Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-12-20
PICKING UP
STONES
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ. QUAD

when his wife came sauntering out.
She spoke about the new wagon shed
and the need of pump for the well
and finally got around to say:
Josiah. you won't be mad, will
your
Have you broke a lot of dishes 7" he
asked as he looked up.
mo"
Then I guess won't be mad. what
is it?'
George Lee was over here to see
Jennie today. He's got back from col
lege. He didn't stay but an hour, and
I was sittin' with EN- on the veranda
all the time. Nothing to be mad about,
Is there?"
"Wall, no. but l should have talked
right, up to him il I had found him
here. He knows l can't abide a lazy
man, and that he can never marry Jen-
ME with my consent II she runs
away to marry him, then she can new
er darken my door ag'in. So he's back,
eh?'
yes; he's finished college"
| "Wall, what's he goin' to do, now
that he's got through college? Is he
goin' to take right hold and work like
thunder to pay the old folks back?"
Josiah, can't exactly explain what
he's made of himself. but pickin' up
stones has somethin' to do with 1t. Jen-
ME knows, and after he was gone she
said 1t was a good trade. Did you
ever hear Of what they calls a. golgistY'
Never, by gosh, and don't want to.
Coin to pickin' up stones, is he? Go
in around pickin' up stones instead of
usin' a hoe in the cornfeld. You
needn't say any more, Sarah. can
see that he's turned out wuss'n pre-
dicted he would"
Three years previous to the above
conversation George Lee. farmers
son, had come counting sJennie White.
| He was twenty and Jennie a year
younger. He was called smart young
man, and Jennie was something of a
belle, and from the farmers standpoint
It seemed to be good match. 1t
seemed SO until young Lee announced
that he was going to college. That
| changed Mr.. Whites opinion Of him at
| once. Colleges were for shirks and
squirts and one horse lawyers. They
simply spoiled farmers sons. Every
rascal he had ever read of had been a
college graduate. He didn't turn the
young man out doors, but he gave him
! to understand that the daughter would
be for some one who could tell cab
bage head from burdock.
And unbeknown to him, though not
engaged, the young people had main
tanned friendly correspondence and
met occasionally, and now things had
reached a sort of climax. George Lee
had boldly called at the house, and the
farmers wife had noted what she
called signs" That talk in the barn.
yard had been to prepare the husband
and father for what might happen, for
she believed that something would
happen. George Lee didn't seem to be
a bit afraid Of anybody or anything, as
she expressed 1t to herself. and she
noticed that Jennie was very f1dgety.
Yes, something happened. 1t came
two days later. Mr.. Lee called again,
and just In time to catch the father
before going to the field for his after
Moons work. He stood right up like a
man before. father and mother and said
that he loved Jennie, hoped she loved
him, and wanted her for wife. His
GOODNESS and dignity took the old man
back for a minute, but presently he
asked:
| 10 a
your fatherT
"No. Mr.. White. have something
better"
81 heard It was goin' around and
pickin' up stones in the felds.".s
| II shall pick up stones and shall
throw stones away. That is part Of
| the profession. BY and by hope I
shall find what am looking for
'sThen you look for it and when you
ind 1t you can come back. Better
stay away till you do. l don't want
Jennie 30 upset that she can't help her
mother make soft soap and put up
picked peaches"
SIX weeks assed away, and one noon
when Farmer White came up from
the field he found young Lee waiting
for him. At his feet was a heavy
block Of something done up in news
paper.
"You told me when I found some
thing almost as good as gold or silver
70 come again." said the young man.
''But you hain't done It."
II think SO. Here's block OF build
ing marble that I've taken from tie
ridxe back there. There's thousands
and thousands Of tons Of 1t, and 1t is
an o. your farm. There's railroad
only mile away and a big city TWEEN
b miles of. win you take $4,000
for your farm
young man. don't try to be funny
| "Win you take $15.000-$20, OOOY'
| It took Farmer White quarter OF
an hour to understand the situation
| ruN - 49, u~ro~ man caid.