Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-02-12
TIL LIbhT
IN TIE CLEARING
A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TINE OF SILAS WRIGHT
IRVINE 6ArHElLER
2VIN6 hAEHELLER
AUTHOR Or .s.
eBsN HOLDEN, DRi AND |. DARREL OF THE BLESSED ElA
KEEPING UP WITH lizzE, ETC, ETC

ARIEL or THE BLESSED slIS
uzzE. ETC. ETC
ted the shoes Of Amos. The young
man was held and presently indicted.
The time Of his trial was not deter
mined.
I wrote a good hand those days and
the leading merchant Of the village
engaged me to post his books every
Saturday at ten cents an hour. Thence
forward until Christmas gave my
free days to that task. I estimated
the sum that I should earn and
planned to divide it In equal parts and
proudly present it to my aunt and
uncle on Christmas day.
One Saturday while I was at work
on the big ledger Of the merchant !
ran upon this item:
October As. Wright-To one suit
of clothes for Michael Henry from
measures furnished by q. Robin
shirts to match ......................... 10
knew then the history Of the suit
Of clothes which I had worn since that
rainy October night for I remembered
that Sam Robinson, the tailor, had
measured me at our house and made
up the cloth of Aunt Deel's weaving.
I observed, also, that numerous ar
ticles-a load of wood, two sacks OF
-four, three pairs Of boots, one coat.
ten pounds of salt pork and four
bushels Of potatoes-all for "Michael
Henry"-had been charged to Silas
Wright.
So by the merest chance I learned
that the invisible michael Henry" was
the almoner Of the modest statesman
and really the spirit Of Silas Wright
feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked and warming the cold house,
In the absence Of its owner. Il was
the heart Of Wright Joined to that Of
the schoolmaster, which Sat In the
green chair.
fear that my work suffered mo.
rnent's interruption, for Just then ]
began to know the great heart Of the
senator. Its warmth was in the cloth
ing that covered my back, its delicacy
In the ignorance Of those who had
shared its benefactions.
count this one Of the great events
Of my youth. But there was greater
one, although 1t seemed not 20 ut the
time Of it. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing large amount Of money
$2,7OO was the sum, If remember
rightly. he was man who. being
Justly suspicious Of the banks. had
Withdrawn his money. Posters an
nounced the loss and the offer Of z
large reward. The village was pro
foundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring it,
dust and CROPPING in its grass and bri-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. It was said.
however, that the quest had been I'M
successful. So the lost pocketb0ok
became a treasured mystery Of the
village and of all the hills and val
leys toward Ballybeen-a topic Of old
wives and Cabling husbands at the
freside for unnumbered years.
By and by the fall term Of school
ended. Uncle Peabody came down to
get me the day before Christmas. ]
had enjoyed my work and my life At
the Jackets, on the whole, but I was
glad to be going home again. My
uncle was in high spirits and there
were many packages in the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love YER said Mr..
Hacket as he babe us goodby. Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
hills to your house"
The bells rang merrily as we hur.
ried through the swamp in the. hard
snow paths.
''We're goin' to move" said my
uncle presently. "We've agreed to get
out by the middle O. May"
'How does that happen" I asked.
IT settled with Grimshaw and agreed
to go. II it hadn't a been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got q
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at the sale. So he settled. We're
goin' to have new home. We've
bought a hundred an fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin to build a new
house In the spring. It will be nearer
the village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
his elbow.
'We've had little good luck, Bart, u
he went on. "11l tell We what it Is II
you won't say anything about It."
I promised.
II dunno as it would matter much
he continued, "but don't want to do
any braggin'. 1t amt anybody's bust.
ness, anyway. An old uncle over In
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-eight hundred dollars
It was old Uncle Ezra Baynes o.
Hinesburg. Died without a chick OF
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. It wal
more money than ever see before
In my life. We put 1t In the bank in
Potsdam to keep 1t out O. Grimshaw'a
hands. I wouldn't trust that man q
fur as you could throw a bull BY tho