J ij
??lr"j . AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. j7!'
"Vol. "VII. IVov Bloomfleld, Pa., Tuesday, December 3, 1873. TYo. 48.
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Farmer Bell's Speculation.
A COZY, comfortable homo wbs Farm
er Bell's. Originally it was one of
those old-fashioned farm-houses which are
" pretty much all kitchen," and that kitch
en as delightful a spot to pass a winter eve
ning in as you would find in a day's ride.
But as he prospered Farmer Boll bad built
a modern front to his house, so that be
now had a parlor, where there was a mantle-piece
surmounted by two gilt vases
filled with dried grass, and a centre-table
covered with books and daguerreotypes,
and a fashionable stove with flying cupids
on the sides. On great occasions, such as
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas,' the par
lor was warmed and occupied ; and through
out this goodly land there was no man who
observed Thanksgiving Day more religious
ly than did Farmer Bell. That Hay had
never passed over his head without its
every item of oustomary observance from
the going to " meeting" in the morning,
down to the cranberry sauce, without which
no holiday turkey is a perfect success.
And it was wont to be Farmer Boll's
cheerful boast that Thanksgiving Day bad
never passod over his head in gloom. But
this year the good man looked forward to
the coming of that day with painful feel
ings, for it promised to be accompanied
with little comfort. Farmer Bell had been
unfortunate.
In the spring Mr. Bell, looking forward
to his son Leonard's contemplated mar
riage with Miss Emily Button, the pretty
music teacher in the village, had resolved
to risk his all in a great speculation that
would inside of a year not him a good
thousand dollars ef clean profit, and this
was to be Leonard's marriage portion. So
Farmer Bell commenced buying up lean
cattle. Owing to the demand for beef,
cattle were bought up very clean all over
the country, and prices were very high.
At that time there was a good proiipcct of
an advance, and even if prices held on aa
they were he would make an excellent
profit. lie mortgaged his farm to Squire
Gripe, a hard old fellow in the village, who
refused to take a mortgage for a full year
ou the house, but agreed to transfer it to
the cattle in the fall if the farmer was not'
ready to pay ; and Farmer Bell was not the
kind of man to trouble himself about sucli
a matter. Though I call his enterprise a
"speculation," it was not of that precarious
order of enterprise which flourishes in
Wall street ; it was simply the turning of
all the energies of bis farm in one direction
that is to say, the feeding of lean cattle
for the market. Few muudaue things
could be more certain than that the prices
of beef would ere long rule high ; and as
the farmer went about the country picking
op one "creature" here and another there,
and paying cash down for each, be soon
got together as fine a herd of lean cattle as
you will often see in any pasture fifty of
them, bought for something less than two
thousand dollars cash, and certain to sell
for at least three thousand when fattened.
Three thousand dollars was an immense
turn of money to Farmer Bell, as it is to
many a well-to-do farmer who never knew
want and never expects to.
. As prices continued good, and even im
proved, Farmer Bell considered his boy's
fortune as good as made ; and so the time
for the wedding was set, and due prepara
tions begun. It was to be on Thauksgiving
Eve eve of the happiest day of the whole
year, in Farmer Bell's opinion.
Leonard Bell was a fine young farmer of
twenty-five, of an Intelligent, well-read
mind, who bad Intended to adopt pro
fessional life, but bad found by a little ex.
perienre that his robust physique would
not endure to much confinement, and so
had resolved on following out his father's
line of life. lie sang bass in the choir of
the Methodist church in the village, where
Miss Emily Sutton played the organ, and
there he had formed the acquaintance with
her which had ripened into love and pro
posal. . Emily was an orphan, born and reared in
a distant State, who, after hor parents
died, camo to Reyton and resided with an
aunt, and supported herself by giving
lessons on the piano-forte, and playing the
organ for a salary of fCO a year. Notwith
standing she had a very pretty face and a
lively disposition, Emily was a remarkably
sensible little woman, as she sufficiently
showed by her appreciation of Leonard
Bell. Farmer Bell was quite delighted
with his son's choice, aud was never tired
of animadvorting on her excellences.
