Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-01-08
voice; and pushing the boy aside, I'm done
for this world God knows

voice; and pushing the boy aside, I'm done
for this world, God knows
Dick made no attempt TO withhold him he
groancd deeply, and evidently in great agony
s,apuc-c1 onward Dick offered to help hiln.b
the poor old man mpatently pushed him aside
That action went to his heart, and he again felt
the phrcnzv of self-reproach he thought Of
dushinr his head against the wall he thought
of hanging or drowning himself; and then he
thought Of something much better-to run before
to the doctor and send Immediate help . the poor
sufferer lie did so. and then went and stood
little distance from old tIenry's house. under the
gorse-roofcd hovcl, where the travelling tinker,
when at home, kept his cart it was now emp
ty, and here he could stand unseen and watch
ali that went forward. He saw light in old
Henry bedroom he saw the next door neigh
Dor rush out of the hcuse and stop the first per-
son she met-he knew she was telling of the
disaster before long ne saw the doctor 90. and
then his old grandfather hohbling up the street
with her cloak over her head--sha had not ston-
ped to put on her bonnet she then had beard il
all it was known in the village that he done it;
he iancied that there would be Il warrant out
againsthm before morning; he heard the peo-
pie VINO went by telling OF the affair the cer-
gymans wife went down the street with her
maid: she. too, was going to OLD lfenrv's -
What if the old man should die /. All al once
the idea occurred to him that there was some
connection between the eve and the brain he
felt sure that the shot would 90 to the b,,in. and
that he would either die or 90 mad With this
idea came new thought, and on this lie acted
AS soon As the street was quiet for the night he
stole out from his hiding place and took the on
~ road which led out of the village. and this
brought him TO the very spot where thc accident
l,,,,., 1
thrown into the ditch and daehinr il in kind of
fury aoains, the bol, or,be tree sh,ttoro1 !, 10
pieces. It ceased to bo anv Measure to lin
now he hated it. and slammed unnn fine brotnn
pieces which law on the olonud ho tore down
the old copy-bo5l, and tramr,lnd tLat ,oo in tbn
dust There seemed. at fine nomcnt ,o he
some relief to him in this cycnss ornassinr bo
fancied that he shonld feel much bot,or f,r !,
but no sooner was if ovnr Than ro,ct;o,, ,ooi
place. and all this seemed wirlndnoss 70 him..
an ANGEL of selfaccusation sccmod ,o st,rJ bo-
fore him. and all his liz, .,,ooroJ - cr;,ao
Every word that old Henry baJ snnl,nr - h;,,
circumstance or rcproof seemed ncboodh,ci.
he had been warned. but he would not r.ton
this man had loved him. and how had bo 20.
warlcd him He had made him Hind rnrdars
for life. and he had no son to wor; for hin, -
And then his prapdmofLer--so she haJ Iovnd
him and hal been patinnt with him and nov. ali
the yillaue woull rcnrooch her far HE ;Il, r,;s-
fortune lie had bronoht trouble and sorrow.
upon them all, Overcome bv tho anruisb of
his soul. he throw himself dovn mon tbo ro, 4.
side. and wished that no might Jio Anor =
while. however. it seemed as irtho onrol Of so,f.
accusation .tonnnd aside and gavo ,,loco 70 tha
angel of peace and consolation lie rose II, and
as he walked on he thouoht that there wa! vct
one thing left for him 10 de, lie wonlJ 20 70
London, whore so many had zone before him.
and make his fortune. Ind f'cn come blc'; and
make old Henry and hi grandmother comiorta-
bic for life. There was vgor. there was soarc
in the thought and in the strength Of it he
walked on through the NIGHT and before morn
ing he had nassed the large ncghborinr manu-
featuring town. and. with only three half-peucc
in his pocket. was on hi way to lonlon.
The news of the accident had of course
spread through the village like wih-lire the
doctor said that the old whcclwright would lose
his cye--thcre was no possibility OF saving it,
lie suffered great deal. both from pain and e.
YER and half a wear afterwards mtrht be seen
walking slowly about the village. with hand
kerchicftied over hiseve. His step was feeble
and he looked much older:the heart was gone
from him. he said. and he feared he never should
be GOOD for any thine aoan.
Inc OIu grandmother was not surprised mat
Dick in the first instance sbould keen out of
the way; she never feared but that he would
come back again before lone People had found
the broken gun. and the cause of it was easily
understood III was like his wicked. passionate
nature, his enemies said. TO 90 and wreak his
vengeance on his Gun but When i was told to
Old Henry. he shook his bead and sal! mourn
fully. moor thinp,' and then told how he had
thrown himself down and kissed his feet. and
how miserable and sorry he was for the acct
don't me old man SUGGESTED the idea that ne
had zone and made away with himself 80 the
people drapced the river and canal and looked
in all kinds Of solitary nlaces for some trace of
him. but mono was f6,nd
In twelve months tin,. old Henry with has
one eye. and fine hollow di.6uured s0clin. eff the
other. wa. at work in his shoo. Not 4 d,v mas.
seI hn, he thonrht of Dick. il was astoui.hino
how much he missed lin he wished he wonlI
com. hack AGAIN, C,r Inc had freely forpiyan the
accident Twas his oninion. however. that the
lad had rome TO sea. and if so he mirht be wreck.
ed or dr9wneJ
The whole ati',ir of course. SINK dccnlv into
tl,e old orandn,otl,cr's heart. She. toe. looked
,,t -