Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-09-08
Naomi's Legacy.
S70 USH, children! There's your
JO father coming~

iDlcU as lie CAME III. OQdIley OEOppSN
the Robinson Crusoe" that he was
reading, and deftly substituted an
arithmetic in It's place Juliet sewed
harder than ever at her patchwork.
Mrs. Jobson made haste to fling an
other log upon the fire. and the
grandmother in the corner dre- der
knit wooden shawl closer around her
shoulders with a little shudder.
Dear mer' said Mr.. Jobson; dear
me! It's just as L said. There's an
other cold wave coming from the
northwest, and coal is two shillings
ton higher. Goodness knows what's to
become of US all"
Presently he looked around inquir-
ingly.
"Eh? How? What's that l smell?
Chickens? Actually chickens roasting!
Where's the cold pork that was left
from yesterdays dinner?"
81 thought" said Mrs, Jobson apollo
getically, that as we had so many
young chickens coming on"
Every one of those chickens" said
Mr.. Jobson, speaking slowly and
counting off the syllables on his fin
gers, will be as good as a crown
piece when the holidays come on. Poul-
try is going up-up-up, as steadily as
rocket and here you are roasting it
for an everyday dinner. | never saw
such an extravagant manager as you
are, Jane. Hereafter l shall count the
fowls, and if one is taken away, 1
shall take means to know the reason
why. And those in this house who are
too dainty to eat cold pork may live on
bread and cheese
Mrs. Jobson murmured something
about trying TO do what seemed right
always and a gloomy silence fell over
the whole group.
There's the wing Of the old kitch-
en-" said he. I've put Naomi Brush
out OF it this morning"
Mrs. Jobson looked up in surprise.
"Put Naomi Brush out?" she repeat
ed; land what is the poor soul going
to dog
That's her lookout" said Mr.. job
son; "she has preyed long enough ON
me and mine. I've got an offer of
crown a month from Tom Diggs for
the old room. And 1 may as well say,
now, that 1 don't at all approve of the
way you women have been going on
about old Naomi. l never could teach
you the necessity for being economical.
How am l ever to pay Jones the two
hundred pounds that 1 owe him. if this
Is the way we are to go on? How"
But here the old grandmother spoke
out in a mild tone.
Not by being economical at the ex-
pense Of other people, Calvin" said she
gently.
God has said, Give, and 1t shall be
given unto you He has not said,
'Scrape and pinch, and grind the faces
of the poor. and you viii get rich
Naomi Brush Is solitary and friendless,
and when you turned her from the sole
shelter she has, you did a cruel and I'M
generous thing"
And, taking up her knitting. the good
old woman went quietly out of the
room.
The children all stared.
Mrs. Jebson looked apprehenslvely
at her husband and Mr. Jobson him
self turned all manner of colors.
THAT settles the matter" said Mr..
Jobson hoarsely to himself, as he walk
ed out Of the house with MS hands in
his pockets. 1T isn't every son-in-law
who would have borne the burden of
oh -fr,II 4
have done. But when Mrs. Price I'M
dertakes to dictate to me, she assumes
a little too much. I'll tell Jane, this
afternoon, that she must find some
orher home for her mother. | suppose
she'll cry and make great fuss over
IT. but can't help that. Grandmother
must CO. / don't at all doubt that it's
she who has been putting Jane UP to
all this senSeless extravaganza in the
matter of charity.
In his intent self-abSorption he al
most stumbled over a portly little man
in fur-trimmed overcoat. who had
hen coming in his direction with a res
olute step.
"Oh. it's you, is II. Squire Jones 2"
said he obsequiously.
YES. it's me-" said the squire, recoy-
ering his equilibrium with some diff
Guilty. Il was just coming to see you,
Jobson, about that little note of yours
/ think told you last week that
wanted the money. And l wish you to
understand that 1 must have ii. or
shall find myself compelled to foreclose
on the mortgage"
Mr.. JobSon grew pale.
Isn't this rather sudden said he
family.
The squire shrugged his shoulders.
what would you haveg said he.
'sThe money is overdue. and there's a
considerable amount of interest still
unpaid. To tell you the truth. Jobson,
1 don't like this way Of doing business,
and want my money one week from
to-day"
Mr.. Jobson tore his hair.
1.-Two hundred pounds" he cried
And In a week. Why. who ever heard
OF anything so ckuel."
"Cruelr' echoed the squire. Is 1t
cruel Of business man to want his
own back again2 You should have
thought OF that before you borrowed
1t"
And the squire walked on.
Mr.. Jobson kept his weary way, rack
ing his brains to coniure up some es-
cape out OF the dilemma. Two hun
bred pounds, And in week. How
was the thing to be done?
BY the side OF a miserable old shanty
nv the road there was assembled a lit
tie knot OF women. They whispered
and glanced at him as he passed
He stopped mechanically.
sWhafs the matterg" said he.
.Tts old Naomi Brush" said they.
"She's dead.
Dead, is she:" said Mr.. Jobson curt
ly. "She ought to have died half a