"No matter if she is poor, Leonard," he
would sometimes say, with a great ostenta
tion of contempt for wealth, " that's no
more than your mother was when I mar
ried her. She never brought me a cent,
but she brought me what's a thousand
times better, a tender heart and a sensible
head and a busy hand. And look how I
have prospered." For Farmer Boll con
sidered himself decidedly a wealthy man.
Along in October his cattle were all in
shed, and his heart glowed at sight of
them. But one morning after be had been
feeding them, and was looking them over
with an admiring eye, his attention was
attracted by the curious behavior of one of
his best "creatures," who had her legs
drawn under her as if she was cold, while
the muscles of the neck and shoulders
twitched spasmodically. He did not know
at first what it meant ; but when he saw a
peculiar discharge from her nose; and found
that her ears and legs bad become as cold
as ice, a chill of terror ran through him,
for he recognized the symptoms of the
rinderpeit, the new cattle pestilence. The J
trlgntlul disease ran line wuu-nre uirougu
the herd, and was conveyed to his horses
too, so that the whole were swept away in
a fearfully short time ; and Farmer Bell
was a ruined man.
This, then, was bis condition as Thanks
giving Day drew nigh. Of course tho mort
gage could not now be transferred to the
cattle, and be knew Bquire Gripe too well
to hope that be would give him an exten
sion now that his property was gone. And
even if he should, what hope was there ?
" It would take me half a lifetime to get
two thousand dollars togethor, Ruth," lie
said to his wife. "Every thing wi!l have
to go. I don't know what will become of
us. You'll have to put oft' your marriage,
Leonard, for the old man has got nothing
for you not even a corner of the old home
to live in. It's hard, ain't it boy ?"
"I shall not put it off, father," said
Leonard, " unless Emily wishes it, and I
don't think she will. I shall tell her all
about It, and leave it to her to trust herself
to a young man with nothing but a strong
arm and willing heart. It would be a pity
if we could not live comfortably by our own
exertions. Don't be so downcast, father.
I'll have a home of my own yet, and a
corner in it for the old folks, too, if they
need it. People don't starve to death in
this country."
" Bless your generous heart, Leonard,"
said Farmer Bell ; " I shan't balk you if
Miss Sutton don't ; but you'll have hard
pulling for a while, I'm afraid."
When Leonard told Emily about it her
bright eyes first flashed with light, aud
then dimmed with tears, at the picture of
the old folks' desolation, which her sympa
thetic heart beheld ; but she said :
"My selfish soul is glad, Leonard, for
now I can help you. Our home will want
for nothing. You have no idea how much
money I can earn with these little fingers ;
and if that ugly Squire Gripe lakes their
home away from them, your father aud
mother shall live with us, Leonard."
" Darling girl," said the delighted young
man, " you are a prize Indeed, and worthy
of a better man than I am. I haven't had
any fears of my own, Emily, from the first,
and with you at my side I'll defy fortuuo's
frowns."
" Spoken like a soldier-boy," said Emily.
For Leonard had served his three years in
tho war, the reader must know which
helped the pretty musio-teacher in her
efforts to fall in love with him.
So the preparations for the wedding went
ou just as before, and when the night be
fore Thanksgiving came they were married
at the old farm-bouse, in the preseace of a
merry party of friends. But Farmer Bell's
face was not cheerful one. The con
sclousness of hit impending fate hung over
him continually like a pall, and it was im
possible to keep him in good spirits. The
mortgage was past due had been for sev
eral days and knowing the hnrd character
of Bquire Gripe he bad been expecting
notice of the foreclosure daily, till it had
made him as nervous as a woman, and rob
bed him of his rest. The mysterious be
havior of Gripe in holding off so long as he
bad, helped to puzzle the old man's mind
and increase his anxiety. He felt a pecu
liar thrill of pleasure, it must be confessed,
when Emily went up and put her hand in
his and called him father, for Farmer Bell
had never had a daughter of his own ; but
it was momentary.
