Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-13
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY


the food on the ricketty table, mofsel before
sleeping never yet did harm to anybody and,
for my part, am well paid in being able to Of
for your friend something to his mind
They now seated themselves at the table and
began to eat with good appetites; all but Pow
erty, who was sad because of something that
had happened to him that very afternoon. The
poor man possessed nothing in the world but his
cottage, and the little paddock, about as long
as your arm, that lay behind it, and in which
grew fine pear tree but the hedge round this
paddock was not much harder to get through
than spiders web, and certain marauders from
the neighborhood had taken advantage of this
had state of the hedge to get through into the
paddock, and rob the pear tree, whose fruit
formed the Goodmans $ sole revenue. ssrhis was
why he had gone to bed supperless, vcxed to the
heart at seeing the halt of his crop stolen from
him; and his trouble was still so great that he
could not touch mouthful Of the four large
Writings, ready fried, the great loaf, and the
pitcher of wine, with which his guests were re-
galing themselves When the supper was over,
Saint Peter, looking at Saint Paul, said to him,
in low voice This poor man s sorrow really
excites my compassion; we must pray for him.
Indeed, sirs, said Poverty. who had over
heard what was said, : should be very much
oblidged to you if you would do so; as for me,
it is plain that my prayers have very little credit
with Heaven, seeing cannot find. any way of
bettering the miserable condition in which you
find me-
The Lord sometimes tries the just for their
good said Saint Peter it may be that He is
thus trying you but have you any particular
favor to ask Of Him.
The rogucs who have robbed me of my pears
have made me so angry replied the Goodman,
that if might have my way, would ask
I that all those who climb up into my pear tree
might be forced to stay there as long as chose
to keep Them
That is certainly contenting yourself with
very little replied Saint Peter
Not so little as you may think repined
Poverty what joy for me to see rogue stuck
up there on branch, unable to bulge, and
begging for mercy.
Well, replied Saint Peter, if the Lord con-
descends to listen to the voice Of his servants
(Which he does,) you may be sure thaty your wish
will be granted for we shallsdo our very best
for you, in the way of praying.
All that night did Saint Peter and Saint Paul
remain on their knees in prayer; they would
not take moments repose notwithstanding the
good offices Of Poverty, who, in order to furnish
them each with couch, had divided into three
i Iarts the bundle Of straw that fFned his bed
But when the morning was comes Saint Pete'
E and Saint Paul informed their charitable hos
= that his wish was granted and then, Povert,
having shaken them heartily by the hand, (al
though he could not help fearing that the,
n were making game of him,) they left the cot
"a tagc, and went on their way.
q But 10 and behold next morning when Pow
It erty was coming back with bis pitcher from tn
well, he esried good-ior-nothng varlet, frou
10 the village, stuck fast in the pear tree, workn
"a his arms and legs about will might and main
10 and looking for all the world like bird caugh
n fast in the lime.
Aha villain have thee !! cried Poverty
II but, good Heaven, what manner Of men wer
90 they who came to me last night AS for thee
m thou rascally thief, shall keep thee up there
and treat thee just as thou deservest. In th
first place shall call the whole village together
=. and then l shall kindle good fire of straw, an
be roast thee like sucking pig
Thereupon the thief begged hard for mere,
to Offering to pay, at the very least, the worth
he ten crops of pears.
No, no; don't trouble thyself to offer n
id money answered Poverty l am poor enoug
or Heaven knows; but, nevertheless, | prefer
re pay myself after my own fashion. Wait jul
h. the least little halfquarter of an hour | sha
ce soon have gathered faggots enough to give yo
ly a good singcing Aha thou lowest fine, jui'
e. pciIb III CuiC LHCO VI tHC tulicu iOr butN
nd thou rascal =
} a Away went Poverty to gather straws al
sticks, for his fire; and, when he was gone, Il
,e, thief cried for help with all the force he cou
to muster, and 50 Justly that he drew to the sp
two wood. cutters, who were going home fro
The the forest.
why, what art thou doing up there, Mic
IN, olas = inquired the men.
wo That wicked old wizard. Poverty, for he j
the wizard, has puta spell on me, replied the THE
eir here am l, glued fast to the tree, and all
cause of few miserable pears, forsooth, thu
hat had eaten, being very thirsty
nan Thereupon the wood-cutters began to amt
in. themselves at the caitiff's expense joking h
the for the fright he was in, and declaring II
ssh Poverty was but sorry sort of wizard after
for otherwise, said they, he would have
the the wit to mend his own fortune, and keep hi
psy self from starving long ago!
the Having delivered themselves of this piece
hin, reasoning, and wishing to help Nicholas do
just from his perch, they climbed up into the tt
thinking to set the vagabond at liberty;
oof, they would sooner have torn his arms from
said body than have got them loose from the bou
Faith, lad, there's no help for it., said
be wood-cutters all we can do for thee is, to
need to the Squire.
sup But when they would have got down ou
el of the tree, they found themselves caught jus
fast as Nicholas SO that Poverty, on con
d as back few moments after, with great bu
had of brushwood and iagots, found, as he thou
arge three pear thieves in his tree instead OF one
nd q .Aha!' cried ha, with chuckle, the
goes on bravely, see there's no lack OF trad
cried very good, my finc fellows; just stay where
are in two minutes shall smoke you oil