The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-29
T1LLY's ADVENTURE.

Tilly Clifford was sitting one even
ing in the doorway of her humble
home, an old brown farmhouse, situa-
ted two miles away from the centre
of the village of N. She was
wondering what made her father so
quiet and sober of late, and why she
caught her mother every now and
then wiping away the tears with a
stealthy hand.
She heard their voices now, as they
were talking in a low tone in the
kitchen, and once in a while she
caught the words "moItgage,' fore
closure ELECTION" and the like,
and she pondered very soberly upon
their meaning. Pretty soon her father
went out to attend to some matters
at the barn, and her mother called
her to come in.
"Sit down my child," she said as
Tilly entered. II want to have a
little talk with you"
The girl obeyed, rightly thinking
that whatever had been troubling her
parents of late was about to be re-
vealed.
1--WE have been harassed greatly
for some time now," her mother be-
gan, with the fear that we should
lose our little home"
"Lose our home Why, mother,
thought father owned it, that it was
left to him by Grandfather Clifford. !"
$50 it was, my dear and your
father received it free from encum-
brance, but in an evil hour he put a
mortgage OF three hundred dollars
upon it in order to loan that amount
to friend. Not long after that the
friend failed, and the money was lost.
The mortgage could have been fore
closed years ago but kind Mr.. Day,
who held it, has repeatedly said :
Never mind, Mr.. Clifford, as long as
you pay the interest the money can
remain invested in the house. He
died, as you know, a few weeks since,
and the nephew, who inherits the
property, says we must pay the three
hundred dollars before three months
or leave the house"
ooh, mother! will it be possible
for father to do so 7" asked Tilly
anxiously.
"There is only one hope. We have
thought of a friend, about thirty
miles from here, who may possibly
let US have the money and allow us
to transfer the mortgage to him.
"I do hope he will, mother II
would be dreadful to have to leave
the old house."
"It will be as God Wills" replied
Mrs. Clifford, "but we must make
every effort we can to save it. We
are going TO take the journey in oul
own wagon, to save expenses, and
have decided to start tomorrow morn.
ing. You will not be afraid to stay
here alone through the day, will you
We have arranged with your Uncle
John to come here and sleep the night
we are away
cit will be dreadfully lonesome
here with you both away, but I'm moi
the least afraid to stay" said Tilly
bravely.
As they wished to take an early
start in the morning. the family re
tired very soon after Mr.. Clifford re
turned from doing his barn chores.
"Tilly awoke at sunrise, but fount
that her father and mother had beer
up already quite a while, and The
preparations for their journey were
nearly made.
Don't leave the house, except t.
go short distance, and be very care
full, TiIly, about fire. said Mr.. Cliff
ford, as they drove away.
Tilly gave the desired promise
kissed them ood-bye and then wen
into the house to try to forget he
loneliness as best she could in doing
up the morning housework.
She had long day all to herself
and many a little piece of work tha
had been put by for favorable tim
she managed to finish. In the after
noon she happened to think of an in
teresting book which one of her schoo
friends had loaned her day or TIVE
before. and she sat down by the win