Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27
A Story of Southern Farm Life.

"A STORY VI SOueANA - -
The rain was faning IN torrents. at
nishtfaII.. Just as II had been fallins since
noon. James Boon's wife. Sarah, had milk
Cd the COW IN. the barn. ana cooked sup
--r for herself, her husband and three
children befor J1e went TO the front
door to look dow" the lone toward Town.
hopfnx TO see James on MS roam nag. COM
ing home. usual
BUT il was dark outside, ana the chll-
dreu had eaten their supper and were
{ asleep before Sarah Boon heard ms wei
come stem on the little back porch that
opened on the yard nearest 70 the Darn
he stamped his shoes on the door mat
hung up his raincOat Outside 10 urlP'
and came at once TO the ire and sat GOWN
without a word. placing his feet on the
hearth for warmth as well as 70 airy the
soaked leather OF his well worn shoes
Your supper is ready whenever you
are ready, Jimmy" said bis wife. in a
Insulating voice -...
..can't YOU bring me a cup or hot coffee
TO the IRE? / am not hungry. too tired and
worried out" was his reply. - ,-.-..---.
Patient Sarah brought the coffee AMI
stood near while he drank. il. saying
nothing more until Mr.. Boon removed ms
shoes and pulled OF the steaming wet
socks. when she quietly handed MIN
dry pair and carried or the sOiled ones 10
the kitchen. Sarah knew it would be
useless TO ask any questions unih her
husband was IN the humor TO answer
ne ives an industrious farmer, cheerfui
when things went right. but impatient
ana moody II they went wrong. IL was
evident that he was much disturbed. be-
cause he opened his desk and took outsa
small tin box. where he kept his papers.
and little. store of ready money and
began a careful search among papers ana
letters.
Sarah took up her darning work ana
sought to, be quiet in mind as well as In
body.
Af.er the lapse of a .haif hour or more.
James turned suddenly toward her say
ing. Il do believe We were swindled When
We bought this land. and old man Jones Is
DEAD and his children scattered every
where, and maybe we could get nothing
II We went back on them ---,-
Tell me. James, all about il, from the
beginning; don't keep me in suspense.
Who claims our land and where were you
swindIedT' asked the ANXIOUS woman.
well. Sarah, 1 went to the court house
10 nav taxes today and the clerk of the
superior court called me into his ONCE
room and told me 10 sit By his fire until
he finished q copy Of a paper from the
books. and he would explain. voted for
him and helped him when he was run
ming last year and-well he IS friendly
He told me he had been visited the day
before by some lawyers who were acting
for mineral buyers in this section
.-Old man Green sold the mineral interest
on hIs two lots OF land for $4,000 and they
were examining titles 10 land all about US.
They searched the records on the lot
and found flaws in the titles. Old man
Jones had put a mortgage on il and that
mortgage deed is there. but with no rec
ord OF it's settlement on the books. he
sold to pa low down and that deed is all
right but that mortgage ought to have
been settled when il cOulE be seen When
ia started to Arkansas. you recollect !
paid him his price for the land, taking
your bit OF money after your mother
died to finish paying for a. We got il
cheap enough. and just was so sure that
pa had all the papers clear through that
never thought about the books and as
pa IS stiIl a living. 1 hope he can maze
a clean showing-clear through-anyhOw.
but he may have been so sure that OLD
man Jones would deal fair that he did not
examine the records
well. don't borrow trouble. Jimmy.
Write your pa in the morning and tell
him. ali about H. You are so tired that
you ought to be in bed right now. and
asleep. You can't do nothin' until morn
ing no how. and am awfully afraid you
are going to be sick. getting your feet SO
vet" .--.- --. s.- -.
Jimmy did catch a bad cold. but his
absent father was even then on his death
bed and before the letter from Alabama
reached the Arkansas -postoffice the grave
hid all that was mortal of James Boon.
ST.. from his family and friends. And
his move had been a disastrous venture
for he had borrowed money and died in
debt. was burned out and lost everything
but the clothes the family were wearing,
not long before he died.
James Boon. the son. heard these sad
sdings with .omniOus dread.
The persons named in the mortgage
Iced were also dead. and the land was
now claimed by the guardian OF orphan
children, in settling up an estate.
The situation was a gloomy one for the
hzrassed farmer. He had built a new
barn. set out fruit trees. and improved
he land by close economy and unceas-
ng indstry- The lumber was in the yard
% add two front rooms TO the house
and a workman had been engaged TO
build after New Years.
II sickened the hearts OF man and wife
% see this dearly cherished home slip
sing away. and disappearing in gloom
ana disappointment. II would be folly to
hink OF further improvements under ex-
sting conditions. James Boon employed a
awyer. but the latter told him frankly
hat the case was encircled with doubt
he record was instituted to perfect own
srship and title. and he was the victim
" carelessness or Oyer-cOnfdence. The
Guardian pushed the case along to trial.
and as there were no living witness to
he sale OF the land to James Boon. Sr..
he mortgage deed still In force. and the
Tansfer TO James Boon. Jr--Bas pTi-
rate transaction and not even recorded.
he judgment was rendered in fsvOH OF
he orphan children In little more than
n year after that rainy night when the
,arrner brought the unwelcome news to
Us devoted wife. Sarah. they were maxi
ng ready 10, move into a rented house
with small farm attached. over on the
liver. When packing begun an old chest
n the garnet was brought down. for the
purpose and set out on the back porch.
Sarah had brought out lot Of preserve
arS and pickle bottles TO stow away and
he eldest boy with childlike curiosity
,Iunged into the till and flung out a pack