Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-06


poem.
Mrs. Gray returned from the village, few
days since, in high state ofsexcitement When
Mrs. G. becomes. thus, which am happy to say
is seldom, notice that the little black boy per-
forms his chores with great celerity and ex-
actness. On the present occasion he was un-
usually brisk in his movements. Even the fat
cook in the kitchen, stepped very lightly in her
shoes. The farm dog, Watch, who considers
himself, think, an important member of the
household, perceived making bis exit from the
back door, with dropping tail and crest-fallen
ali. Immediately after noticing the state of
things, l retired to my library, and commenced
writing letter Of inquiry to my brother-in-law,
who, as think have mentioned in former
epistles, lives out West experienced, how
ever, great difficulty in concentrating my
thoughts on the letter in question. 1t appear
ed to me as though was, in some way con-
nected with the house-warming then taking
place. | wondered what the trouble was all
about. My excellent wife had said nothing
to me by which could infer that l was, even
in the most remote manner, connected with the
present difficulty; but argued from certain
looks she gave me, that was, after ALL at the
bottom of the mischief 1t is astonishing how
soon man, after he becomes husband, learns
to interpret Alright the side-looks and glances
which he is apt now and then, to receive from
his spouse.
When Mrs. Gray, therefore, entered the Ii
brary, | felt slightly uncomfortable. Nor was
this feeling in the least toned down when she
abruptly remarked that she never thought l
would be guilty of doing such thing. What
thing, Mrs. Gray humbly asked, do you
refer to = why writing those letters from
Hillside, Mr.. Gray, she replied; you know
well enough, she continued, how little truth
there is in them, and yet. everybody in the whole
world will believe every sentence you have writ
ten was completely thunder-struck had
no idea that my wife would ever have learned
aught concerning them. had not thought
that any one within hundred miles of Hill
side would be likely to get hold of the papers
containing then. 1t struck me, at that moment
that the Home Journal must possess very wide
circulation The copy receive l am particular
to hide from Mrs. Gray. generally retire to
the barn when read the numbers. | have a
place up high on the hay, where 1 sit. 'Tis
there that keep the papers on file The little
black boy knows the exact spot | am in the
habit of reading them.to him there. lie is my
audience. He was 50 tckled with what wrote
about his sucking eggs that he tumbled off the
hay upon tho floor; but as he struck on his
head, no harm ensued. l am teaching him the
alphabet from the Home Journal.
When, at Mrs. Gray's earnest request gave
up smoking in the house, it was to the hay-mow
that | retreated. Here, with my segar and
newspaper, passed many pleasant hours. Be-
ing questioned by Mrs. G., one day, as to what
I was doing in the barn, I replied that was
smoking may as well here confess that what
l then heard in regard to setting barns on fire,
efectually deferred me from carrying out my
smoking arrangement. Since then, whenever
Mrs Gray asks what is engaging my attention
in that cherries barn. reply that an hunt
ing for eggs. | felt satisfied in my own mind
that she did not know about these letters. Sc
that when she made the attack on me, as men
toned above, was utterly unprepared to reply
1t took me some time to collect my scattered
thoughts. AT first could but murmur Oh
Abigail!' This repeated some five or 81,
times. Afterwards said, distinctly, and with
great emphasis, Mrs. Gray, don't Mrs. G..
however, am sorry to say, paid no attention tt
my request, but continued her remarks, saying
Yes, MIR. Gray, it is not very pleasant to hav
ones domestic privacy published to the world
80 that all our acquaintances may know exactl,
what we are doing at Hillside. Why couldn'
you, Mr.. Gray if you would write these let
ters, have adopted some name, and not parade
Barry Gray at the head of each of them +
Never, Mr.. Gray, in all my life have been S
shocked as was this afternoon, when gentle
: man, banker, Mr.. g., said that he was sorr
we did not give the Christmas dinner at Hill
side, as we proposed At first thought som
, Of your bachelor abominations, who had lost
: good dinner, had reported some story about it
} but when he asked me if had been trouble
lately with nervous headaches, tell you, MI
l Gray, was angry enough. wished to kno
what he meant and then--out came the who
: thing He found the papers for me, and ther
b in his office l read them. When had tinishe
them, told him I thought that they were jul
6 the meanest things had ever read. He r
piled, he thought so, too adding, also, thi
i everybody in the village had seen them, ar
y pronounced them quite idiotic,'' l coul
o bear this no longer; SO interrupted Mrs Gra
= by saying. allow me Mrs. G. to differ in regal
to what everybody pronounces them to be, al
to declare that consider them wonderful pr
l. duotions and in this opinion, my dear, l a
s sustained by our little black boy
Is 'If,' commenced Mrs. Gray, in softer ton
c. thinking that, perhaps, my feelings were hu
III by what she had said, if you would write sol
h. poetry, similar to that you used to write befc
is we were married, love, and have it publishe
a why, think that would be something wor
q the while. Or, if you would compose go
r sermon and present it to the rarson, at his {
es nation party, that, too, would be worthy yo
Cd attention but don't for goodness sake, n
d. Gray, write any more letters from Hillside
n. Before had time to answer Mrs. g., she "
mt called away to attend to some household affai
Id I was glad of it, for it gave me an opportun
ho to write in style which knew would pie,
n her, and at the same time be source Of delia
to myself. She desired some poetry, and