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

neighbors Of yours indeed, and in truth, we
only got up into this cursed tree to help Nicho-
las down.
Don't tell me- cried Poverty no, no, you
want to steal my pears =
But, good Poverty, we never passed for
thieves in ell the countryside; we have pear
trees in our own gardens that bear pears quite
as fine as these. And even had we neither pear
trees nor pears, had we wanted any, the market
is not far off, and we could get our fill of them
for few farthings'
1t what you say is true you may come
down; the punishment is only meant for
thieves
And, in sooth, the two wood-cutters found
themselves suddenly let loose, and were able to
jump down to the ground; whereupon the first
thing they did was to intercede for the rascal
who remained in the tree, as frightened and
weary as a toad in vine-vat.
It's no use begging for him, cried Poverty
no. no +; he shall stay there year for every
pear he has stolen y
But the wood-cutters, nothing daunted, plead
ed so well, and the poor man s heart wasso rich
in charity, that at last he consented to forgive
the thief on condition that, for the future he
never came within hundred PAGES of the little
garden but the vagabond swore that he would
never again be seen within league of the cot
tage, so terrible did the very sight of the pear
tree now seem to him.
Moreover, the noise Of this adventure soon
spread abroad in the village, and frightened the
people so much, that no one ever again sought
to rob Poverty of his pears the very children,
bold as they generally are and greedy of fruit,
would on no account have even thrown stone
up iuto the tree, for they were still more afraid
of this pear tres than Of the wolf that ate
Little Red Riding Hood.
For long space, Poverty lived merrily, and
his heart often rejoiced within him whenever
he looked at his pear tree, so green and thriving,
laded with red and yellow fruit, that stood him
in place of everything else but the year passed
on, and the Goodman 3 head was covered with
snow. From time to time sickness took hold oil
him. Ns
One day there was q tap at the cottage door
and Poverty opened it to see who was there
1t was Death.
Now many people are troubled on behol'line
the King Of the country of Clatter- bones, bu
Poverty was not whit afraid of him, for ht
had nothing on his conscience, and had always
lived an honest man, though poor one
What art thou not afraid of me ! criet
Death, very much astonished, of me, before
whom popes, kings and empcrors tremble..'
You do not frighten me the least in tn
world, answered Poverty. What pleasur
have in this life, that should not also quit
with pleasure! | have neither wife nor children
in sooth, have had trouble enough withou
that sort of fry to take care of have not tn
worth of a farthing, except my cottage and m
pear tree, which is, as may say, a nursin
mother to me, through the fine fruit it gives IN
every year. See! it is now covered with pears
and the only sorrow have in setting eyes o
you, is the thought Of being oblidged to leave
without having first eaten this years cror
Unlulkily, you ore one of those gentry wit
whom it is no use talking, otherwise ! shoul
beg you to let me take one good bite out of In
, finest pear after that should be quite read
to follow you
What thou sayest seems to me very reasons
, ble,' said Death, go and gather the fruit #
thyself.
| Hereupon Poverty, with Death followir
close at the heels, stepped out into the paddoc
and walked round and round the tree, seekir
f out the finest pear.
Il see one that looks very ripe and red, cr
. he, at last, but how high it hangs! Howeve
, if might make bold to borrow your worship
scythe for moment, think should be able
/ get at the branch
| 'Oh, as to my scythe,' replied Death,
never lend that to anybody but it seems to |
it would be better to gather this pear by han
lest it should get bruised by falling
You arc certainly right, returned Povert
{ it would be altogether better; but my poor
bones have grown stiff of late and canr
9 climb it as could at fifteen.
u WELL said Death, will 60 up myself, q
~ gather for thee this fine pear, from which tn
Ii thinkest to have 50 much pleasure and SO s,
ing he clambered up the tree.
l. Halo y cried Death, but what is it tina,
taking hold of mel Why, can't get dowl
- AS to that returned Poverty. very cool
- that's your affair, not mine. Why did J
C. come to my cottage! You have the VIII
4 world to mow in, and yet you must come pok
into my miserable howell, to take the life of
81 who never did You any harm
Ia Darest thou triAe thus with me = cl
a' Death. Bethink thee to what thou expo
- thyself.'
I've bethought me of all that, already
piled Poverty, and I'm not in the least al
of OF you. have you fast in my pear tree,
m gentleman, and there you shall stay. I 5
- thus be doing great service to n lot of o
-, honest folks when you meant to visit to-day
:, Death, who never before had found hin
:. in such strait, saw at once that there mus
=. something unearthly about this tree. des
-, what has happened, said he to himself,
Q piece Of condescsnsion quite out of my u
of way But let me tell thee,' cried he, add
40 ing himself to Poverty, thou wilt gain not
;nn by thus setting thysef against the will of He
dle II it be the Lords pleasure that thou quit
/, life, He will make thee quit it, in spite O.
, thou canst do and besides, if thou dost no
c..- me come down Of thine own free will, II
rs very soon have killed thy pear tree will
yeu scyths
;ke Pshaw = returned Poverty, whether
l.