Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25


the mora | scratch the better she pays me for
the use O. my claws
who is your mother? ="
" Wal, now,-I've hearn O. folks that didn't
know who their fathers was, but | thought
every man knew his mother. You and are
brothers, frind. The airth is the natural moth
er O. both on us. am farmer by trade, and
scratch the face o. the airth for livSs, ~
"What may l call your name?" said Mus
grave.
"Now. you're artor my pedigree. Wal, we
may be stirrups (as the law concarnin' pedigrees
has it,) belongn' to the same saddle yet. My
name is Short. My fathers name before me was
Short tu. My mothers name-not my ma
tural mother, but my mother by marriage, as
call it-her name was Long. Betwixt EN- both
they had fifteen children. Six o. the litter was
boys, and nine was gals, Somehow it happened
the boys was all spooty considerable tall from
the foundation up. | was the shortest o. the
boy litter, and was called the dwarf. The neigh
bors, by way of quiddity, called us the short
skies. By some kind o. natury, b'lieve it's
called lapsus matury, it happened the gals was
allshort from the upper story down, and 50
kind O. chunked like that concarnin' most of
'em twas hard to tell which way their perpen-
dc'lar was. By the same token that the boys
was called the short skies, the gals was called
the long Mines So now, Mister, seein' you've
got my pedigree, s'poso you let's have yourn."
Il don't know as could give any particu-
lar knowledge of my family farther back than
myself" answered Musgrave.
" You amt an accidental though, Mister are
you " said Short.
Musgrave was about to reply when a third
person entered who, in spite of his affected in
difference, betrayed to the sharp and inquisitive
eye of Short an anxious lar. After stopping
some time in an apparently distracted and un-
easy mood, which indicated plainly to Short
desire for his absence, the new conner remarked
to Musgrave that he would like to see him alone.
eff you could accommodate us with the room
a little while," said Musgravo to Short, 'we
shall be obliged
"Sartin," said Short, Sartin Mr.. Mus
grave, believe that's what he called your
namc, I'll du that in less than no time. kin
vanish in either of tu ways I kin disappear
bodily and leave vacuum in this ere room, or,
if you'd lend me that ere nows-print, kin stay
right here, and spiritually sosubstracted that
thunder and lightnin' couldn't wake me up
} while the readin' lasts. But p'raps you'd ray
: ther I'd leave the room bodily seein' my looks
/, might draw your attention some agin | was
: here"
, 81 should somewhat prefer it," said Mus
, grave.
oval, you don't see no chance tu make u
rap"
81 think not" Musgrave replied.
"Wal, good day." said he, and bowing awk-
wardly, he left the room.
Slowly approaching his horse as if doubling
, which way to steer, Short with one hand care
, lessly threw the rein over the animals neck,
while with the other hand he slyly thrust a
sharp-pointed knife into the horses side. The
, animal reared and kicked awkwardly yet fu1i-
, ously, till he broke loose from his master, and
bounded away at the top of his speed over the
road he had already Travelled, while Short fol-
lowed after, raising such hue and cry as he
q well knew would put all the mettle of his nag
q in requisition. Musgrave looked ON with sur
A. J,c+ IL onI
cious Joy at what he deemed Shorts discom-
, future. The latter, after pursuing his horse a
e mile or thereabouts, gave up the chase, and re
turned to Musgraves house painting for breath.
l., 81 say you, Mister, look hero,' said he to
i Musgravc, " that ere condemned critter o. mine
has gin me the slip jest as sleek as ile,-tht
c pesky thing, and I've had to chase arter hin
Il till believe I've got the heaves fairly tucked
| on tu me. Consarn this ere goin tu Canada.
. What creature are you talking about p
q asked Musgrave.
"Wal now, aint you jokin'. What crittel
e dye guess I'm talkin about only my hoss
: The condemned beast Can't you lend me youl
e hoss to go arter him?''
Why didn't you follow on foot ?" Mus
- grave replied.
d Why didn't I? Wal now, Mister Why
" when the thing is skccrcd you might as wei
IS ride snail artcr chain lghtnin', or "a ignitu'
fatuus amost,-an he got skeered you Sc,
:. afore quit him. What dy' say about lendin
. your hoss?"
q 81 intend to use my horse Immediately,
b said NIusgravc This gentleman and l hav
business which calls us away. But if mis-
:. take not he continued, looking out through
window, two men on horseback are coming
! and one leads your horse
a "By the great halter !" exclaimed Shor
TT looking out, you don't mistake, Mister, it
the same critter But, OH" he continued
I suddenly bending forward and pressing hi
% hands to his stomach "what an alfred
V, tarnal ache I've got in my belly Du step ou
it one of you and stop the hoss, and tother du b
" quick and gctmc some salratus and water
IN Anything in Gods name to bc rid of th
fellow y said Musgrave to The other, and Will
the former started to arrest the horse the latte
We g put y for the anodyne.
Before Mussravc reached the highway hi
re companion, who appeared to be familiar wit
n the house, had brought the desired mixtur
.ir which Short took from his hand, and saying yer
90 coolly " thank you;' he smote him a bio,
which felled him to the floor as butcher fell
J" an OK. Then hurrying out of doors, he capel
ur ed toward the road where Musgravc stood
'evincing as he went half idiotic, or childis