" We anticipate such a glorious Thanks
giving dinner to-morrow, father," said
he. "I hope you have killed the fattest
turkey."
" Yes, yes," Mrs. Bell answered for him,
the turkey is all stuffed and ready for
basting. John always relishes his Thanks
giving turkey more than all the other
dinners of the year. Don't you John ?"
" Thanksgiving Day has always been a
happy day with me, and wife," said Farm
er Bell, as if striving to appear cheerful ;
" and I'll do my best toward making to
morrow happy I promise you," But
through his mind that same moment ran
the thought where will we all be come this
time next year ?
But when they gathered about the old
table in the great roomy kitchen, the next
day for one brief hour Farmer Bell's gloom
was dissipated by the joyousness of the
scene and its pleasant associations.
Leonard's bright-eyed young wife was in
abounding good spirits, and laughed and
chatted till Farmer Bell forgot the mort
gage and everything else but the genial
pleasure of the hour. Emily complimented
everything on the table and declared it the
nicest dinner she ever sat down to in her
life. The turkey was done to a turn ; the
pumpkin-pie was a marvel of cnlinery per
fection. It was while they were discussing
the pies that Farmer Bell began to tell a
laughable reminiscence of bis youth, in
which a pumpkin jack-'o-lantern figured,
and which caused great merriment around
the board; and as he was in the midst of the
funniest part be glanced out of the window
his face suddenly paled, and he uttered an
exclamation of terror and consternation.
Bquire Gripe's well-known rusty old horse
and chaise were at the hitching-post by
the gate, and Gripe himself was limping up
the walk toward the house.
" lie can't be coming to serve the notice
on Thanksgiving Day!" cried Leonard,
anxiously.
"Why not?" said Farmer Bell in a bitter
tone ; " he keeps no holidays. Probably
some business brings him out of his road,
and he's for saving the sheriff's fee, and an
extra journey at the same time."
The Squire's nervous rap was heard at
the door, and Farmer Bell asked all to re
main seated he would go to the door
himself. So he left the room. ,
"How are ye eh Mr. Bell?" asked the
Squire, in his peculiar piping treble.
" Coolish eh coolish out?"
" Yes, sir," said the farmer, showing
his guest into the parlor, where the
Thanksgiving fire was burning. " Well,
sir," he added, as soon as the Squire wat
seated. " I suppose you're on business?"
"Yes eh but not with you, Mr.
Bell," was the answer. "It's Miss eh
Sutton I want to see. She's bore, ain't
she ?"
"Yes," said the fanner, "or rather
Miss Sutton that was. She's my son's wife
now."
"Ob, then it's eh come off, has it?
Heard something about it but didn't know
when eh it was to come off. Congratu
late ye."
"I'll send her in," said the farmtr;
and he went into the kitchen to do his er
rand. "Oh, it's me he wants, is it?" said
Emily, rising from the table.
" Do yon want your husband ?" asked
Leonard, curiously.
" No," said she, laughing ; " I'll do with
out my protector this time. If I scream
you - can come, you know." Aud then she
tripped out of the room.
A few minutes after Squire Gripe limped
down the garden path, and drove off, as
Emily came into the kitchen again and sat
down to finish her dinner. '
" What does make yoa all so gloomy ?"
she asked ; " I declare, father, one would
think there had been a funeral Instead of u
wedding. Mother, I must have another
piece of that delicious pie."
"Ah, Emily," said the farmer, "you've
got a cheerful heart You'll be a blessing
to Leonard. Nothing can damp your
spirits.''
" A blessing to all of you. I hope," said
Emily, in a low and thrilling tone, as tears
started Into ber kind brown eyes. " Dear,
dear !" she added in a half-vexed voice,
" why don't some of you ask me what
Bquire Gripe wanted with me ? Have you
no curiosity in the Boll family ?"
