Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1896 — THE FAMILY STORY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FAMILY STORY

A BLESSED MORTGAGE

Mrs. Munroe was in esetasies of delight. She had secured a new cook at the most ridiculous wages. Of course, •he had not told the new girl, but it was finite true that she paid her not half what she had been compelled to pay dhe cook who had just left her. But twlien Almira Pollers, a fresh, pleasantfeatured young country girl, had ap<9tied for the place and had accepted 'Mrs. Monroe’s offer of $2 a week to •tart with, her new mistress did not think it necessary to mention that the ®roffered sum was very low indeed. “Of course, you shall have more as upw improve, Almira, but you know so JUtle about fancy cooking I scarcely feel able to pay you mere at the start.” •Mrs. Munroc had, smiling sweetly on !Almira, who did not know that very little fancy cooking was ever done in that •household. And so Almira took up her harden, and for the first time In nineteen years of her life began to earn •wages. The Pollers had always been farmers and owned their own place, but Almira’s father had somehow managed to get behind and a mortgage had been fastened upon the farm. The man who -held the mortgage.was very well satisfied to receive a good interest every year and renew Peter Pollers’ note, but it came to pass that it was bard to pay oven the interest. This particular year the crops had mostly failed. It lacked Ant a few weeks until the interest was due, when Almira, the eldest of the flock—there were ten in all—made up •her mind to go out ”to service.” Her determination created a great commotion in the family. None of the Pollers women had ever worked out, and the Idea was very distasteful, but Almira •ventually carried the day. Had her •duration been thorough enough she would gladly have taught school, but the little Pollers had appeared at such frequent intervals that Almira was obfiged to stay at home most of the time •to assist iter mother, and her edueartion was limited. , So. not without some inward struggles, she had decided that the only way she could help along would be by exercising her chief gift, cooking. Mrs. Munroc's advertisement in the Week'ljy Gazette had caught her eye. and uhe was very happy when she secured the situation. The wages were not ~ targe, but slie eould save ail the money for her father, and there would be one less to feed at home. That counted stir something. ‘ ", } Mrs. Munro’s family consisted of herself and a brother. Mr. Monroe had died several years before and his wid* •w was qjjite \tbalttiy. Her home, situated in an aristocratic suburb of tlie city, although small, was handsome and well appointed, and she had sufficient income to keop it up well. Mrs. Munroc liked to call herself economical, and we cannot deny slid was in ■ some things. She dressed elegantly and gave largely to her church, but there never was a closer woman in some respects than she. The shop people dreaded to see her come in, for although she always purchased the best, site invariably haggled at the price •util she got the goods for less than their marked price. At the groceries it was the same way, and woe to ths servant who wasted a scrap of anything or presumed to eat more thau the mistress thought necessary. After the first table Mrs. Munroc removed any delicacies she considered unnecessary for a servant’s coarse appetite without the slightest compunction. Her brother Tom, who paid a handsome sum for the privilege of sharing her home, once saw this performance and remonstrated with her, but to no avail. “It would be casting pearls before •wine." she remarked to his intense disgust, as she replaced a dish of lemon jelly in the closet and substituted a aancer of molasses. Tom Birney was one o,f those big hearted convivial fellows who. left with more money than they needed, succeeded in getting rid of it in different and unprofitable ways. He was

