Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-24

81 suppose" added the butcher, "that
his wife put this sign on his shoulder ioi
fear of losing him
Hope felt that there was but one way tC
escape their jokes, so he hastily left the
place, but not without calling them foolish
idlers the cross began to weigh on his should.
er more than he had at first supposed posi-.
BILE.
The unhappy Robert seemed destined this
| day to unpleasant meetings, for scnrccly had
he taken a few steps when he found himself
in the midst of the school children. The
school was over, and the scholars burst out
into the road, disposed to make the most Of
any occasion for lrolic which might present
ITSELF Hope was seized with terrible
restlessness he seemed already to hear the
| hue-and-cry after him. Before long his
fears were realized hardly had he passed,
when 1t loud cry was heard, and at least
! fifty scholars began to run after him, point
ing at him, and throwing their bonnets and
caps in the air.
! "L)ok, look - cried one "hc looks like
a sheep marked for the butcher
"Do you not see, - said another. "that he
has been crossed, and is going to cave for
Palestine ?"
And tn, shouts Of laughter began ng,in,
!
with anger he turned rlund Ike "a surly
housc-dog worried by children, and perhaps
would have taken cruel revenge on his young
prosecutors, if Mr.. johnson, the schoolmas-
ter had not Just then shown himself at the
door of his house.
Robert went towards him and began to
complain that his school was composed Of
yagabonds and insolent children. Mr.. john
son replied gently, that he would not for all
the world encourage impertinence IN his
scholars, but that he white cross which he
had on his back would make people wiser
than children laugh.
"What business is that to you % replied
Robert haughtily lis not my back my own
property ?"
The schoomast,r bowed, and Hope con-
tinued on his way. Bat the cross bore more
| and more heavily on MS shoulders Tie be-
gan to think it wnuld not he 50 easy to avoid
paying Mr.. Taylor his rent, after all. If 50
many jokes followed him already, what
| would it b. when they knew the reason ofthis
foolish ornament? Rejecting thus, Robert
came near the tavern he was going to pass
on, when lie perceived Mr.. Taylor himself a
few stops in advance, and ON the other side,
his nsghbor lIulins, dragging along his
wooden leg, and chatting with Harry Stoke,
the carpenter. Harry Stoke was the wit OF
the village, AM on no account did Hope wish
to be iolied by him before IIullns. So he
took refuge iu the tavern. But that was not
long tenable. The drinkers were not slow to
perceive the cross and joke Hop, about it, u
quarrel broke ont, and the inn keeper, fear
ing something serious would happen, had
Robert put out of the house by his man
Robert had left his own house, intending
To 60 and look after some work which had
been offered him in the ncichboring village,
but hls temper had been so ruilled by the old
man Fox, Patty Stevens, the blacksmith, the
butcher Peggy Iurton aud the scholars, that
he decided 10 return home, thinking that
after all he should b. more quiet there. 80
he started for home. Sometimes he would
walk quickly, s. as not to be uvertlken;
then he would take step a minute, in
order n. t to pass some one he would see in
advance; simctimes in the road. sometimes
in the fields, he would glide behind bushes
and Jump over walls, and Ar fror, ~ o;e.L+
Of msn win as much care as a robber who
had stolen chicken from tarm-yard at
this time the white cross was insupportably
heavy. At last he reached home, and he
hopcd now To md little quiet. But as soon
as ms wli9 saw hlm, she cried out
Are not ashamed to come back as you
went OUT! Already hVe or SIX oi our helgh-
o'T' nave asked me II you had not lost your
senses; quick now' let me pass my apron
over that cross,
% saying Mistress hope tried 70 get holI
oi ler husnaiia arm put ne ruueiy luS''eu
her PACK. Mistress Hope VINO was not over
burdened with patience rePleu with a olow'
and the result was regular tSht between
L''c '"o' 10 'nc S'el' Sc''lO". - Vi ''o "oi5"-