Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-02-27
What a Day May Bring Forth.
M. A. stock in Springfield Republican.

water the minute I'm home;' but
then, there was Bet, poor old thing.
had to rub her dry and make her COM
Portable. Then I thought I'd get the
snow and slush out Of the wagon, and
when that was done l cleaned off the
top, and then decided I'd better rub
the harness dry before l went in, and,
somehow, feel lots better. But,
Glory How good that supper smells!
What you got?''
"Ham-done to a turn"
Let's get down. I'm hungry enough
to eat the side of a house"
Supper over and the horses seen TO,
there was still the walk to the post
office for Richard Stanton, where the
last mail was to be sorted in readi-
ness for the morning. AS it did not
come in until Z o'clock it was well
toward o'clock On most evenings be-
fore his days work ended, and he was
at liberty to do what he pleased for an
hour or so before bedtime. In the
time of his absence the girls flew
around" and made everything tidy,
while the wife did what was needed OF
mending or making that her hands
might be free and at her husbands
/ service when, at last, his long day had
ended. On the night in question the
town clock was dwelling on the last
stroke of 9 as slow heavy steps
dragged up to the outer sitting room
door, and the tired-out man came
YEARLY in. Ready loving hands hung
up cap and coat, took off arctics, and
surrounded him with many little com
forts.
Had the string, so long drawn to it's
utmost tension, broken? He lay back
in his chair, white and still, while
mother and daughters looked On ap-
Drehensively. Through the quiet Of
the room, they heard the dashing Of
sleet and rain against the windows
and the moan and howl Of the wind.
Many times had they seen him so
and had said to each other: He must
give it up and do something else"
But there seemed to be no escape
no chaDcn to look for something
else" The route must be served day
after uay, else how could the expenses
of life be met?
Mr.. Stanton's past had not been
that of a rural carrier. There had
been a larger and a brighter outlook.
But the past was past, and he was
caught now between the grinding
wheels of the present
Walter was to have been the helper
but Walter had married young. None
Of the family had the heart to deny
the second son the education for
which he was making SO brave fight.
Now Kate would graduate in a little
over a year and then could teach, and
| then the father could find something
to do which would involve less ex-
posture. Tonight all seemed hopeless,
the year, 10 years. Yet as often be-
fore, he felt better after time under
the sweet home ministries.
Then Nell asked: amy mail,
father?"
Yes, in my inside pocket. Mother,
! there's a business letter there l felt
too tired to look at. Will you see
what it is?"
Mr. Stanton rubbed her glasses I'M
til they shone like diamonds, read her
! personal letters, reserving the long
yellow enveloped one to the last. The
! girls giggIed in a corner over what
the inside pocket had held for them.
Richard Stanton on the low broad
couch had fallen into a deep sleeD,
when his wife sprang to her feet cry
ing:
Richard! Richard. listen to this!
What can it mean?"
He sprang up, broad awake, staring
in fright into his wife's startled face.
Both girls had turned from their
! own concerns, and their faces depict
ed expectation which was almost fear.
! It is so much easier, after years of
| hard fortune, to believe in trouble
than in joy that secretly each one
present was trying to brace up for
what might now have to be borne.
"Sft down Kate-Nell-! All ready?
| Now listen as you never listened be-
| fore, for you never heard anything
! like this in all your lives"
Molly, it must be good news, from
the look on your face. Girls, isn't
mother pretty as a peach?"
There's no time for nonsense, Rich
ard Listen!"
Battle Creek, Mich, Jan. II, 1906.
Mr.. Richard Stanton:
Sir:-It is our pleasant duty to in
form you that the sum of $4,000 is in
our hands awaiting your orders for its
disposal. 1t is left to you by the will
of the late Mr.. Andrew Vanderlip OF
Sundew, Carson Co., Mich. He died
the 1st of last month, leaving all OF
which he might die possessed to you
Our delay in communicating with you
has been caused by difficulty in dis
covering your present address since
your removal from New York state
five years ago. We enclose documents
in proof, and wait early advice as &c
your wishes in the matter. Yours
etc, Gray & Green, Atty's-at-law.
Impossible to depict in words the
scene which followed. At last came
the question: Who was Mr.. Andrew
Vandernp of Sundew, Carson Co.
Mich, and why did he leave his money
to father"
Cant you remember" said Nell
ever hearing of him or of the placer
! 'sTha DIaca9 Sun5ew? know thai