The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-09-24


new house by the side of the old one; it
must not be of wood and clay, but good
brick house, with a wainscotted room in it
For long time Caspar would not listen to
her, for he said 10 himself that for the cost
of a new house. he could buy a dozen cows
and an acre of land. But his wife preferred
you wished for cows, and your wife for a
new house, YOU assuredly remember that the
house was built, and that the beasts were not
bought.
But the ground for the house Nothing
could be done till brother Zebuon agreed
to give that; for the land all around the pa
tcrnal dwelling belonged to him, and he had
fine vegetables in the garden, and produc-
tive fruit-trces in the meadow, and twice a
week he sent down the produce by the mar
ket.boat to Rees or Cevos, and in this way
had many hard dollar, and had now a
round sum at interest Tho garden espec.
tally was great enjoyment TO him it did
board, TO busy himself with light garden
work, such as sowing, planting, grating, and
the like. Caspar, although he had abun-
dance of land and many broad fields, had
nothing near the village except a small
worthless strip, which lay between the house
and towing path. His wife had conditioned
for this when the property was divided, to
use as a drying ground for her linen. 1t
was an uneven sandy bit Of soil, and sloped
ed almost every year.
The best possible place for the house
would have been Zebulon's kitchen garden.
| 1t was high and dry. had n pretty view OF
the river, and the soil was firm and well
suited for cellars and foundations. From
the very first this had been the wie's opin-
ion, and now she spoke it out. When Cas-
par heard it he scratched his head and said
she had better break the matter herself to
brother Zcbulon.
This she did the very next evening after
supper, when grace had been said and the
children sent to bed. She treated the sub
.jcct as thing quite Of course, and made nc
doubt but that Zebulon would act brotherly
ard let them have the garden at bargain
Zebulon made no answer, but rose from hi:
chair, handed Caspar, according to his rcgu
lar habit of an evening, II pinch from hi,
snuff box, wished him, as he sneezed, Godi
blessing and good night, in the same
breath, and walked up stairs to bed.
But there was no sleep for Zebuon ha
night. For the first hour he lay thinking 0
the beautiful cherry and apricot espalier
which, only three years before, he had 90
into good bearing with the greatest possibl,
trouble and after planting in vain, six diff
ferent sets of young trees. In the secon,
hour he thought of his ranunculuscs, to whicl
lie had allotted the warmest and best bed il
the garden his ranunculuscs were his pride
no one in the neighborhood, not even tn,
nursery-men in the adjacent towns coul,
compete with him for variety of sorts. Al
ter midnight his fancy led him along TN
neat, well-kept walk, for which he himscl
had brought the gravel-two hundred bar
rowiuls at the least--wih the sweat of Iii
brow and the toll OF his arms, from the riv
er's edge and he paced round the neat lit
tie plot in the middle, bordered with sea
Shells which he had seat for OH purpos
from Schevening. Just as the watchmai
called one O'Clock, his very heart was touch
ed by the recollection of the beautiful thicl
asparagus which he every year gaihere,
from the raised bed under the hedge; a
two o'clock he was full of fine summer cab
bage at three he was pre-occupied witt
green pease, and towards morning all thes
things, tho apricots and the shells, the cab
bages and the ranunculuses, the pease an,
the asparagus, whirled confusedy throue
his brain. And he thought now these wer
all to be uptooted and cut down, merely t
make room for a house which would stan
just as well anywhere else and how, in hi
old days, he should have to lay out a ne,
garden, and perhaps never cat of its fruits.
At last happy thought struck Zebulon
he took a resolution, and went sedately an
cheerfully down to his noontde meal. Hi
sister-in-law did not look very kindly on hin
for she was veXed that he had not immcdi
atcly agreed to her wishes. But she held he
tongue, expecting him TO revive the subject
AT last, seeing MIN silent, she got impatient
and came out with an abrupt question:
Well, brotherin-law, she said, has nigh
brought you good counsel? ? For how muc
are we to have the garden p
Send away the Children" replied Zebu
Ion "we can talk better without them"
The children gone, he continued. "Dea
sister-in-law," be said, Il cannot spare tn
garden it is so profitable to me that / can
not give it you at bargain, as behoves be
tween brothers. The soil of the MEADOW
not suitable for flowers and vegetables
cannot make garden there-and, beside.
it would take me loo long. But it must b
all one to you, whether you build a few yard
to the right or the left. Choose a place il
the meadow for the house, and for ZOO
yard besides. Don't be modest about it
you are welcome to good half acre. Wha
have will 20 to your children, and hav
no need to boggle at triaes the half acr
is yours as q free gift"
This was spoken like brother, and Ca.