Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-11-01

10 GREEN, OR AUNT BErTY's BANK.

In the northern parts of New England is a
mountainous district Of country at once romantic
and beautiful 10 the eye and well adapted 10 the
purposes OF agriculture. It's lofty forests now
famed witt, the gentle breezes, now rocked with
the mountain tctnpess, gave shelter 10 herds OF
deer, moose and other animals OF the wilderness.
Its waters were pure rs lielicOn, its sky blue and
serene, lis atmosphere most healthy. Number.
less streams of greater less magnitude took
their sources in its mountains, and after traversns
lis vallles in the sllen sinuous course Of the deep
| flowing stream, or in the broken current of the
mountain brook cliffs forming caaracts
found their way to the greut reservoir OF waters.
Beasts, birds and fishes erst ia this region were ms
Tree ns the air Of the mountain till the wandering
Indian disturbed tlief repose. To This forest, still
IN all the pride OF nnltre. The DIS oilers Oh HE east
] south and west all turned their eyes. Ii was n
goody aad aud fair, and us it joined hard by their
possessions they would each have desired 10 ex-
tend ieelr title and jurisdiction over il. About
these days Jo Green, n rough and roisiering blade
Of boy, bethoughl him that The time had come
when he should make provision Tor himself ana
family, should such u blessing he ever collected
around him. He wandered from The land OF
steady habits, in search Of his fortune purchased
ibis mountainous district of The jewellers on the
east OF the tract, pad te money IN full iale, took
his deed and commenced farming on his own
hook, for lis own especial benefit, independent OF
all his neighbors. But scarcely was 1t known,
that 10 Green had paid the rlino for his land to
the dwelleis on the enst. ihnn those Of the west
cast about themselves to, revive aud sustain an
Client iHle. which 10y claimed TO have to the land.
10 Green had by fhi~ Time cnt down the timber,
cleared of AMI fenced spacious farm, built log
cabin married wife, surrounded himself with
family of sturdy boys, aud was well off to live in
the world This was his home lis all of earthly
enjoyment was centcred here. But like other
nortals he wns destined 10 an intermission of en-
IJoyment. The title TO his farm was TO undergo
! severe scrutiny, the result of which might cast
him upon The world poor and pennyess. com
pany OF land Spectators from the west had sci up
a claim TO the entire tract, which he had ex-
tended his Improvements and possessions What
could he do? lie had long since purchased paid
for and possessed the land. To pail up slab es
and be off at his time Of life out Of the ques-
ton TO pay for his farm u second time nearly as
bad and TO 70 TO law, encounter the expense of a
proIracied litigation and the fisk of being cast in
his suit last was TO him The least desirable al.
tentative of the three. lie found himself ia had
! fix, between three evils. He consulted with his
wife, took counsel with his boys, some of whom
| Ind grown 10 mans estate, and with his sister
| Elizabeth, maiden lady who hen soj0urned in the
family, and who by the children was familiafly
denOminated Aunt Betty. The result of all their
deliberations was the same that wiser heads have
before come TO, by different process, viz: " that
half Loaf is better Than no bread, "uni 10 Green
was finally induced TO compound the claim Of the
land iobers of the west and pny for his land the
second time. And now TO make assurance doub-
ly sure, he took confirmation grant oil the en-