedin' the pore, so the Lard'll
make it up to en-. Now, Jan, TN take
a good few from zee, because We be
DANCED ard 'arted chap. An l don't
care where l d take en- nor if it do
make gaps-nay, that L don't. Ye've
a-sowed, an we've a-watered, so to
| speak, Jan, but d low that it'll sarve
zee right if the Lard don't gle zee no
Increase
He unearthed the ''sets,' taking
every precaution however, to makesthe
ground look undisturbed. He went the
rounds, in fact, till his sack was nearly
full, and then beat a retreat, carrying
home his booty unobserved
| 1t CHANGED that jim Cross waking
with the dawn, fancied he heard the
| sound of spade in the next garden.
On his way to work, a little later on,
he observed that a goodly portion of
Joseph's patch of ground was indeed
freshly dug up. Joseph was standing
by the gate, as usual, and nodded affa-
bly, as his neighbor passed.
81 see we've bin diggin','' remarked
Jim, pausing with surprised express
sion. Looks as if we was a-gettin' the
groun ready for taters."
"Well, an maybe l an a gettin' the
| ground ready for taters," returned Jo-
| seph warmly Il puts my trust where
trust is due. My fellow creatur's have
a turned their backs on me, SO | looks
to the Lard. Aye" repeated Joseph
turning up his eyes piously, Il looks to
the Lard for help, jim Cross. The
Lard'll purvide.''
Jim was much impressed.
1--we put me trust in Providence, :"
pursued Joseph, peering at him cauti-
ously out Of the corner of his eye; land
to show as I've a-put my trust i'll Prov
idence, I'm a-gettin' ready my bit O.
ground. When the Lard sends me them
taters. neighbor. he'll find | ready
Jim looked hard at him, and Joseph
folded his arms and looked back steadi-
ly and mildly.
Il don't bear zee no grudge, JIM" he
went on. Il don't bear nobody no
grudge. but | do put my trust in the
| Lard"
Jim went on his way, scratching his
head from time to time, and casting
back sundry frrtive glances at his
neighbor, who suddenly appeared to
him in a new and impressive light.
When he had disappeared Joseph went
back to his digging, his countenance
still wearing an expression of aggrieved
virtue. After much bordering Oh his
own conduct, and the circumstances
which had led up to it, he lad come to
look upon himself rather in the light
of a martyr, and to consider his recent
action not only justitiable, but in Ger
tain sense, inspired He was, tPere-
fore, scarcely surprised when. late that
evening, Jim Cross came up to him
with a deprecating air.
Me an few of 'em yonder have
been a-talkin about you, Joseph" he
remarked.
'Ilave ye?" responded Joseph, with
an air lordly unconcern.
AYE. Us was sayin' it did seem a
bit ard to disapp'int zee like, when you
was so trustin' an patient, SO us agreed
as we'd try and spare ZEE a few sets
UolNCell uo as L ulu say. tDe Ldlu II
make it up to we; an | d think he will
neighbor.'
He WILL sure agreed Joseph, sol
EMMY, as he held out his grimy hand
for the basket which Jim respectfully
rendered him.
Next came Ed ard Boyt with a small,
a very small, bagful, but a heart over
flowing with good will. Joseph thank
ed him for his contribution almost with
the air of one bestowinga benediction.
Ills very well done of zee, Ed'ard;
an yell not be no loser Nay, you'll
see how thingsll turn out wi ye.
One after another they came, ending
with Jan Domeny whom Frisby receiv-
ed little Instantly, but on the whole
forgivingly
'''Tis. but pore lot as we've brought
me, Jan, I'd low as Ed'ard Boyt hev
done better nor you. Aye, he've done
very we'll for he, such a pore man as he
be, an such long family as he have"
"Why, we've a-had to buy, MI Fris-
by" returned Jan apologetically. But
there, I'll see if us can spare a few
more, an fetch 'em round tomorrow
'Tomorrow'n do very WE'LL" agreed
I Joseph generously, and so they parted.
Then Frisby fell to work with a joy
| lul HedfG, SeGGlllS OUT uISI Oh all lue
potatoes which he had purloined; and
which he had originally designed to
plant surreptitiously by night, intend
ing when the first shoots made their
appearance to assure his neighbors that
they had sprung miraculously from the
ground. This was better; moreover the
second edition of ''sets" was much
larger than the first, and he now found
himself i'll position to stock his entire
garden.
1.-The Lard 'elps them as 'elps their
Selves he said to himself once more
as he waded solemnly up and down the
drills.
From that day forward Joseph Frisby
was respected by all the village folk.
He had got religion" to begin with
more religion than anybody had credit
ed him with and he had evidently been
singled out by heaven for special favors.
His crop prospered wonderfully; people
were quite amazed to see the marvel
lous return made by their contributions,
and were the more astonished because
other small producers had not found it
such very good year for taters. There
were many gaps among the ranks at
the allotments, and it was noticeable
that Jan Domeny i'll particular had
suffered severely No one was more
loud in commissioning this misfortune
| than IOSaOh Erichy