Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-01-06
epsss1eSes,4t'nss ,s2.srs'sssrS'
! Her Gratitude.

Es2ss AL .. =. =. =. C = 6 ss9$7 80
The snow lay very deep that year at
Clinton Rccrhr$. and old Schoolmastcr
Ruifnrd was more feeble than usual.
And. what with Maria's sewing being
interrupted AID Il new mllincr and dress
maker having set up ut Beech village,
times wcr" very hard.
You must get NE some more wood,
Billy she said to her little brother.
The fire nearly went out this morning
when You were at school. and tn" snow
was too deep for me to get out to the
wood pile"
wood piles all gone" said Billy, bit
Ing II scmicircular piece out of his bread
been gone for Il week.
"GraciouS met cried poor Maria.
and where has all the wood com" from
that we've been burningE
1--WE been ripping the thorns off thc
ghost house fence. observed Billy. Il
saw Tie other fellows doing it, so why
shouldn't |? And I've chopped up all
the wood in the stable"
"But, Billy, that is stealing" said
Maria.
"No, it amt" announced Billy, with
the air of one who felt himself IN all
thority ON the subject. THE old fellow
that bought the ghost house has sold
the property to the railway company,
and they're going to lay IL line of rails
right through the back garden. The old
house would have been pulled to pieces
long ago if folks hadn't been afraid Of
the ghost. and | may as well have a
pull at it as any one else.
Il am quite sure that John Gregory
will lend us wood until am able to or
der fresh load if you 90 down and ask
him."
Here he comes now" said Billy, who
had been nattvning his nose against the
window glass. Il think you'd better
borrow it Yourself"
"Comn this way said he, Thought
I'd stop and inquire how the old school
master is"
GAS pretty feeble" sighed Maria.
"IIc'll soon mend again once the spring
sets in" said John, cncouraGingly. Any
thing l can dc for you, Maria, down in
the vilagc?"
81 need som" more wood" said Maria,
wistfuliy. but can't pay for it before
pas annuity money comes in"
"Oh. get out said John. Pay for
it, indeed, When our woodland is suf-
fcrin-yrs, actually suifcrin-to be thin
ued out. I'll send you down a load, Ma
ria. when
Il am net II bcggar." said Maria Ruff
ford. with s,iiiic pride.
"Wcll, if ypu find Il load left at your
shed door one o these days, you'll
know what it MEANS" said he. Don't
yen want to rNn down the road piece,
Maria? I'm .;oin to the ghost house"
'''ro the ghost house" said Maria Ruff
ford. what for?"
"Aftcr Il big mahogany chair that was
left there" said John. odd Dawton is
a curiosity collector, and he's bought it
for -. He's get me to take it to the sta
ton. Hes goin to send it down to Il
place in London where they expect to
sell it Tor much more. I'm told folks arc
goin clean crazy about such old things"
"IiHIio!' riicd Billy, jumping down
from the window seat. we burned Ul
that chair. Maria. the day you vale, cd
the oven hot last week"
il" turned SomcrSauit ont of the room
and poor Maria. with doWncaSt eyes and
buruing cheeks. WAS forced to explain til"
whole thing 10 John Gregory.
"N'cll, it this isn't II fin" said that in
diydual. with long low whistle, Hoy
am / to fetch the big chair down to III"
railway station if there's none to f"tChf'
och. John. John, what shall we do?''
groancd poor Maria. 'Do you suppose
one of grandmother Rufford's old chairs
would do as we'll? There's half dozen
of them that have stood there ever since
| was a child. They're dreadfully old
faShioncd'
And the result of the inspection was
that one of Grandmother Rufford's high,
shouIArrci old chairs was chcorfully
brought down stairs and lifted into john s
cart.
John Gregory came up again within q
week or two.
"Wcn. Marin." said he, eve got Il
customer for another o them old chairs
There's laGy in London has seen that
one and offered So for it, but it was be
spoke. So when old Dawton told me o
il, says |. i know where | can get an,
ether of the same pattern, or as near like
it ns caD be- Says he, Send it to my
shop Them And If you're willin to sell il
on thos,, t"lrmS''-
The old Ruffoid chairs were brought
cut of their dim receptacle in the gar.
ret and sold. one by one. to eager dill
cttanti-a battered old wardrobe was
"fXrd up b.; John Gregory, and Il spin
die legged table followed close md hard
upon il, until MaFia's God pile and flour
barrel were rnplrHiShcd. a new carpet