Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-09


stead Of openin'."
"And you lost all the money you sent
him for the developmentr
"Yes, we lost it." replied the old man,
with a tremulous voice.
aren't you afraid you'll lose this
tooT'
II dunno. Toms got another mine.
He says he's sure O. this"
"Of course It's no business Of mine,
but don't like to see you, an old man,
mortgaging your farm to send money
to q son who should be giving you
money instead Of you giving it to him.
Suppose you can't pay the interest on
the mortgage when it Is due. You will
lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with a bandanna handkerchief, the pic
ture Of misery.
II know what yer mean," he said,
"but ma she won't keep back any.
thing the boy wants. She never did.
I always told her she'd spoil him."
I'm afraid she has spoiled him. You
should know that your son Is not vast
ing your money at gambling or some
thing like that and telling you that he's
on the verge Of making fortune In q
mine before risking any more money
on him."
"That's what tell ma"
At this moment the draft was laid
before me, but instead Of handing 1t
to him said:
Hadn't you better think this over?"
He stood, his eyes fixed on vacancy,
slowly swaying or totterng, and l
knew there was great contest going
on in his mind. His love for his boy
conquered.
"I'm 'bliged to you, Mr.. Cashier, and
mebbe you're right, but I allus believ-
ed In my Tom, and I can't 60 back on
him now"
I handed him the draft, and he scuf-
fed slowly out Of the bank.
The old man must have borrowed all
he could on his farm, considering the
transaction as a sale, for he failed to
pay the first interest that fell due on
the mortgage. knew this, because !
saw In a newspaper legal notice OF
foreclosure proceedings on his farm.
"Well," I sighed, laying down the
paper, ''the old man has given his
home to his reprobate son. He has
nothing more to give. shall not suf-
fer again at seeing him come into the
bank to do what can't prevent his
doing"
On the street the same day l met
the young girl who was sure was
Toms sweetheart. stopped her and
asked:
"Is Farmer Williams turned out Of
house and homer
"Not yet, sir"
"But he will beT'
II suppose So"
"Has his son sent him anything to
help him?"
mo, sir. He wrote to say that he
was awful sorry to see the farm 60,
but he could not help It."
"H'm! Do you think son who will
treat his father and mother like that
would treat wife any betterT
Tears came into her eyes. I was
ashamed at giving her this useless
pain. walked on.
About q month after this strapping
young fellow with a fine, manly face
came into the bank and said he wished
to open an account. I assented, and
he made deposit Of S49,506.
"Will you please leave your sigma
ture in this book?" l said. He took
up pen and wrote:
"Thomas Williams"
"You Tom WilliamsW I exclaimed.
Eyes. What do you know about meT'
"Son of Farmer WilliamsT"
EYES,"
"Sold your miner
Eyes; I've sold q mine In Colorado,
or two-thirds Of it. This money I'm
leaving with you is the first cash pay
ment There are two others Of $780,.
900 each"
"Has your fathers farm gone to the
mortgagee"
mo; I'm In time for that. I was
afraid I wouldn't be, though. Any
way, I'd have bought 1t back. II II
hadn't been for the money father sent
me I couldn't have carried the deal
through. I expected the farm to 60
for the mine"
"And the young girl to whom we
gave drafts payable to your order?"
He colored and said: "It's in with
the rest, but she and I'll be one any
way. I shall transfer two-thirds OF
this deposit to father. I took him and
mother In for thirds"
went to see the old farmer and his
wife and found them jubilant. ~
told you had confidence In my
boy" the farmer said. HE was al
ways straight"
I attended Tom Williams wedding
and kissed the bride. couldn't help It.
Hs Made Il I'VE"
a. a.