The Washburn leader., 1916-02-25
In Hard Luck
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By M. QUAD

Had you asked in the village Of
I.orain which was the happiest family
in the community nine out Of ten
would have answered that Deacon
Thurston and his wife filed the bill.
Deacon Thurston was long, lean and
smiling. His wife was fat, content
and good natured.
The deacon had never been known
to get mad or to do a selfish action.
His wife was seldom known to borrow,
but was always willing to lend.
OF summer evening they sat on
the porch-sometmes for three hours
without speaking word to each
other.
After supper Of winters evening
the deacon built roaring fire in the
sitting room, and then with a candle
in one hand and a blue pitcher in the
other he descended to the cellar. The
barrel of cider stood in the northeast
corner. He knelt before it and drew
exactly a pint and half Of its con-
half pint for his good wife. 1t was
never more and never less. The apple
bin stood against the south wall. He
went to it and selected four fine Bald
wins and put them in his coattail
pocket and marched up the stairs. His
wife was ready with damp cloth to
give the apples wipe. Three Of
them were for the deacon and one for
his wife.
One winter when the first snowfall
came the deacon hitched up the old
horse to the "pung," or homemade
sled, and started for the woods. -Four.
inches Of snow had fallen, and 1t was
brisk morning. The old horse squeal-
ed and kicked up his heels. and the
deacon heard himself saying:
"Well, If / amt glad to be alive this
morning, though they haye raised my
taxes So more this year,
When the deacon and his outfit en-
tered the woods there was rabbits
trail leading in the direction he wanted
to go. he therefore followed it. 1t
led into the woods and stopped at
hollow log.
The deacon advanced to the log and
sounding blow. He did not see whether
the rabbit ran out or not. His ear
caught a jingling sound, and in the ex-
citement the presence Of bunny was
entirely forgotten. It was a Jingle of
money-not greenbacks, but solid coin.
Five minutes later he was splitting
the old log wide open and his eyes
H,,0D nd h to nlyo
pale. There was coin before him
heaps of coin. 1t was all silver coin.
One. two, three, four capfuls of Sill
yer treasure He carried each capful
to the sled and emptied its contents
upon the horse blanket. When all the
money had been gathered he tied up
the blanket. When he finally mounted
the sled he gave the old horse three or
four sharp cuts with the whip. They
were the first blows the old nag had
ever received at his hands, and they
started him out at numbering gallOp.
Horse and driver appeared at home
in a sweat. They did not stop at the
kitchen door, though Mrs. Thurston was
there to ask. what had happened.
"S.s-h! You go right into the house.
Judith, and I will be there in a min
ute."
In five minutes he followed after her
and laid the bundle Of coin on the
kitchen table with clink that made
her exclaim:
"Oh, deacon, have you picked up Il
lot of horseshoes?"
"Horseshoes nothing!!" he whispered
as he united the blanket and folded It
back.
"Why. it's silver-it's money"
"Of course it is, and didn't rob any
body to get it eitheA found 1t in
holler log"
Deacon, we are richv' whispered the
wife us she locked the Kitchen door
and pulled down the shades.
you bet we are" replied the deacon.
Help me count the money"
They counted it. 1t took them full
hour, but 1t was over at last. and there
was just $5,OO0.'
Deacon" said she after a moment.
1--WE allus wanted to go to Niagara Falls
and see the water wasting itself, but
you could never spare the money. We
will go now, won't we:"
The deacon was silent, but there was
such Il look OH his face as she had
never seen before. 1t was look Of
avarice and selfishness combined, and
1t was not good to see. She had to re-
peat her question before he replied.
judith. want you to understand"
said the deacon as he walked back
ward and forward, "there is to l1e no
nonsense about this money. l may
have to go to Niagara Falls on bust
ness. but you will stay at home and
care for the house. shall have to
have a new suit Of clothes, but yOU
eau get along with your old ones"
but l have not had new bonnet IN
fourteen years." she walled.
"Your old one is all right
And that treasure, from the hollow
log bred dissension almost within the
hour 1t was found. Husband and wife
took opposite stands. and things were
getting ripe for a separation when the
deacon passed one Of the coins at the
<,,,0nou nosYvA Afoas