The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-20
Foutb's department.
Moses and the Bell.
From the Schoo.ft How.
(Cont;nued.)

them so. Ike a true friend. he made no
reply to the suspicion, being more anxious to
convince David of his carrcstncss, than to
quarrel with him on account of his want of
confidence in him.
"You will not think so, David" he said,
'you know am not afraid. l'ou are my
friend. and it is for what YOU think that
care most Of all. 1t is not good for brothers
and like brothers we have always been.
until these evil days camc-it is not good to
injure ono another. 1t makes no difference
which is the strongcst-ifwc use our strength
well-that is the thing. If have more than
you, must make good use Of it ifyou have
the most. do with it what YOU caE-sometliins
besides giving blows that shall make my
blood run. 1t makes me sick to think Of
what We have done. Day,l-likc wild beasts
we were. and the people shouting and setting
us on. No wonder they did it. when we
could stand up before them. and fight each
other: No. David. will never fight with
you again. Never"
Then. will post Your name through the
town as coward " exclaimed David, rising
up in passion, his eyes full of evil threaten
ing, as they glarcd ON Moses. But Moses
met the look with a stronger look CT sorrow.
"You Will not do that. David" said he
"You cannot speak what is not true. You
know ! am not Il coward. Eou know that |
love YOU and | shall show it to YOU in some
other way than standing up to fight YOU, for
the amusement of people who would take
just as much pleasure in betting on two fight
ing cocks. Or c'rs. Us on You and me-"
You promised" said David
1T is better to break than keep an evil
PROMISE answered Moses.
You know am no fighting character
never fought with any one before. But
we made the engagement F.; you shall keep it.
Fair plays the word" said David
"Foul play, YOU mean. will not fgh;
you, David
you are a coward. then"
david. if ever YOU were my friend"
II never was friend to coward who broke
his word - exclaimed David. fercelv.
Moses was now silent. Nothing to the
purpose could he say while David WAS in his
present state Of mind He was in 10 way
for listening to reason if he should leave
him to himself, it might be his friend would
come to some better thought
So Moses left hin,-went away in silence ::
but as he went. he made VOW to God
Never, never would be fight again with David.
And was not that vow which Gods Spirit
would enable him keep
Left to himself David thought upon the
words Moses had sp0ken-of nothing beside
could he think. AZ first. ard for a LONG time
he believed what he he'd said in his passion.
that Moses afraid to risk what he had
won, by another trial Of strength but, is
hours passed on. and his rage subsidized, and
he remembered that it was Moses of whom
he was saying these thinssto himself Moses
who was always courageous and generous.
and bravc-he began to feel that. possibly.
there might be some other reason for his NOT
wishing to fight. But. no matter what the
reason might be- the rev contest and tr;.l
must take place according to the appointment
On thai lie was determined
Moses was IN honorahl" man. David rc-
mcmbered how scrupulous he had always
been in observing all his engagements and
he did 10, doubt that if h" came to look into
this business as one which concerned h;s
honor, to the keeping Of his word if other
people took up the matter and held him to #
all should Be as he desired.
SO. in the morning. he went down to that
warehouse on the wharf where Moses worked
and found him, and began to talk to lin
about the matter they had discussed last
night but in quite different way. And it
was the fear of the people with whic! Da;id
tried to inspire Moscs-Nhat they would say
what they would think But to all this.
Moses gave good, true answers" and MAIN
tanned his integrity fearing God and loving
his brother too well he said. to wrong either
by such an outrageous work as he had been
guilty of once. but which he would meyer
consent to again.
When David saw how calm Moses WAS
about it. and that he would, BY no means, by
no argument, be eHtrcatcd, he went away. not
in a rage that found vent in angry words.
but in sullen silence. and for MANY DAYS
Moses saw no more of him.
But was David convinced , Did h. lec,
silence about the matter, and come. finally
to feel with his friend. that what he had
longed and endeavored to bring about was =
shame and sin .? No indeed.
Moses was poor man, tav-laborcr he
could not afford to do without the good
opinion of his employers and his EMPLOYERS
were rivals Of the men for whom David
worked.
When 1t was known that there would he
no second combat, therefore, and that the
reason was refusal of Moses to fight. pcop]e
began to talk. and to say that Moses knew
when he was well off; he was too wise to
venture what he had won. They said every
thing about it but the truth and said 60
much that at length the EMPLOYERS of the
two mon took the matter up, and the masters