Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-12-18
4flisfelIonp.
Written for the Green Mcuntain freeman
The Scaracrow.
GREEN MOUNTAIN TALE.
by SIR 7. NORWAY.

A few miles from the capitol OF the Ureeh
Mountain State, where stands neat granite
building, which rears its oval crown in the
midst of one the m1st delightful villages which
50 charmiasiy dot She vaiieys ofsthe Mountains.
and whose white residences am tall spires gild-
ed over and glistening in the sunset, are beautl-
tul as fairy tale, there is "a babbng rattling,
noisy brook, which takes it's rise in a romantic
lake few miles away and whose border was
{ scene of murder and robbery a few years
:. After circuitous windings, the stream
1T. = ii steep ledge, into which it has worn
,r harrow bed and presents three success
later falls 70 the lover of beauty and the
wild in Nature, this spot would offer month
feast of admiration Yet, we dare say, not one
in ten Of the inhabitants Of he near village,
ever looked upon the dancing spray in summer
food, or the diamonded icicle as it hangs over
the ledge in winter. The last of these falls is
more obliqne, presenting bed Of smooth solid
rock like an inclined plane, over which the wa
ter smoothly gides Near the middle one the
bank slopes gradually down to the river bed on
one side. and afforded a sit, for. . mill which
old Joe Hubbard some years ago builded upon
the spot. Near by he also erected cottage for
the home of himself ana family Here he had
long resided running his mill and cultvating
a small piece OF land for garden potatoe
patch and corn field A daughter of good ap
pearanco, AND more THAN common sbrewdnPss
at game, had grown up under the old man s
roof, and, like most such country misses, had
love for evening sports and moonlight rambles
with the young swains And, as was not
strange, she on one occasion returned the fancy
which the young gent, from the near village,
who taught the district school had taken to
her and, although against her fathers express
orders, sd fored him to attond her upon her re-
turn from evening visits. and it even seemed to
some that she often went on purpose to meet
him. How This was we will leave every young
lady to guess after the conclusion OF our story.
Not long aifcr, old Joe strictly forbade her
meeting yoDng school master John upor the
penalty of his sore disaeasure-a command
which oid Joe proceeded q put into execution
by closely watching her every movement. He
followed her out and followed her in, in all her
wanderings from home and upon her return.
Bat Lucy, nothing dGunted, planned frequent
clandestine meeting unbeknown to old Joe, in
the vicinity Of the upper fall, where she re
paired, after having carefully rugged herself in
full suit for the old mans eye. She would,
naturally enough, walk down to the mill and
deck herself in a suit of clothes taken from one
OF her fathers scarecrow frames, which were
stowed away ia the loft, and presently d sup
posed gentleman, ordinarily dressed, would APP
pear walki ing past the house in the cross patti
from one of the near roads, in the direction o
the other. Thus did Lucy proceed to the ap-
pointed place and no ID her short interview viii
young John,
This faithfulncss on Lucy's palt caused per
haps more than usual promptness on the par
Of John bat tins courting under difficulties il
often accompanied by sly hints on the lady
part for nearer rela ion. However WAS th
case, John proposed, the time was fixed, anc
the manner of operations arranged.
Lucy asked no assistance on her part onl,
that John should make sure of the bird afte
he had the opportunity, Accordingly, he wa
to be in waiting near by, and Lucy was to joi
hin ON sach an evening us soon as she coul
arrange to escape in her usual manner Eom h
watchfuness Of old Jos. They were to pro
ceed to the magistrates who was to be prev
ously apprized of their coming, and then joi
their all in a matrimonial copNrtnorship.
John although an honest and noble youn
man, lacked that go-ahead deviltry which
was now necessary his wife should have
order to drive the aflirs in the world and prt
pei him ON to notoriety With Lucy it W;
not Sd Thre was nothing lacking on her par
and the rogue who esca ped her keen discernmrn
Or the person who ioiled any of her plans, W;
Justly entitled t. the name of u sharper.
The night set for the final carrying into ehe
of their plans arrived and with it came dar
by any one On less praiseworthy undertakin
John promptly appeared under the cover Of Il
hiding place, and impatehtly watched and i
tened ior Lucys lootstep; while Lucy hers
was acting il more lively part On n previo
night old miller Joe had caught the glimpse
some gentleman leaving his mill, and he det,
mined to set watch. He had watched t,
nights in succession, and Becoming somewh
exhausted had not gone as soon TO the mill
on the night previous, and Lucy had persuad
him that there was no need of 80 early watC
But after giving his wife, as before, strict ord
as regarded Locys going abroad, he with Ii
tern in hand repaired to his station to set wat,
Bat what was bis surprise at finding the til
there before him. Old Joe shouted " 81
thiol! at the top Of his voice and hastily "
saed the objpey around the point of the ro
towards the tlicket, where 1t was Fastening,
he supposed, for conceam9nt. John oyerhc
my tho outcry, and fearing who it might POI
bly, be, hastaned to join the old man, remark
by way Of OBTAINING him from strict searcl
possible until the person should have an OPP
tonity to escape, that he bad just been pass
that way, and was attracted by the noise
The thief had disappeared in the direction
the ,,len ami thither had old Joe hasten
while John followed as close us convenient.
ter some delay, they reached the head Of
inclined precipice, down which seemed to be
Only manper OF escape lett for the intruder.