Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-09-24

Z SliNitN cct4lc W II lltuIe Itlul sue CONS IL
er'd him incorrigi lie. From that moment
lac resolved that he would reform. Ah-he
had made just such resolutions before
For two months NJ real accident happened
for John Bosgs kept things pretty straight
but still there were some shortcomings. The
| habit of procrastinatiOn was too firmly fixed
upon him to be easily thrown off.
As Autumn drew near, John Boggs began
to look around for an opportunity to carry
into execution plan he had been consider
ing for some time. lie had very choice
stock Of cattle, and having received an excel
lent Offer for them, he could buy in the
spring to good advantage. So he sold eight
oxen for price which might bv some be
considered almost fabulous. The same pur-
chaser wanted horses, and John sold his
three heavy ones, keeping only thrcc-ycar
colt. which Inc thought would answer for all
his riding through the winter.
Very near Johns farm was a large tract of
land covered with heavy pine trees-nost Of
them magnificent white pines and he had
partly contracted to cut those trees down,
fashion the logs, and haul them distance of
three miles to the river. The contract would
be Il valuable one for him, because he lived
50 near to the wood. lie supposed he could
find plenty Of men who would be glad to
NlllF Ol anu lhIIlNl ltilLS III llt Ntlltl Keep
them. lie had hay and grain in plenty, and
Of course wished to have most of it eaten up
on the place. By selling his oxen and
horses he had made Il clear profit of about
onc-half Of all he got for them, and now if
he could get some one to come on and fur
nish teams, and in return take one-half the
proceeds OF the JOB, and have their animals
kept, hc would do well. But he found it
more difficult than he had expected, to OBJ
tain the help. He could find plenty OF men
who would gladly come with such teams as
they owned; but he wanted heavier ones
At length he hit upon the very man.
I've found him, he said to his wife one
evening. on his return from a visit to Il
neighbJring town. I've found just the man.
He's got teams enough, and will come as soon
us wanted.
'Who is he 2 asked Matilda, quite pleas
ed with her husbands 5 success.
Aaron Rolf. Yoa know him don't ye
He's got six yoke Of oxen and four good
horses, and he says if I'll give him equal
shares of what am to have and take care
of he animals and men he'll come
Aaron Rolf repeated the wife. Il know
him well. If he says he will come then you
may depend upon him. Ho never makes
promise until lie knowS he can keep it, and
he never undertakes to do thing which he
cannot do Us it should be done. Some call
him odd and don know but he is. in one
sense of the word for he minds his own bu-
siness, does lis own business, has every thing
in its proper place, and will have no one a.
bout him, he can help it, who will not fol-
low his examples
Why-you seem to know him we'll
Tiddy.'
And why shouldn't |? You forgot that
lived in his fathers family for several
years
'Oho Is he son of old Ben Rolf?'
Ies-hls eldest boy
Aha-that's 1t Ell? Well, I'm glad he's
such Il man. It'll make it good for me-
should like to have him here very well
this coming fall and winter-that is if you
must have some one
So John Boggs gave himself no more un-
easiness upon the subject Of the falls work.
Mr.. Rolf was coming over to look at the
timber. before he closed the bargain but
then John had explained fully to him, and
he was perfectly satisfied.
One day John went to tie his colt up in
the STALL and he found that the edge Of the
trou gh was worn almost down to the hole
through whicn the halter was tied. He knew
that it was not safe. \ slight pull would
break it out.
81 declare" he said to himself, II must
fix that when ! get time.
lie meant when he felt like it, for hc had
ample time then. All that was necessary
was to step to the wagon house, get an inch
and-a-hai augur, and bore new hole. 1t
would have taken him, perhaps, five minutes
to have performed the whole operation. He
led the colt into the next stall. and then
h, = a
Ah-the old habit was not gone yet. He
would lix the tic hole when he Lad time
John Boggs hadn't quite reformed for all his
place looked 50 well outside.
IN evening OF two afterwards, just as he
was sitting down to supper, one OF his daugh
ters came in and told him that the back barn
door had tumbled down again.
Why-1 set Il log of wood up against it
firmly only little while ago. exclaimed
John.
''Then guess some of the sheep must
have rubbed it down." said the girl.
John Boggs,' spoke the wife, almost
sternly, ''havnt you fixed that door yet? ~
Il declare, | Ii fix that Tomorrow" was
Johns response.
"Bat why haven't you fixed it before?'
persisted Matilda.
"Why-I haven't had time
John held down his head as he made this
remark.
"Haven't had time? ?" repeated the dame,
clevating her eye brows in real astonishment.
''John Boggs, what do you mean?''
"Why-l did mean to fix it but when
ever We thought Of it, it has been when
| was busy about something else"
"Ah, John-let me tell you that kind of
work won't suit Aaron Rolf"
''Let Aaron Rolf mind his business" re-
turned John warmly ''and,' he added,
with bold look into his wife face, 'there S
other folks, that might do the same to ad-
| vantage
Matilda Boggs smiled, for she saw that
her husband was playing the bravo-a thing
which he seldom did in her presence. Not
that she was the wearer of garments unmen-
tionabe, but she was one ofthose straight,
forward, sound-sensed, stern-virtued women,
who find it absolutely necessary to guide an
easy husband some times. She had intended
to ask her lord to go out and fix the door al
ter supper but as he was already chafcd
she concluded to say no more at present.
The facts about that barn door were these
The lower hinge had been useless over tw,
weeks, but had been made to work by beins
careful in opening and closing the door
But some three days had ELAPSED since tn
upper one became so loose that no depen
dance could be placed upon it. John ha,
noticed it, and he had said to himself, 81
must be fixed - and he had resolved to d
it when he felt like it,
The next day came and in the mornn
John Boggs went out to the barn, and pas
ed through into the yard, He set the bac
door up after him, and braced the stout cor
stick against it to hold it in its place.
- | declare, that must be fixed I'll a
tend to that right off "
He went out into the field and when
h came back he went over to a neighbor's to s.
/ about some help, and remained there till dil
I ner time. Just as they were sitting dow
q to dinner, Aaron Rolf drove up to the doc
j, One Of the hired men took his horse, and /