The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-16
Turning over a New Leaf.

Dad, Pm going to turn over new leaf
next week. said Sam Dana, junior, to his pa
rental protector, Sam Dana, senor--lhey
were hoeing corn together near the Dana
family domicie, in the town ofBow.
The two Sam Danas looked as near alike
as TWO peas, especially Sam junior; he looked
shade younger, otherwise he might have
been taken for chip of the old block, block
aud all. At the sound of the others voice,
the elder Dana rested his chin on the end of
his hoe handle, and peered at his sturdy Off
spring, as if doubtful of the meaning and i'm
tent ofthe familiar words. Sam, junior, inn
mediately fixed hmselfin similar position,
fixed his sharp hazel eyes on that of his dad
and went on, Yes, dad, Pm going TO turn o.
yer new leaf You have often told me to
do it.-Next week., you know, Pm one and
twenty, out ofmy time, Pm Off You see dad,
Eve worked on this patch of land ever since
I was born, and calculate Eve been smart
boy--haven't j" (Sam senior nodded his
head.l We'll, i'll always stay hear shall
always be a smart boy and nothing else.
want TO 90 round want to see the fashions;
| want to speculate; want to be, somebody;
| want to put the dollars in my pocket--darn
it, dad; want to 60 it. will go'it-Pm off
I've made up my mind, no use to say moth
ing, can't alter me. Pm going, going, go-i
n-g, gone! the day my time is out Pm gone,
do you say 10 that! ,
'Say?-I say you are jackoss'
Dad, calculate You are mistaken
'Well, perhaps you'll be sure to make one
of yourself, if you amt.
dad. calculate You'll find yourself nista-
KEN .r-, ,..r
Il tell YOU, Sam now that you'll be sorry.
/ did lust so when was out of my time;
cleared out from home, and before had been
gone three weeks, ! was glad to get back a.
gain, and you'll be ia the same predicament
in less than week, or Pm no judge of horse |
desh.' '.a.' 'at.H.- 1888 80. .@
Dad, Pve heard you say thousand times
that every generation grows wiser! now cal
culate Pm one generation wiser than you
were at my age. Pm going-no kind OF use
to talk agin it, .t
THE dialogue closed; they eyed each other
sharply for moment, the senior Dana Eals-
ed his chin from the end of his hoe handle
grasped it firmly, and renewed has labor with
the strength oftwo men. Sam, junior, FOL
lowed suite with none the less energy IN his
and side by side they continued at
work for an hour without word spoken by
either, digging as iffor dear life. The elder
Dana was evidently working himself INTO a
fever ofpassion; at last he came TO stand still,
a: the same moment calculating stentorlan
SAM ssi .l uasgJgtag sil 70. g yn ia
Sam came to full stop, Strengthened up
with no less emphatic dad! ggsy rH7d !, I
sWhat in thNnder are you working so last
for9 demanded the senior, and at 1t be went
again still harder than before, and after him
went Sam, the younger, as hard as he could
dig, and if the dinner horn had not sounded
a moment AFTER, they would have worked
themselves out of their boots The moment
thew heard the horn, the elder Dana shout
dered his hoe and struck bee line for the
house. d Sam followed in the steps ofhis pre-
decessor. filed into the shed, hung their hoes
in their proper places with military precision
- next into the wash room, washed thelr1
hands and faces with the same silent empha-
sis that had distinguished their hoeing for the
last hour---wiped adjusted their hair,shot m
to the dining room, and down to the table
they sat face to face, and again they looked
fiercey to each other. 20 u aal- eIi 500 yiul
you are fool' said Sam Dana. h,1tN
YOU'RE nay dadp said the other SAM
YOU'RE going to make a fool ofyourseK'
q calculate mott quietly replied sam.
whats the matter now? asked Mrs. ID.
That boy, that boys thematter, said her
husband, in tones that told his feelings were
rnffled. ''''
3 f.Why. Sam, what have you been doing"
"a Nothing, mother. only talking litte.'luo
Only talking? DO you hear that? he says,l
he is only talking you ever hear anything
like that"
We'll, dad. did do anything else?' si4''|l
sDo? did? you talked like fool, Sam