Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-01-08
THE L|6HT
IN THE CLEARING
A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TINE OF SILAS WRIGHT
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]. IRVINE hAEHEuLER
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IRVING hAEhElER


EDaO ~ VI
While We were talking in walked
BENJAMIN Grimshaw-the rich man Of
tie hills. He didn't stop to knock
but walked right in o. If the house
were his own. It was common gos'
dip that he held mortRge on every
acre Of the countryside. l had neve!
liked him, for he was stern'eyeo
man who was always scolding some
body, and l had not forgotten what bill
con had said Of him.
'Good night!' he exclaimed CURLY
las he nat down and set his cane be-
tween his feet and rested his hands
upon It. He spoke hoarsely and !
remember the curious notion came to
me that he looked like our old ram.
He wore thin, gray beard under his
chin. His mouth was shut tight In
. long line curving downward lit
tie at the ends. My uncle used to
say that his mouth was made to keep
his thoughts from leaking and going
to waste. He had big body, big
chin, big mouth, big nose and
big ears and hands. His eyes lay
small In this setting Of bigness.
"Why, Mfr. Grimshaw, it's years
since you've been in our house
ayes !" said Aunt Deel. ~.
Il suppose it Is" he answered rath'
er. sharply. II don't have much time
to get around. have to work.
There's some people seem to be able
to git along without it. see you've
got one o. these newfangled stoves"
he added as he looked it over. "Huh
Rich folks can have anything they
want"
Uncle Peabody had sat splintering
the long stick of yellow birch. I OBJ
served that the jackknife trembled In
his hand. His tone had touch OF
unnaturalness, proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him,
as he said:
"When I bought that stove I felt
richer than do now. had almost
enough to settle with you up to date,
but signed note for friend and
had to pay It"
"Ayuh! I suppose So" Grimshaw
answered in tone Of bitter irony
which cut me like a knife-blade, young
as was. "What business have you
signin' notes an givin' away money
which amt yours to give-rd like to
know? What business have you actin
like a rich man when you can't pay
yer honest debts? I'd like to know
that, tOo7"
If I've ever acted like rich man
it's been when I want lookin'," said
Uncle Peabody.
.What business have you to 60 en-
largin' yer family-takin' another
mouth to feed and another body to
spin fort That costs money. l want
to tell you one thing, Baynes. you've
got to pay up or git out o here"
he raised his cane and shook It In
the air as he spoke.
"Oh, I amt no doubt O. that" said
Uncle Peabody. "You1l have to have
yer noney-that's sure; an you wiz
have n II live. every cent OF 1t.
This boy is goin' to be great help
to me-you don't know what good
boy he is and what comfort he's
been to us!"
These words Of my beloved uncle
uncovered my emotions SO that ! put
my elbow on the wood-box and leaned
my head upon it and sobbed.
II amt goin' to be hard on ye,
Baynes," said Mr.. Grimshaw as he
rose from his chair; "pll give ye
three months to see what you can do.
l wouldn't wonder if the boy would
turn out all right. He's big an cordy
of his age and a purity likely boy, they
tell me-"
Mr.. Grimshaw opened the door and
stood for moment looking at US and
added in q miIder tone: "You've got
one O. the best farms in this town an
II We work hard an use common
sense ye ought to be out o debt In
i've yearS-meDDe less.
He closed the door and went away.
Neither of US moved or spoke az we
listened to his footsteps on the gravel
path that went down to the road and
to the sound Of his buggy as he drove
away. Then Uncle Peabody broke
the silence by saying:
~Ho,a the Clam'deSt-"
He stopped. set the half-splintered
stick aside, closed his jackknife and
went to the WATERFALL to cool his
emotions with a drink.
Aunt Deel took up the subject where
he had dropped 1t, as If no-half-e1-
pressed sentiment would satisfy her.
saying:
old skinflint that ever lived In
this world, ayes! I amt goin' to
hold my opinion O. that man no
longer. ayesl I can't. It's too pow
erful-ayes
Having recovered my compOsure l
repeated that should like to give up
school and stay at home and work.
Aunt Deel interrupted me by say
ing:
Il have an idee that Sile Wright
will help us-ayes! He's comm home
an you better 60 down an see him
ayes! Hadn't ye?"
"Bart an I'll go down to-mOrreE."
said Uncle Peabody.
Some fourteen months before that
day my uncle had taken me to Pots
dam and traded grain and salts for