mot really bad. but be drauk a good bit and never bad done anything useful in bis life. lie bad been put in Bis father’s office, but he was extreme weak in his arithmetic, and suceeeded in mixing up the figures so •Badly that ’it took an esport to untangle them. After that his father Bad not tried to make a business man «f him, but said"that as Tom had been cut out for a gentleman he should be «ae, . „ But this was exactly what poor Tom was not cut out to be—that is, if we agree to the accepted meaning of the word—a man of refined manners, tie Bived horses and enjoyed the society •f horsemen; liked better to hear a nob list German girl sing funny songs at the garden than to hear Ttftti at the Grand. If he ever to his aister's importunities to accompany Her to a dancing party he was sure to atep on his partner’s toes, to tear their dresses by his awkwardness, and drink too much champagne at suppef. In tort Tom, although kind-hearted and Honest, was very 11l at ease and out •jT place at society, and ttt last, after making himself very conspicuous at a Sew York dance, his sister vowed she would never ask him t(j go with her again. She told him ibis-very emphatically the morning after me ball, as •he left him to eat his late breakfast alone. Tom was feeling very badly and Indulging in a severe case of “fcatzei* Jammer,” the result of too frequent vis. Its to the punch bowl, but looked up when Almiru came In with his breaking nnd l Ttottfeed that she was looking ■ale. “IThiv Is the matter, Alnjira?” he •** pd - . ' ■ < 4i “Nothing, Mr. Tom,” replied Almira, wieriug toward the door quietly. sqjr there is something wrong} •at with It, Almira,” continued Tom? wishing to help her If she was in Irou-

ble of any kind. Almira made no reply and Tom sprang up and obstructed her way. “Say, you're working too hard, and Sister Eleanor pays you beastly small wages. I'll be bound. “ Maybe it's a new gown or a bonnet you're grieving after —eh, Almira? Here, take this aud get it.” And before Elmira could speak the impulsive Tom had plunged his hands into liis pockets, brought out a lot of c-oip and flushed it into nor hands. “How dare you?” she demanded, so choked up she could scarcely articulate. “Have I ever given you any reason. Mr. Tom, to treat me with such disrespect?’’ “Disrespect?” repeated Tom. very red and astonished. "Do you think I meant any disrespect to you, Almira? I swear I respodt you more than any other woman I know; r only thought you were pining for some of the pretty things most girls like, and why shouldn't I do some good with my useless money?” Almira saw that lie was honest in his speech and was appeased, but when he asked anxiously, “If it isn't a gown or hat. what in heaven's name is- it?" she burst into tears, and forgetting that she was Mrs. Munroe's servant-girl and that Mr. Tom was her brother and a rich man, forgetting,, all save the trouble that was wearing on her and making her pale and thin, she poured out her woes into his sympathizing ear. She told him abont the mortgage on their farm, how it had been renewed from year to year when the interest was paid. They had grown so accustomed to flint they hud never thought' of losing the place until Mr. Boilers, on taking: the interest so hardly earnedand increased by Almira’s Savings, had been inforpied that liis creditors needed the money and must have it on ihe farm. 1

The blow lmd fallen like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. The thought of leaving the old homestead was insupportable, and yet Where could Peter Pollers expect to raise the money to cancel the mortgage? Almira told her story, punctuated by sobs, pud Tom listened attentively. When she had finished, he asked, “Is it a large sum. Almira?” “Oil, yes, Mr. Tom, $2,000’.” she said, sadly. “Hunt!” said Tom, pulling liis mustache aud looking very hard out of the window. “Couldn’t your father get. some one to pay the man and take up the mortgage? “Suppose—suppose—T take it up. Almira?” ventured Tom, still lookipg out of the window and getting very red again. Astonishment and rapture appeared on the girl’s face at liis words. “Do you mean it, Mr. Tom? Oil, you are too good!” she cried. “Bosh!” said Tom, brusquely. “It's siuinlv a good investment. Don't accuse me of being good, Almira; I'm incorrigibly bad, I am., But” (hearing footsteps approaching), “run on. I’ll drive out and see your father to-day and get the mortgage.” And without giving her a moment to express her thanks, he hurried on. Mf6t long after this Almira noticed that Tom was drinking steadily. He took what meals he ate at home alone, Mrs. Munroc declaring she would not and could not lend him .her countenance. The girl, as she waited on him, felt a great deal of pity for this man, who seemed so alone and was wasting health and fortune in dissipation, and at last one morning when lie was looking unusually used up and liis hands were trembling so that lie could hardly hold his cup she again forgot the difference in their stations and spoke out. “Mr. Tom,” she said, “I'm sorry for you.” “What! Sorry for me? What do you mean, Almira? I’m having a jolly good time. A short life and a .men*}- one—that's my motto. Almira shook her head and looked at him steadily. “Do you never think how much good you might do instead of throwing yourself into little better than a beast?” “Humph! That’s pretty strobg language. I must say,” he growled. “But it’s true. Mr. Tom, if you keep on you’ll sink lower and Viwer—oh, it’s dreadful to think of it.” Almira shuddered as she picked up her tray and left the table.

