Year: 1865




" Your nephew, Felix Graham, is growing
rich hear" said my neighbor Jones, as be
carried NE to the depot, whence l was to start
for my sisters sons.


+" Perhaps SO" was my brief reply. " do
not know the state of bis finances"


"There is no doubt of it, 1 should think, y
he reioined. Ny brother met him last win
ter at the savings bank, aud be saw him de
posit thousand dollars as the net gains OF
his farming for the year. l hear be is driving
a great business this summer, and he will pro-
bably have another pile for investment. when
January comes again. But you are going
there and will see for yourself, so good-by. y


Ihad not visited Felix in four or FIVE years,
but having sent notice of my intention to go
there by tie early morning train, was a lit
tie disappointed on my arrival at the Cross
Roads, which was the nearest station
to his dwelling, and about two miles
dstant) not to see the horse and chaise which
had always been sent TO meet me. However,
there was a decent conveyance called the
Grahamsvile Express, which would take me
almost to my nephew's door and so | went
along The driver knew me- for the village
had heeu my home before my marriage and
removal to the city, and be too spoke OF Felix
Graham as man 10 be envied for his steady
and growing prosperity.


II hope to find him well then,r said l.
"When missed him and the black pony at
the depot, feared something was the matter"


All, he was too busy to leave I suspect
When man has made up his mind to be rich
be can't stop for trifes, you know" And the
expressman laughed as if the joke was as rich
as the subject of it, and perhaps it was. My
nephew's daughters met me as the wagon
stopped, and welcomed me most heartily.


Jane and Lucy were sensible, affectionate
girls, last growing to womanhood. Taking
nv bag and bandbox in their arms, they es-
corted me to the house and then leaving me
to the cordial greetings of their mother, they
went back for my trunk.


That is too heavy for the girls" l eaid,
rising hastily to prevent it. But Mrs. Gra-
ham held me back.


Felix expects US to manage such little
matters" she replied. HE and the men are
so busy always. and their time is worth so
much more than ours" she added APOLOGIZE
cally.


l did not meet my nephew until supper was
on the table Glad to see you Aunt Lois"
he said as he shook my hand furiously. and
hastened to take his seat. &" l suppose you ex-
pected me at the depot, but this is my cucum-
Der harvest, and every hour is worth so much
gold to me- shall set twenty-five cents for
everv Of cucumber can send to
market this week, and that will count up the
money fast" The complacent, selfsatis6ed
smile accompanying this remark was revala-
tion to me.


Have you read Mrs. -s last vol
ume Z" inquired of Jennie, as she sat for
few moments in my chamber that evening.


al have hardly seen u book since l left
school two years ago." was the reply. "Falh,
er says be cannot afford 10 buy them and
Lucy and l are too constantly employed
through the day and too weary in the evening
to read much if we had them" The sigh that
followed JeGnie's explanation went to my
heart, for knew how she loved to read and
study when I saw her in her childhood.


You are working too hard" l said to my
uephew's wife, as 1 followed her through the
round of toll from Tuesday till saturday
+" With so many hired men to cook for and
such dairy to tend, you need stouter frame
and stronger arms than you and the girls caD
boast"


Yes, aunt, We are all doing too much,' she
said, sadly " but Felix is so bent on getting
rich that he cannot afford to hire help in the
house that would take off the profits, he
SAYS; " and the wenried woman shook her
head hopelessly.


Sabbath came, and with it the morning and
evening family devotions, which had missed
during all the week. l suppose my looks
must have shown the surprise 1 felt, for my
nephew attempted hasty explanation.


We get no time for this week days, Aunt
Lois, as you must have observed. 1 have so
many men on hand that can't afford them to
lose an half hour in the morning, and they
don't value these things, you know. 1 have
to keep a sharp eye to business myself, to
bring the year round about right. But l do
not mean to give up my religion so we read
two or three chapters on Sunday, when we can
spare the time better"


Monday morning my visit was completed,
and 1 started for home. Felix accompanied
me to the depot, having business in that di-
rectiOn.


When we reached the cars, pale and feeble
soldier who had lost his leg in his country's
service, solicited help. My nephew turned
deaf ear to the moving appeal, his whispered
apology to me being the fact that he wanted
to lay up $1,000 this year, and that really
the Government ought TO take care OF its
soldiers


When l reached my home 1 set down and
wept and though did not explain the mat
ter to my neighbor Jones, who came to meet
me, did say to myself, and tell it in conf
dence to you, dear reader, that it is my opin-
ion Felix Graham is growing miserably poor,
-Springfsld Republican.


eunAHIREInU Tn ENeI Ann