The father, mother, and son exchanged
embarrassed looks ; for all conversation on
the subject of the dreaded mortgage had
been avoided among them by common con
sent since Emily came ; and they could aot
speak of the man who held it except with
direct reference to the subject. The sudden
words they had uttered at the sight of the
Squire at the gate had been evoked by the
excitement of the moment, and forgotten
as soon as uttered.
" Well, if you won't ask me," said Emily
" I'll tell you without asking. Or rather
I'll show you. Come in the parlor, please."
She took hold of farmer Boll's muscular
arm with her two little hands, and they all
went in. There was a folded paper lying
on the table. Farmer Bell started as if it
were a gbost. The word " mohtgaob" was
printed on it in large letters, and there was
some writing underneath.
" He came to bring you that, father,"
said Emily.
1 Bring me what?" stammered Farmer
Bell, with white lips, his eyes moving from
the paper to the young woman like a man
In a dream. "What is it?"
" Look at it and see," said Emily, " you
ought to know it. You have seen it be
fore." .
Farmer Boll took the paper from the
table with trembling hands and opened it.
He looked at the ton and read "This In
denture ;" he looked at the bottom and saw 1
bis own signature, and under it, that of his
wife Ruth Boll, and opposite each a little
round seal, with blue edge.
" It is yours, father," whispered Emily ;
"tear it up."
" What I" cried the farmer, finding his
voice at last. " Mine? where'd you got it.
Emily? You can't have wheedled old
Gripe out of a two-thousand dollar mort
gage for all you're the wlnniugest bit of
womankind alive. Mine, Emily ?" Why
this is the mortgage on my house I JHa, ha,
ha I Mother what are you crying about ?
God bless you daughter, I can't understand
it, but I know you're "
The old follow broke down in spite of
himself when he got so far, and drew out
his red silk handkerchief and wiped his
moist eyes that he might bend over and
look again at the mortgage, he had put
back on the table as carefully as if it were
made of gold leaf.
How Emily explainod the presence here
of the mortgage was very simple : she had
bought it some time before, in fact on the
day of its expiration,and as part of the bar
gain had stipulated Jthat the paper should
be delivered to her, at Farmer Bell's by
Bquire Gripe himself, on Thanksgiving
Day.
But to her present auditors this explana
tion only served to create a deeper mystery;
where should Emily get so much money?
" So the time has come," said she, "when
I must expose my secret a secret that I
have kept for three long years without a
solitary confidant. When my mother died
sho loft mo property worth a few thousand
dollars which my father never disturbed,
and though be died insolvent, you see I
bad something. But as my property was
in Reyton here, and was managed by an
agent who never used my name to tenants,
it was supposed I was penniless. When I
saw what a difference my property made
in the manner of the bigger sex toward me,
I concluded not to dissipate their delusion,
so that if I ever did marry, I'd many an
honest man, who loved me for myself ; and
that is just what I have done," she said
putting her hand contentedly in Leonard's.
" You blessed little humbug I" murmur
ed Leonard.
" And now," said she, "what is to be
done with this ugly bit of paper ?" point
ing to the mortgage on the table.
'It is your's.daughter,' said Farmer Boll;
" you have bought it with your money, and
I will pay It off yet. You'll give me plenty
of time, I know, and plenty of time Is all I
ask."
"Oh, don't be so sober !" cried Emily,
Impatiently ; and then she added, " bow
much eh time do you call eh plenty
of time ?" in such a surprising imitation of
Squire Gripe's piping, hesitating voice that
it was irresistibly laughable, and Farmer
Bell nearly choked himself over it.
Emily patted the fanner on the broad
back with mock solitude, and when he was
quite recovered and stood wiping bis red
face with bis silk handkerchief, Emily
quietly took the mortgage from the table
with the stove tongs, and holding It off at
arm's length carried it and put it in the
fire.