" llold there,” said Tom, “you don't understand it, Almira, it’s got sueli a hold on me. How can I shake It off? I’ve got no one else to help me if I try.” and, weakened and unnerved as he was, the tears started to his eyes. “Tell me what to do!” “You can get down.and pray to God to help you,” said Almira, solemnly, “and you can go to the cure. They say it's wonderful what they can do. Be a man, Mr. Tom, and try it,” she urged. Tom sat irresolute for a moment, then rose and grasped her hand. “I will try,” he said, “and If I come out ahead It will all be owing to you. But it will be hard, iUmlra. I know, for 1 tried on<*>, only I couldn't stick It out. But I’ll try again, if only to show you ” He stopped abruptly and rung her hand and rushed out of the room. If Mrs. Munroe had known that her brother set such value on Almira Pollers’ good opinion she would have been horrified. She reported that brother Tom had gone to a sanitarium because she. had lectured him into it. and was quite satisfied as the weeks'lengthened into months and Torn still remained there. , In truth he was having a terrible fight with the demon who had so nearly claimed him as his own. But at last he “came out ahead,” as he -himself explained It. , When be returned heme he walked straight through all the handsome rooms down to the kitchen, where Almira was alone at work. The look on his face even before he spoke, told her that Us had conquered.

“Oli, I'm so glad,’* she faltered, putting her toil-worn hand into the one he holdout. “I knew- you eould do it.” “You liAd faith in me, did you, Almira ?” he asked, still holding her hand and looking curiously at her beaming face. Almira nodded assent. i “Well, I’m cured now—wouldn’t touch a drop of it if there were gallons aud gallons of the very finest flowing around me. But will it last? I can’t tell, and TVc got to have somebody, to helpline if that dreaded thirst copies, on again. I’ve got to have a wife who will love and believe in me and keep ■me from falling. You're the only one who had faith in me, Almira, and you're the Only one I want for a wife. Say yes. Almira.” *' g • “0«i, Mr. Tom,” she c-riqdljtrying' to draw her band away, “you can’t mean it—why—l'm—pnly your sister’s cook.” “That has nothing to do with the ease. .You’re the noblest girl I know, and I want you and only you. i Can’t you try to love me enough to marry me. Almira? I'll try to be a good husband. I swear.” , “How can I help loving you," murmured Almira. “I've nearly worshiped you since you lifted that heavy load from my poor father’s shoulders, and if. you thmk I am good enough for ' you ” “Put on your bonnet right away and we'll find a license and a parson. Mrs. MunrOe might say some things—unpleasant things—to Almira Pollers that she would not dare to say to Mrs. Tom Birney.” And lit spite of Almira's remonstrances she waH marched off. and so expeditious was Tom that inside of an hour they Were married. Mrs. Munroc, when she was notified -of the happy event, gave full sway to her rage in the privacy of her own room. When kind friends offered condolence she sighed and wiped a few imaginary tears with her handkerchief. “Brother Tom was always the black sheep of tjie family.” she said. “We never could make a gentleman of him., I suppose we should be thankful heD done no worse. The girl is really quite capable and rhay be able to keep him straight.’ 1 ' The usual order of things was reversed when Mrs. Tom Birney on her wedding day made her father a present, and it was nothing less than the mortgage on liis farm. And Almira said, ns they all drew around the fireplace and watched it turn to ashes, that it, was a blessed mortgage after all, for it led her indirectly to her Tom. —Toledo Blade.