The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-05-09
HER GRATITUDE

"been gone for week.
.Graclous mer' cried poor Maria
sand where has all the wood come
from that we've been burning"
.I'ye been ripping the thorns on the
ghost house fence" observed Billy. II
saw the other fellows doing It, so why
shouldn't II And I've chopped up all
the wood In the stable"
"But. Billy, that Is stealing" said T.
Maria.
mo. It amt" announced Billy. with
with the air OF one who felt himsclu
an authority on the subject. THE Ola
fellow that bought the ghost house has
sold the property TO the railway com
pany. and they're going to lay line
OF rails right through the back garden.
The old house would have been pulled
10 pieces long ago IL folks hadn't been
afraid OF the ghost and l may as well
have pull at II as any one else"
IT am quite sure that John Gregory
will lend us wood until am able 10 or
! der a fresh load II you go down and
ask him" \
"Here he comes now" said Billy
who had been hattening his nose
against the window glass. Il think
you'd better borrow II yourself" a
Comm this way" said he: "thought
I'd stop and inquire how the old
schoolmaster is"
'Pa's pretty feeble" sighed Maria.
Hell soon mend again once theI
spring sets In" said John encouragingJ
ly. Anything can do for you, Maria,
down In the villageT
IT need some more wood" said MAJ
ria wistfully. "but can't pay for III
before pas annuity money comes In"
ooh, get outr' said John. PAY forI
Il indeed. when our woodland is sufJ
FERN = yes, actually sufferin' to be
thinned out! III send you down a
load. Maria. when
81 am not bcggarr' said Maria Ruff
ford. witk some pride.
"well, II you find a load left at your
shed door one o. these days you'll
know what 1t means" said he "Don't
you want TO run down the road
piece, Maria? I'm goin' 10 the ghost
house."
ITO the ghost houser said Maria
Rufford "What forf"
after a big mahogany chair that
was left there" said John. "Old Daw-
ton Is a curiosity collector. and he's
bought 1t for So. He's got me to take
Il to the station. He's goin' to send II
down to a place in London where they
expect to sell II for much more. I'm
told folks are goin' clean crazy about
such old things"
'Hellor' cried Billy, jumping down
from the window seat. 1--WE burned
up that chair. Maria. the day you
wanted the oven hot last week" =
He turned n somersault out OF IN
room, and poor Maria. with downcast
eyes and burning cheeks. was forced
to explain the whole thing to John
Gregory.
"weli. II this isn't fix." said that
individual, with a long. low whistle.
"How am TO fetch the big chair down
TO the railway station II there's none
20 fetch?"
ooh, John. John, what shall we dof"
groaned poor Maria. do you suppose
one OF Grandmother Rufford's old
chairs would do as well? There's half
dozen OF them that have stood there
ever since ] was child. They're
dreadfully old fashioned"
And the result of the inspection was
that one OF Grandmother Rufford's
high shouldered old chairs was cheer
fully brought downstairs and lifted
into Johns cart.
John Gregory came up again within
week or two.
"Well, Maria" said he, "I'vo got a
customer for another o. them old
chairs. There's lady In London has
seen that one and offered sos for Il.
but II was bespoke. SO when old Daw-
ton told me o. II. says I. i know where
can get another OF the same pattern
or as near like II as can be- Says he.
Send II 10 my shop then And II
you're willin' to sell 10 on those
terms
The old Rufford chairs were brought
out OF their dim receptacle In the gar
ret and sold. one by one. to eager all
ettantl; a battered old wardrobe was
fixed up" by John Gregory, and
spindle legged table followed close
, upon II, until Maria's wood pile Qpd
-four barrel were replenished. n NOV
carpet was brought for Grandfather
Ruford's room and the rent and the
grocers bills were triumphantly paid.
ITS as II we'd found a bag Of gold"
said Maria. with tears In her eyes.
"And It's all your doings, John"
"lf you're really so grateful to me-
"WellT"
There's way you might show It."
81 can't think what you mean. John"
"Well. It's not for lack o. explainin'
IT," sighed the faithful John. II want
you 10 marry me. Maria. Isn't that
plain enough;"
"oh, John. when you know can't
| Lee.