" There !" said she, "that the end of
that thing. And now, father, I'm dying to
hear the end of that story you were telling
at the table about the pumpkin jack-o'-lantern,
when Squire eh Gripe Interrupt
ed you." ' , '
If there was a merrier Thanksgiving
group in the land than that at Farmer
Bell's fireside for the rest of the blessed.
(lay I should like to know of It.
The Idea of the Spinning Jenny.
James Hargreaves dropped upon his
knee and rolled upon the floor at length.
He lay with his face toward the floor,
and made lines and circles with the end of
a burnt stick. He rose and went to the
fire to burn his stick. Then he sat upon a
chair and placed his head between his
hands, his elbows on his knees, and gazed
intently to the floor. Then he sprang to
bis feet, and replied to some feeble question
of his wife, who had not risen since the
day she gave birth to a little stranger, by
a loud assurance that he had it ; and, tak
ing her in his sturdy arms in the blanket,
the baby in her aims, he lifted her out and
held ber over the black drawing on the
floor. These he explained, and she joined
in a small, hopeful, happy laugh with his
high-toned assurance that she should never
again toil at the spinning-wheel ; that he
should never again " play," aud have his
loom standing for want of weft.
"Our fortune is made when this is
mode," said he, speaking of his drawing
on the floor.
"What will you call it?" nBkod his
wife.
"Call it? What and we call it after
thyself Jenny ? They called thee ' Spin
ning Jenny 'afore I had thee, because thou,
beat every lass in Stanchill Moor at the
wheel. What if we call it the ' Spinning
Jenny?"
. The Spinning Jonny could spin twelve
threads, instead of one, as by hand-spinning.
The populace broke the machine to.
pieces, and poor Hargreaves' heart at the
same time. , .
Richard Arkwright, a common barber,
caught the idea of Hargreaves, improved
upon it, realized half a million sterling,
and became Sir Richard Arkwright, whose
son, in 1843, died the richest commoner in
England.
The Southern negroes have a super
stition that if, when upon the road, a rab
bit crosses the road before them it is a sign
of bad luck. A crowd of girls and boys
were on their way to a country sohoo,
when a hare being frightened from its
burrow, ran across the road in front of the
party. The girls instantly, and with one
accord, turned quickly around three times
on their heels, pulled of their suu-bonnets,
spat in them, turned them inside out, and,
placing them again on their heads, wore
them thus to school, congratulating thorn
solve on the way that by these very essen
tial maneuvers they had averted some spe
cies of bad luck that was about to befall
them. The boys likewise turned on their
heels and spat iu their hats. Ono of tho
boys who had never before witnessed such
a silly proceeding, was very much amused
and laughed heartily at his companions.
The girls looked upon him with an expres
sion of horror and with clasped and wring
ing hands implored him to follow their ex
ample. This he refused to do, and they
set upon him with violence, pulled his hat
from his head, and made him spit in it.
Tongh on the Fish.
A devout clergyman sought every oppor
tunity to Impress upon the mind of his
son that the falling sparrow attracts bis
attention, and that His loving kindness is
over all His works. Happening one doy,
to see a crane wading in quest of food the
good man pointed out to his son the per
fect adaptation of the crane to get his liv
ing In that manner, " See," said he
" how his legs are formed for wading I
What a long slender bill he has ! Observe
how nicely he folds his feet when putting
them in or drawing them out of the water I
He does not cause the slightest ripple t
He is thus enabled ' to approach the fish,
without giving them any notice of his ar
rival. It is impossible, my son, to look at
that bird without recognizing the goodness
of God in thus providing the means of sub
sistence." " Yes," replied the boy, " I think I see
the goodness of God, at least so far as the
crane is concerned ; but after all, father,
don't you think the arrangement a little
tough on the fish ?"
(W While vanity is a weakuees which we
are inclined to pity, self-esteem, if not ex
cessive, at once elicits our respect and admiration.