Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1900 — SIMON GREY’S FAMILY. [ARTICLE]

SIMON GREY’S FAMILY.

A Story of Country Life.

BY ALMA L. PARKER, GUIDE ROCK, NEB.

CHAPTER “(Yruiwly; 1 bill <f we got them Id M\tMr iV.fcfek ft Hbpiti* iicau admittigtVfttHm Yw “Suppose Rtyts times improvw vuW. Mill for itr "Indeed, I would-' 1 “Then you are \VI*Y not thluk If such were \toe Hlftt It was a Populist scheme to tjeveive people?” “Because Bryan’s an hoeeet Htttp ’' ‘ “How do you know?" “How do I know anything % My pftpe? says he’s honest.” “But how do you know it's the truth?” “See here. How do you know lie's dishonest?” “I don’t. Neither do 1 know he is honest. lam not personally acquainted with the man. but I do know- that he has charged outrageous high pay for making speeches over the country. It seems to me that a man who hates the rich, and so dearly loves the poor, would not care to accumulate wealth so fast, taking the dollars out of the laborer’s pockets. 1 tell you. Simon, if times get better, you ought to change your politics." . “Just wait ’till they get better. You'll have to wait ’till doomsday for times to improve under Republican rule.” Political Simon then walked into the store and placed his basket of eggs on the counter. “What are eggs worth to-day ?” he inquired of the clerk. “Two cents more than they were before election,” the clerk quickly responded. “Well.” said Simon, who knew the clerk was Republican, “you needn’t be so d—d glad to tell it. I see that Republicans like yourself are dreadful haughty because prices are a little better, but you’ll grin the other way when this little McKinley wave breaks.” “Mr. Grey, whenever this wave, as you call it, breaks, it will turn into foam of prosperity. Just notice.” “How easy,” said Simon, “some people are deluded. I see some fellows out there on the street a-shakin’ gold coin. I expect they inherited the pieces as an heirloom in the family, and they have been keepin’ them all these years to get a chance to show ’em now, to prove that all our gold-isn’t in England or the Government vaults.”

“Why, Mr. Grey, everybody can have gold now. Confidence is restored, and gold will once more circulate. Just take a check to the bank, and see if the banker won’t cash it in gold.” Political Simon doubted very much what the clerk said, and resolved within his own mind to go back home and bring two or three hogs to town, If they weren’t very fat, just to prove in his own mind that the clerk wasjnistaken. Sooner than Cynthia expected. Simon came home. During the campaign it had been his custom to stay so long in town that she was surprised to see him return in an hour. “Cynthia,” he said, as he entered the house, "I have decided to sell two or three hogs while this McKinley wave lasts, for no tellin’ what they’ll be worth after a while.” "What did you get lor ihe eggs?” “Two cents more than before. You make /ftlie liens hurry and lay before they govlowu.” “Maybe times ain't goin" to be as bad as predicted.” said Cynthia. “Now. Cynthia, women as a rule have weak minds, and are easily ififluenced, and I want you to lie on your guard. Better prices for a few days is the bait these goldbugs set to catch people on their hook, but I trust none of my family will bite.” “I suppose you are right, Simon, but time will prove all things. Accordin’ to your brother Ezra, success of the Populist ticket would not bring any benefits.” “Cynthia, don’t you ever mention Ezra’s idea of things. It has made me enough trouble without alluding to it. In an indirect way, Ezra’s Republicanism is the cause of ray sore head. If he knew how I have suffered for him, for the honor of the Grey family, I have an idea that he’d turn Populist.” “Maybe we Bad better write and tell him then.” “Great heavens, no! If I’d have licked the daylight out of Harrington, as I first intended to. It might do, but as he’s able to be up nnd around It would be better not to refer it. Just let bard times prove his mistake to him. He’ll be a Populist—mind, body and soul—'fore many years roll by.” Simon and his wife continued to talk for some time, and then Simon went back to Boonsville with his bogs, returning In the evening with a S2O gold Piece. „ “We’d better keep It for a curiosity, said Simon. “And hogs are a better price, too, are they, father?” inquired Vlimie. “Yes, everything Is improving to delude people.” It seemed to Vlnnle a very pleasant delusion, and four months later It seemed to her to be lasting a long while; that the McKinley wave must be a large one, tor times continued to improve.

