Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-05-13
From the Monthly Miscellany.
TIE SILVER TANkARD.

On slope of land opening itself to the
south, in "A thIckly settled town in the State
of Maine, some hundred ard more years
ago, stood farm house, to which the cpithct
" comfortable" might be applied. The old
forest came down TO the back of il; in front
wers cultivated fields, beyond which the
ground was partially cleared, .lll Of pine
slumps, and here and there, standing erect,
the giant trunks of trees which the fire had
scorched and BACKED, though it failed TO
overthrow them. The house stood at the
verge of the settlement, so that from it no
cottage could be seen; the nearest ncighbor
was distant about six miles. Dauiel Gordon,
the owner and occupant Of the premises we
have described had chosen this valley in the
wilderness, wide, rich tract of land, not
only as his home, but prospectively, as the
home of his children and hls children's child
rem. lie was willing to be far off from men
that his children might have room to settle
around him. lie was looked upon as the
rich man of that district, well known over
all parts of that country. His house was
com pleiely finished, and was large for the
times, having two stories in front, and one
behind, with long slopng roof; it seemed
as if it leaned TO the south to offer its back
to the cold winds from the northern noun
tai s. 1t was full of The comforts of lifc,-
the furniture even little "showy" for
Puritan; when the table was set, there was,
to use the Yankee phrase, considerable "
silver plate, among which large tankard
stood pre-eminent. This silver had been
- ,,I, L. H..
over from the mother country.
Now, we go back to this pleasant valley
as it was on bright and beautiful morning
in the month of June. 1t was Sunday,
and though early, the two sons of Mr.. q.
had gone to meeting on foot, down to the
Landing" little village on the banks of
the river, ten miles distant. Daniel himself
was standing al the door, with the horse and
chaise, ready and waiting for his good wife,
who had been somewhat detained for even
then, in those primitive times, the women
would be IA little backward-for the last
word or the last house keeping duty. He
was standing on the door step enjoying the
freshness of the morning, with little pride
in his heart, perhaps, as he cast his eye over
the extent of his possessions spread before
him. At that instant a neighbor, of six
miles distant, rode up on horseback, and
beckoncd to him from the gate of the enclo-
sure around the house.
"Good morning, ncighbor Gordon" said
he ; 81 have come out of my way, in going
TO meeting, to tell you that Tom Smitli-tha,
daring thiet-with two others, has been seer
proving about in these parts, and that you
had better look out, lest you have visit. !
have got nothing in my house TO bring then
there, but they may be after the silver tank.
ard, neighbor, and the silver spoons. have
often told you that such things were not fl
for these parts. Tom is bold fellow, bu
suppose the fewer he meets when he goes
to steal, the better. don't think it safe fo
YOU all to be of to meeting to-day-but | an
in great hurry, ncIglbor, so good bye"
This communication placed our tlient
Daniel in an unpleasant dilemma. 1t hat
been settled that no one was TO be left a
home but Nathalie, beautiful little cir
about nine years old. "Shall stay or go 2
was the question. Daniel was Puritan
he had strict notions of the duty of worship
ping God in his holy temple, and he hat
faith that God blest him only as he did HI
duty but then he was a father, and li,tl
. Htty was the lgh. and joy of his eyes.
{, But these Puritans were stern and un
hnching. lIo settled the point. " | won
even take Kitty with me, for it will maxi
her cowardly. The thieves may not com
-neighbor Perkins may be mistaken; am
if they do come to my house they will no
+, hurt the child. AT any rate, she is in God
hands, and we will go to worship Him VIII
never forsakes those who put their trust i
Him." As lie settled this, the girl and tn
y mother came out the mother stepped int
: the chaise the father after her, say ing t
the child, IF any strangers come, liitiy
treat them well. We can spare of on
abundance to the poor. What is silver O
gold when we think of Gods holy word I!
, With these words ON his lips he drove off,
. troubled man in spite of his religious trus
!. because he had left his daughter alone.
y Little Kitty, as the daughter ofthe Purta
r was called, was strictly brought up to oh
serve the Lords day. She knew that sh
ought to return to the house but nature iii
once got the better Of her training. n
- harm, thought she, for me to see the broo
: of chickens. Nor did she, when she ha
given them water, go into the house, b'
Il loiered and fingered, hearing the robin SIM
:. and following with her eye the bobo linco|
?. as she fitted from shrub to shrub. 81
p passed almost an hour out of the house, b'
"a cause she did not want to be alone, and 81
+. did not feel alone when she was ont amol
ID the birds, and gathering here and there
is wild flower; but at last she went in, toe
q her Bible, and seated herself at the windo,
NJ sometimes reading, and sometimes lookiI
n out.
As she was there seated, she saw thr'
men coming up towards the house, and 81
l. was right glad to see them, for she felt lone
III and there was dreary long day before he
is Father, thought she, meant something, wht
v, he told me to be kind to strangers. | SUI
pose he expected them; wonder what Ike
i'll them all from meeting. Never mind; tho
N shall see can do something for them, il