The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-17

" lie is the landlord, sald Jhe serNaht
"and Heaven help him dogs Life he's lee
since he married his last wife"
"What," said John, with surprise, " is tina
young woman the landlords wife ] see
must not remain in this house tonight ant
tired as he was, he got up to leave it, but he
went no further than the door before he me
the pedlars, all cut and bleeding, coming in
for they had been robbed and almost murder
ed in the wood. John was very sorry to sec
them in that condition, and desired them moi
to lodge in the house, telling them with a sig
nifcant nod that all was not right there but
the poor pedlars were so weary and so bruis-
ed, that they would stop where they We're
and disregarded the advice.
Rather than remain in the house, John re-
tired to the stable, and laid himself down upon
bundle of straw, where he slept soundly for
some time. About the middle Of the night,
he heard two persons come into the stable,
and on listening to their conversation, discov-
cred that it was the landlady and a man, lay
ing plan how to murder her husband. In
the morning John renewed his journey; but
at the next town he came to, he was told that
the landlord in the town he had left had been
murdered and that two pedlars whose clothes
were found all covered with blood, had been
taken up for the crime, and were going to be
hanged. John, without mentioning what he
had overheard to any person, determined to
save the pedlars if possible, and so returned,
in order to attend she trial.
On going into the court, he saw the two
men at the bar, and the young woman and
the man whose voices he had heard in the
stable, swearing their innocent lives away
But the judge allowed him to give his ev-
idence, and he told every particular of what
had occurred. The man and the young wo-
man instantly confessed their guilt; the poor
pedlars were at once acquitted; and the judge
offered large reward to be paid to John
Carson, as through his means the real muir
derers were brought to justice.
John now proceeded towards home, fully
convinced of the value of two advices which
his master had given him On arriving at
his cabin, he found his wife and children re-
jo3i,cing over purse full of gold, which the
oldest boy had picked up on the road that
dured all the miseries which the wretched
England are exposed to. With precarious
ter them, they had wandered through the
COuutly ScchlnS lOOu from uOor W uOOf vi IL
starving population and when single pota-
to was bestowed, showered down blessings and
thanks on the giver, not in the set phrase Of
the mendicant, but too fervid not to gush from
the heart. Those only who have seen a fami-
ly of such beggars as l describe, can fancy the
JOY with which the poor woman welcomed her
husband back, and informed him of the purse
of gold.
A. Il 4 E,.1 - 4
John.
g 1t was the young squire, for certain, who
dropped it," said his wife, d" for he rode down
the road this morning, and was leaping his
horse in the very place where Mickey picked
it up; but sure, John, he has money enough
besides, and never the hall penny have | to
buy my poor children bit to eat this blessed
night"
"Never mind that" said John; /" do as |
bid you, and take up the purse at once to the
big house, and ask for the young squire.
have two cakes which brought every step
of the way with me from England, and they
will do for the chidren's supper. / ought
surely to remember, as good right | have,
what my master told me for my twelve months
wages, seeing never as yet found what he
said to be wrong"
"And what did the master say ?" inquired
his wife.
"That honesty is the best policy" answer
ed John.
cts very well; and it's mighty easy for
them to say 50 that have never been sorely
tempted by distress and famine, to say other
wise but your bidding is enough for me,
john"
Straightway she went to the big house, and
inquired for the young squire but she was de-
MED the liberty to speak to him.
You must tell me your business, honest
woman" said a servant, with head all pow
dered and frizzled like cauliAower, and
who had on a coat covered with gold and
silver, lace and buttons, and everything in
the world.
"If you knew but all )" ''said she, II am an
honest woman, for I've brought purse full
of gold to the young master, that the little
boy picked up by the roadside; for surely
It's he, as nobody else could have SO much
money"
"Let me see it," said the servant. Gay,
it's all right-I'l take care of it-you need
not trouble yourself any more about the mat
ter" and so saying, he slapped the door i'll her
face.
When she returned, her husband produced
the two cakes which his master gave him on
the parting; and breaking one to divide be-
tween his children, how was he astonished at
finding six golden guineas in it; and when
he took the other and broke it, he found as
many more. He then remembered the words
of his generous master, who desired him to
give one of the cakes to his wife, and not to
eat the other himself until that time, and this
was the way his master took to conceal his
wages, lest he should have been robbed, or
have lost the money on the road.
The following day, as John was standing
near his door, the young squire came riding
by. John pulled off his hat, and made bold
to inquire if his honor had got the purse he
lost.
"Why, it is true, my good fellow" said the
hope you were lucky enough to find it; for
Won Sppm IN he worry nOOr and shall konr, ~