The Mystery of Monastery Farm

long June day; and now the sun was going down, and he was making his plans for tomorrow's work. Billy had just closed his fourth year as master of Monastery Farm. Billy was an

his father's farm; then, with their one child, three years old, set sail

tal was getting low and he was becoming discouraged. From one of those profitless tramps he was returning one evening when he observed the word "parsonage" on a door plate. He had always had a friend in a preacher in his native town; why not make the acquaintance of this one? Perhaps

s no place for you. I would advise you to go out into the country; and, by the way, I b

s pocket, and speedily left the house. He returned to the humble apartment that he had secured, and as the little family partook of their frugal evening meal, his wife Nancy, addressing h

r," he added, pulling the newspaper from his pocket, "a minister gave me a paper in which there is

d acres in -- County, New York. A good house to live in, and good wages to the right man. Reference

ncy, "I believe tha

wrote to Mr. Quintin, enclosing his crede

ek he received th

arrow, Esq.

f, therefore, you have any doubts about being able to meet the requirements, there is no need for further correspondence. This is a first-class farm and must be worked by first-class methods. The opening is an especially good one

INTIN, T

isticated young man. His experience was quite limited. He had managed his father's one-hundred-acre farm several years, and it had paid very well. But he

sk his advice," and without further words he started to

lace. While he was glancing around in his surprise, the preacher entered. "Good

re, saying: "I received this letter today, and, if yo

as he glanced down at the signature. He finished reading with a decidedly happy expre

h; yes, and many a swim have I had in the old river. Jerry Quintin," he continued, "as we used to call him. Why, I've known him since I was a child. Do you want to hear about him? Well, when he was a youth, not quite out of his teens, Mr. Thorndyke gave the land on which the Monastery stands, Quintin was made chairman of the board of trustees, and treasurer also. He has handled every dollar of the funds, superintended the erection

as a plainly dressed man sitting in a buckboard who, as Sparrow approached, accosted him with the words: "Mr. Sparrow, good mornin

an excellent team of bay horses, for a distance of about

We will drive on to the farm a

sorts, corn houses, hayricks, and a building for wheat, while nearby was a shed full of modern agricultural machinery. They

oked the nose of each-breed, age, peculiarities. Each cow and heifer he knew by name and age. The machinery-he was familiar with i

ms, furnished with plain, rather old-fashioned furniture, and set back from the river road about three hun

es of wooded land and a tenant house. This machinery is the best that we could find. We have two men-Giles and Ephraim; they are the best hands we know of, for Mr. R

driveway led up to the front door, while in front was a sparkling fountain. Another, a smaller building, occu

s as well as the teachers were all men, the people soon began to call it the Monastery, and in the course of years this became its common title; and the farm became known far and wide as Monastery Farm. This institution had from its inception found peculiar favor with the church as well as with the people, and the buildings were speedily erected. Two men at first were

that Nancy called it providential, but surely she was mistaken. What could he do with all that machinery? True, he had successfully managed his father's one-hundred-acre farm, but this f

g his lack of self-confidence, he presented to Mr. Quintin the letter whic

he read, "this is from one of o

s,

as true as ste

ds of you, Mr. Quin

What does

ou are tru

ing his appreciation. But steel is better than gold. I don't know of

Mr. Sparrow, what do you think of Monastery Farm? Would you not like to live in that good old house? I am authorized to

for me to look for a lighter job. I am a farmer, Mr. Quintin, and love the work. For four years I have managed my father's small farm, and have succeeded in maki

had formed a favorable opinion of this mod

ears old next mont

in, and the two men on the place understand everything, and during this year you can familiarize yourself with the machinery, cattle,

er and his young wife and child were comfortably located in the old farmhouse. And time had proven that Quintin had made no mistake in this selection. Each year had enhanced h

twenty years of age, approached. He was lithe and seemingly agile; a thin, brown beard covered his face, which was cheery indeed, as was the smile which shone through two big brown eyes. His clothing was well worn, and upon his shoulders or back was something re

two miles," w

n in the village?

f them," was B

nger. "Do you think I shall be able t

o you want?" queried

reply. "What I don't know I can learn. I w

ou could, I might give you a job, at least for a week or two; only farmers or carpe

t I could plow corn, but I could saw wood, h

nbuckled his knapsack, and se

" asked Sparrow in a

, from every place,

e you hea

a tramp. I'm hunting for a place to settle down in, as I seem t

him if he were hungry, to which he replied that he had eaten nothing sin

illy, "Tipton is tw

they entered the cozy dining room, turning to Mrs. Sparrow, the young man said: "My name is Edwards-Carl Edw

urse of which he learned that they were from the same county-he, Billy, from Barnard Castle, and Edwards from the city of Durham, which places were not more than forty mi

nd him thus working as he returned from feeding the stock. It was a sultry morning in June and the perspiration w

hile, Edwards, until you get to

g them to breakfast. Strange as it may seem, no

rses, mules, and cows, until, before the end of a week, both Billy and Nancy wondered how they possibly got along before he came. An extensive bed of watercress had been discovered on the edge of a stream

cot put into the room occupied by the stranger. Up to this time Nancy had been compelled to wash and dress the lad; but now he arose when Edwards arose, washe

ing to Centerville, where Mr. Quintin paid them their wages. But Carl had so far received nothing, and his clothes became very much worn and their renewal was becoming quite an apparent necessity. One Saturday afternoon Billy invited Carl to go with him to Centerville, and