Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-04-24
CLEr1.
By Percy T. Griffith.

It was MONDAY in a little country VII
lage on the banks Of the Hudson, well
termed 1.-THE Rhine of America. From
many a lowroofed farmhouse came the
welcome sound of the dinner horn,
calling the weary toilers in the felds
to their midday meal. Relieved from
their irksome studies. merry stream
of children trooped forth from the vii
lage school, some repairing to their
homes nearby, others fiocking together
in sroups, to eat generous luncheon
beneath the shade Of the great over
hanging oaks.
Their joyous laughter, echoing afar,
rippled through the closed shutters of
a small cottage not far distant, whose
evident gloom strangely contrasted
with Natures gay, spring-like splen-
dor. 1t reached the ears of group
seated in the "best room" of the little
house-a group composed OF three
persons of varied ages, whose coun'
tenances each expressed a different
emotion
One. a specialized old gentleman, at
tired in clerical garb, who listened
with manifest approval to the matter
of fact tones of a strong minded look
ing woman of perhaps 40, with re-
pressed malice and we'll simulated
charity struggling for mastery on her
brow. The last of the trio was slight
figured child, whose ordinary half
girlish halfboyish face, surrounded by
golden, curly hair, now seemed won
drously mature and almost manly in
it's righteous wrath, while the old cler-
gyman spoke
my child, what you suggest is
impossible. You could not live in this
cottage all alone, now that your moth
er and brother are dead. You are
barely IA years of age,and we have de-
cided it to be for your best interests to
to stay-with Mrs. Anderson
you mean, sir, that we are bound
out. You might as we'll say the words
at once. Why should l fall from the
status of free citizen to that of
pauper and slave? Did not my poor
mother leave all this property which
you benevolent people have just sold
for over $500? And if l went into this
bondage, what opportunity should |
have for study and improvement? You
know mother always wanted me to go
to college and be teacher or mu-
sician or an author or something great,
but l don't see what chance l would
have if followed your plan"
What did 1 tell ye, parson! What
did l tell ye!" cried the sharp-visagei
woman with uplifted eyebrows.
That's what comes of sendin' a child
to school when it tain't no more than
five years old and amakin' of it study
all it's life to home. What goods
person what's spent their life on
booA-larnin'? Tell me that"
ooh, Mrs Anderson" deprecated
the minister, who priled himself on
his knowledge, education is surely
valuable"
Yes, l know all that allus
thought so, too. wuz Civ a good eddi-
cashun myself, but it warn't none Of
this new-fangled book-larnin' that this
obstinate childs got My mother, at
any rate warnt no fool which is more
than you can say of some peoples
mothers, even if they be dead an gone
though it tain't for us poor mortals
to say where they're gone. l might
give a mighty sure guess where some
peoples mothers is gone, what never
taught them nothin but book-larnin'
but then, we're all poor, frail human
bein's."
Doctor Wesley" here broke in tn =
child, ''if you think I'm going to stand
here and have my mothers spotless
name reviled and desecrated by that
lowliVeI-"
'Low-lived, you little pauper in
crate, you"
Yes, low-lived, ill-bred, rude, un
couth!" declared the angry young per
son. "Oh know all about you Mrs.
Anderson, and | know why you've got
grudge against her and me. Did you
ever hear the name of Francis Sum-
ner? All you see l know-I read all
the letters"
we've been spyin', reading a pack O
lies, have We? Just wait till l have the
charge of ye, and I'll larn ye to spy
around things what don't belong to
you"
81 beg your pardon. AS | am the
only heir to my mothers property,
they are now mine. And doctor, let
me tell you what they said. You know
Francis Sumner and my mother were
engaged to be married and broke it
off. Do you know why? Because
"Parson, if you don't shet that little
liar up | will"
Gently, gently, Mrs. Anderson,
said he old man. cts only natural for
Glen to be excited after just losing
two dear relatives, and you must make
allowances. Now, Clem, We'll leave
you to rest after all this worry and
trouble. And tomorrow morning
Squire Morgan and | will come over
anJ we'll make all the arrangements