Christian fiction; Families -- Fiction; Love stories
"Sure!" he said. "Lived there myself when I was five years old, before
the old man got to speculating and made his pile, and we got too grand
to stay in a farmhouse. I can remember rolling down a hill under a
great big tree, and your Uncle Billy pushing me into the brook that ran
at the foot. We boys used to wade in that brook, and build dams, and
catch little minnows, and sail boats. It was great sport. I used to
go back holidays now and then after I got old enough to go away to
school. We were living in town then, but I used to like to go out and
stay at the farmhouse. It was rented to a queer old dick; but his wife
was a good sort, and made the bulliest apple turnovers for us boys--and
doughnuts! The old farmhouse burned down a year or so ago. But the
barn is still standing. I can remember how proud your grandfather was
of that barn. It was finer than any barn around, and bigger. We boys
used to go up in the loft, and tumble in the hay; and once when I was a
little kid I got lost in the hay, and Billy had to dig me out. I can
remember how scared I was when I thought I might have to stay there
forever, and have nothing to eat."
"Say, father," said the son, leaning forward eagerly, "I've a notion
I'd like to have that old place in my share. Do you think it could be
arranged? The boys won't care, I'm sure; they're always more for the
town than the country."
"Why, yes, I guess that could be fixed up. You just see Mr. Dalrymple
about it. He'll fix it up. Billy's boy got that place up river, you
know. Just see the lawyer, and he'll fix it up. No reason in the
world why you shouldn't have the old place if you care for it. Not
much in it for money, though, I guess. They tell me property's way
down out that direction now."
The talk passed to other matters, and Sidney Graham said nothing about
his caller of the afternoon, nor of the trip he had taken out to see
the old barn. Instead, he took his father's advice, and saw the family
lawyer, Mr. Dalrymple, the first thing in the morning.
It was all arranged in a few minutes. Mr. Dalrymple called up the
other heirs and the children's guardian. An office-boy hurried out
with some papers, and came back with the signatures of heirs and
guardians, who happened all to be within reach; and presently the
control of the old farm was formally put into the hands of Mr. Sidney
Graham, he having signed certain papers agreeing to take this as such
and such portion of his right in the whole estate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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