The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-04
Grandfslhfr's pirih.ply.

grade where he now stands. they seem
to touch each other. albeit as he passed
them, he loilcj heavily from one to the
next, laden with a weight Of sorrows -
He wonders how there could have been
so much to annoy him between such
brief landmarks, and smiles NJ he thinks
over what then seemed most grevious
mishaps.
This day lac surrcndcrs almost en-
iirely TO a review OF his pasi life, and TO
n diligen, prospcction of the path ahead,
for lac is very melbodical, aud loves To
map on, the events Of the coming year,
and apportion to each its place. He
rcckons that when the sun comes III.
ile hotter he will thin ont the gooscber-
ry bushes, and get Charley TO help him
roo, out the grass from between the
currants. He is quite mind to try
Prot. Mapcs' suggestion Of sowing salt
on the asparagus bed. Twelve years
ago father Hunting recommended it,
but Il did not seem TO him quite the
thing. When the old Roman destroy
ed Jerusalem, and raxcd its walls, he
sowcd salt on its site, as type of dcsola-
tion. Ever since he read that stale
Went he has had prejudice against
using salt for agricultural purposes,
though he never objected TO il in the
sea-weed of which the creek is so pro-
life. lie determines this year TO be in
time with the buds, and 10 trim the vines
and the young orchard trees with his
thumb nail. Last year he was not
sprightly enough for vegetation and SO
he had to take Bobby's Jack-knfe TO
good many whips which ought never 10
have grown, since they drew off the
strength and the sap that ought To have
been reserved for the bearing branches.
Before night he stipulates with little
Tommy---we need not narrate the good
things that Tommy will get for the job
10 read through the Bible during the
year, from Genesis to Revelations,
slowly and distinctly, and at certain fix
ed hours of the day. according to sched-
ule which he drew up twenty seven
years ago last August, and which, sn,o-
ky and worn, is carefully walcred on to
n hy-leaf of the big book that lies in the
center Of the front room table.
The sun is well up, the air balmy and
warm, the old bultonwood casts no shad-
ow upon the rustic chair at its foot aud
grandfather, taking his cane, moves out
TO enjoy il for awhile. The grass is al
ready high enough TO be tangled, and
TO hide the buliercups that were so thick
there a week ago, and he will turn in
old Brindle for a few hours that she
may crop II down. The dandelions
lift up their yellow heads, and the baby,
with lis cradle-blanket pinned over its
head and shoulders, to,icrs about ihro'
the long grass. gathering handful Of
them. Tommy confines his pickings
10 those OF them that have gone TO seed
umbrellas he calls them. With a stea.
dy hand he pinchcs of the tubular stem
of each, and, lifting il TO his mouth, he
dilnies his cheeks with long breath,
TO try by the sign whether he will have
good supper or not. You know the
sign-if with one breath he can blow
off every one Of the fraihery seeds, his
supper will be a good one fried po-
taioes and gravy. cherry sweeimcnis
and sugar cakes, he hopes. And now
he begs grandfather TO go with him
down 10 the run where the sweet-fags
grow. Hear the little sophist He wants
u IN scbool-i'me TO give to the boys, and
more than all be wants il for the sport
Of digging il. But the argument he
urges is that Aunt Debby always wants
piece when she goes to meeting, 10
keep her awak. in sermon time. No
wonder he likes the sport Of going 10
the run. The path lies through the
lane, which is fenced in on either side
with locust hedge. The robins are
singing from the branches, and just now
cai-bird was screaming from The top
OF the rhad bush, whose pale flowers
are in full bloom. The barn swallows are
chasing each other around the great
oak, and now they skim back 10 The
barn. and dan in, one after another.
through the knot hole. which u The
ever-open door Of their home. IL Is
lucky that our folks brought case.
knife with them, for here are plenty Of
crow-fooi geraniums, and the girls have
been leasing for root ofit 10 Transplant
into the garden. But Tommy has reach.
ed tic run, he has walked ia safriy
over the narrow board that spans II.
and has plunged ipio the ihiekest of
the flags on the other side. For bic
private enjoyment, be is nibbling At
some Of lhe te'slerer of llie in~rapl,ed
leaves. and searches diligently 10 see II
any ID those wondrous delicasies, ILe
.'piilis," ARE ya grown. Now h. plum.
ees i's fingers into the mud. and, break
ing away the rooilei. ihsi bind il down,
with care he bring. op root Of tbc
sweet flag as long ~ hi. arm. from the
elbos down. Grandfather has taken
his seat on The siile, and listens shiis
The lad Islls how Jimmy Jones. wbs
came iFofa il'e city, weai after ssr,-i
flag. or "ealamss,- Hs Ne enlb Il. one
day. and got peete,fai ef hliy-moss,
aud eat ~ them, md was 90 siek that
the, had 70 have The doctor Nos l.e
,iiP- de~h into ihs ruu, Ia. roll,d up
bis irossers, and d 10 full chase nfier