Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-12-01
The Tree Of Strife and Tree Of Peace.
mr. MISS MARTHA RUSSELL.
TCoueluded1


little Joy TO either family. The tables wer,
loaded with tie same proius,on Of good
things as in times past, but an air Of cheer.
lessness pervaded everything, from the faces
Of the old people down to the very back
logs on the hearth, which refused 10 burn
with anything like briskness, but niuttered,
and sputiered, aud groaned, as If possessed
by the same evil demons Of spite and i'll
will that had tormenled their owners so
long.
The mothers sadly contrasted their pres
ent unhappy relations with those OF former
years, when they generously siroye TO rival
each other in the production Of pastry and
buildings; aud moi a dish could be enjoyed
until it had been tasted by the other, and its
merits discussed in full family conclaye
when the children were al home at either
table, and the most remote corners Of the
old houses echoed to their laughter. Some !
thing Of this feeling stirred in the hearts oil
those wiliul men for Sire Benton scarcely
tasted Of The chicken-pie tina, his wife ploe.
ed before him, saying that she must have
left out the seasoning" aud Moses Barker
put by one after another Of his favorlie
dishes, declaring, in a pet, that nothing
tasted as il used to-"
| All, sell-willed, obstinate, passionate as
they are, it is not too late for them TO learn
that Better is dinner Of herbs where
love is, than a stalled OK and hatred there
with" There is hope for them yet.
About Christmas, there came a deep fall
of snow. II was right joyfully welcomed
by young and old. Better sleighiug was
never known" exclaimed the village girls,
as they talked over their anticipated sleigh
rides. Better shedding was never known"
shouted the stout farmers, as they passed
each other on the road with loaded slcds,
drawn by long strings Of sleek oxen; and
busily they improved il. notwithstanding the
severity Of the weather, for every one was
anxious to get his timber home. or his logs
to the saw.ml.l, before the January thaw.
One morning. before the snow had felt
the action Of the warm winds and foggy at
mosphere of January, old Moses Barker
made preparations TO 90 to a distant piece
OF wood land after load OF wood not that
his well.fillcd wood-house needed replen
ishing, but the land in question had been
part Of Aunt Becky's disputed territory"
and though divided, was still unienced.-
/ He had heard, within few days, that Sire
, Benton was cutting timber up there and
the suspicious old soul was determined TO
! go and see if he had not encroached upon
his part
5 Ii was bitter cold morning. and his
wife would fain have persuaded him to wait
for warmer day, saying, They would GER
) lainly freeze 10 death" But he '.Pishsd' al
. her fears, swallowed his Fingered cider
= drew on his mittens, and, accompanied by
= Ned, his hired man, started off lie reach
!, ed the lot, and, after the most careful exam
!. ination, was satisfied that no trespass ha'
IS been committed, though the regular stroke
v Of an axe among thick grove on Benton
Il side proved that they were, indeed, clear
= ing it of.
,e Their wood was already cut, and the
If soon began to load, but before many min
N uies the sound OF the axe ceased, and the
l. heard the heavy crash of falling tree
f. then loud, agonizlng cry Tor help.
II. "Some one is caught under the tree
Of exclaimed Ned, dropping the end OF III
e. stick they we're raising, aud running Il
H. ward that part Of the 10, from whence II
he cry proceeded. Barker followed mechan
OF caly. They needed no guide, for aga
Ut and again that cry rang through the clea
of frosty air, with startling dlstinctness.-
When they reached the spot, they four
ht, young David Benton caught beneath Il
g Tree, one heavy limb pressing across b
lp. breast, and another jus, below his knee
res while his face was pale and distorted wi
, a agony. Quick as thought, Ned caught
or. an axe and struck il into the limb that co
fined his breast. The young man groan
- deeply, and his whole frame quivered wi
lch The shock. Before Ned could strike aga
ur- Barker caught his arm, and cried, "Sit
lch for heavens sake, Ned the jar will
lad him. We must contrive some other "
ad- the cross cut saw-run and bring II he
I'M We can saw the limbs off without 80 m,l
lid jar. We will be as careful as we can, l
ngs yid," he continued, bending over the you
ted man, and trying TO cheer him, while n
CHI. was gone after the saw, that they had
- tunaiely brought with them.
fl. David tried 10 speak, but his lips W
Gus stiff with cold, and shrunken with pl
the and the old man tried in vain to dis
old puish his words. To do Moses Barker
gin. lice. under all his self-wil and obslin'
as there lurked good deal of the spirit
'ery humanity and, at that moment, he VIC
ions have sacrificed much Of his boarded pl
lsly, erty TO have been able TO eStricate
but young man from his perilous situation
cies hurt A sudden thought struck him,
eau drawing off his coat aud miiiens, he X
rous down, and rapidly, but carefully bega
rcoli remove the snow from beneath Da'
! the back. He literally dug for life, aud
! its hard hands were never put TO nobler
,igh' vice. David soon experienced the be
lima, of his exeriions in The diminished pres
I, has of the weight across his breast +; and. q
liable by Ned, who soon returned with the
neri' Barker succeeded in removing the s
the until the branch only just grazed his br
'm Then they attempted TO release his III
wild but there was much less depth Of sno'
shade meath them, and they were so wedge
between the stones, that il was impo'
at. 10 do so, without saving of the limb
/. " AZ confined them. They did this careful
y e, possible; but, before il was clear, !
h"ic tainted They spread their thick j
"s'' spun coats on the snow, laid his sem
az 'Di form upon them. and left him, 10 u
' = aT" their sled, and prepare il in some
JUN t.k a him hOme or AT least 10 The nj