CHAPTER V. ibe Road to the Poorbouse Missed. llilttlUUfiithin day had passed and Witt: .McKinley of Ohio was President us the United states. \ limit, Grey Imd acted in the capacity bf i'tittniy Mttperintendcnt of Public IWMHieflnn **tnee the Ist of January ftlid alto waa delighted with her new m, ,t, and Warble Comity was proud of CelMirnl Wnioft's daughter. Un Ud* hfii'lh'itlui’ morning, Viiraie YVfta ah*ne in her ntth’C looking over her iwevidbg'a mail, There were business letters ter her to answer; ah. yes, and Ihere was another letter, It was from her Moousvllle lover. How It filled her heart with Joy! It seemed to her the' happiest morning of her life, she felt that shb bad a thousand tilings to Ire thankful for. Glen Harrington returned her love; her folks at home were beginning to see better times; prices were getting better for farmers’ products. “Yes.” she meditated, “there are a great many things to be thankful for.” She had great faith In Republican times, and she believed that in two years, at least, her father would be able to pay the mortgage on theif home, withopt her assistance.

If he wasn't able, she would take a part of her salary and pay it for him. The mortgage would never be allowed to take the old home. As she sat in her oflice. meditating over the prospects of the future, there came a tap at the door, and then if flew open, and Vinnie was surprised to see her father standing in the doorway. "Good morning, Vinnie. How are you?” he said, taking her hand. ‘‘Very well, thank you, father. How are the folks at home?” “We’re all well. I thought I’d come down to the county se.at this morning to see you on a little matter of business.” “Very well; what is it?” “Why, Bob Wright, down there in Boonsville, has some calves he wants to sell, and I want to buy them. Though extremely anxious, I havn’t the money to buy them w r ith. Thought maybe I could get the money from you. I don’t know as there's any money in ’em. or in anything else, as far as that’s concerned, but Joe Harrington is countin’ on buyin’ these calves, and that's the reason I want ’em. I’ve been a-lookin’ all this time for a chance to get my revenge on that man. and uow’s my chance. My! but he’ll get mad, if I step in ahead of him, and knock him out of the bargain by gettin’ those calves he’s been calculating to buy.” ‘ “You shall have the money,” said Vinnie, rather amused at her father’s method of revenge. “How much will you need?” "Well, there’s ten of ’em and he wants $7 apiece. It’s really an outrageous high price, but I won’t stop for that. Why last spring a man couldn’t get a bit over $5 for such calves.” “Maybe they are worth more than they were then.” “Well, the Republicans say they are, but I don’t think so. We ain’t havin’ a bit'better times than we had. in spite of their predictions. I’ve been thinkin’ of writing to Ezra and telling him that he is a false prophet.” received any letters from Uncle Ezra lately?” “Yes; we received one just the other day." “What did he write?” “I don't remember exactly what was in the letter. One thing that disappointed me Is the fact that he’s still Republican. Every letter I get I expect to hear that he’s turned Populist, but so far my expectations have been in vain. He wrote that he thought prices would get better for the farmer. He said if I wished to make money now was the time to speculate. Buy all the calves and other stock that I could, and hold them for higher prices.” “So you are taking his advice?” “No, Vinnie; I am going to buy Bob Wright’s calves for the express purpose of outwitting Joe Hnrrlngton. What does Ezra know about running a farm? He’s lived nearly all his life in a city, and Is green as a squash, when it comes to country life.” “His Judgment is good, though, on almost every subject.” « “It is on some subjects, to be sure, but still he doesn’t know everything. He has- his failings like all other human beings.” -To change the subject.” said Vinnie “have yon planted your corn yet?” “Yes, we Just finished planting a few days ago.” ••How does the wheat look? “It looks splendid, but I don’t expect to get much out of it, for silver’s going down right along, and Bryan said whenever sliver went down wheat went with It, or when silver went up wheat went up also. “I do wish Bryan had l>een elected, for if we had free coinage of silver, he said silver would rise in value, therefore wheat would rise. “If wheat would be worth what it ought to be, there would be a good prospect for me to pay the mortgage with It. I suppose now wheat will tumble, and we all know it was low enough last year." (To be continued.!