Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-28
HARLEY HARTMAN
OR,
The Snaggers of Memphremagog
A Tale of the Canada Border COunterfeiters


A Tale of the Canada Border Countorfeiters
CHAPTER W.
EARLY RECoLLECTIoNs
Many years before the period to which we
have now arrived in Harriman's history, Mus
grave had poured "leprous distilment p" in
Lis ears, and his conscience suddenly lapsed to
morbid state from which no pains had been ta-
ken to recover it. While harmony prevailed
among the Snaggers, cheered as they were by
the prospect of great pecuniary gain, and by
other appliances which Musgrave well knew
how to employ; Hartman was quite content,
and harbored no thought of change; but when
discordant counsels arose, and the rich argosles
of his Imagination began to recede, bis mind
would occasionally revert to the home he had
left, and the objects there demanding his affec-
ton and care Where were those objects?-
Were they living? Were they dead"s And the
voices of his wife and children, over a vast ex-
panse responded, Where? Was that wife
wrinkled and old? Was she faithful still?-
''~N-~SN Ne--~ o--
Had Time stolen those dark locks from her
brow, or had tide of grief dscolored them ?
Those children--the surest pledges of his fdeli
ty to her--were they children still? Or had
ruthless TINE urged them on to man, and wo-
manhood? Was that boy in stature, and In
features still boy, yet in spirit, thought, and
action, Man? Was that girl still child, yet
in mind and feature, picture of the mother in
her youth? These were questions that nestled
in his mind and sadly vexed him. He strove to
keep pace with Time and note every indenta-
tion, mark and change, which that prankish
young chap, or as the Millerites would call him,
old chap, made; and every wanton and mali
cious trick he played, on the forms Of those he
loved again he strove to lift the hand of Time
off the heads of that wife and those children
and keep it off; for he could not bear to think,
and if he could have borne it, he could not
bring his mind to think of them, as being one
moment older, or one jot taller, than they were,
or in the least point changed from what they
were, some fifteen years before. Each thought
of home suggested other thoughts, and he resolv-
ed to quiet his yearning mind. Accordingly he
procured writing materials and addressed let
ter to his wife, still supposing her to be where
he left her. In his letter he avowed regret for
having left his family expressed strong desire
and determination to return to them soon,
coupled with dubious hope that he should be
able to do SO with his fortunes mended made
many inquiries concerning his family; his
farm; and his quondam neighbors Informed
her that he was living in the town of D,
but made no allusion to any business in which
he was employed requested her to write to him
soon, and forcibly enjoined her not to go, or
send any one to him as well on account of the
expense of the journey, as for the reason that
he was mainly employed in part of the town
remote from any settlements, and where access
could be had only by a journey on foot 50 long
to undertake it.
Knowing that McDermot, who was about to
otul lO lOl tilO coUbICulCuVo5 WOulO INV uuNO DCOh
among the Snaggers had his wife refused to ac-
company him, and believing he would scorn the
man who could, for fifteen years, abandon wife
and home for such society, he found an addi-
tional reason for keeping the fact that he had a
family still concealed from his fellow Snaggers
Yet he must avail himself of the opportunity to
send his letter to the Post Office by McDermot
Accordingly,
"McDermot," said he, approaching and ad-
dressing the Scot, "if you had friend you
had not seen for fifteen years Or, to make the
case little stronger than mine, if your wife
had been separated from you for that length of
time, and you could not leave your business to
see her, you would want to hear from her,
would you not?"
=" "Wul dye ken ye may say that, Mr..
Rolph," replied the Scot. I" Judith and are
ane flesh, like twa chuckies in ane shell, Mr.
Rolph, and gin she wull sometimes haze her
spreys, and whiles mystryst her, yet we bath
forgie' and forget; and lang separation o. US
wad be like separation o saul and pody, bath
wad dee, and Judith wad tell ye sac her nain-
sell. But why dye say the like, Mr.. Rolph 2"
=" Because" Hartman replied, g have been
writing letter to an old friend, and want you
to deliver it to the Post, and mind that Musgraye
does not see it, for if he does, you know he will,
not permit it to be sent'
tt Vo 1ro,, o,,u = :4I
cret communication wi folk O. the warld.
Rolph," said McDermot, surprised alike at
Harrimans readiness to violate his OATH and
the bold confidence with which he appealed to
him to assist him in SO doing, "and an aith
is an awfu' thing to brak' and Gamma brak' it.
But odd " he exclaimed, looking at the super
scription, list to Teddy ye haze scrippit, or
ls't to some gay, canty quean ye haze ia en-
in loo wiz"
" 1t is for no Haunting GIRL" replied Harri-
man, " but for one who has been to me like
mother, and whom | regard as much as | could
if she were my wife; 50 you can Judge, Nc
Dermot, if should wish to hear from her after
fifteen years separation. But give me the let
ter back" he said despondingy " then go,
complain of me to the Gang for disregard of
Snagger's oath, and let her who has been to me
like wife and mother, still weep and mourn for
her long absent and unheard of Rolph, as Nc
Dermot would wish his wife to do for her alb
sent husband, if hundred miles of space, and