Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-06
JOB PRINTING!
Neatly and promptly executed at this Office
n1isfellanp.
The Old Well.

The Old Well.
COMPLETE IN TWO WEEKS.
PARr1.
On q bright April morning many years ago,
q stout, red-faced old gentleman, Geoffrey Pur-
Gill, followed by several workmen bearing shov-
els and pickaxes, took his way to little knoll
on which stood a wide. spreading chestnut-tree.
When they reached the top of the knoll, the
old man paused moment and then struck his
gold-headed cane upon the ground at some lit
tie distance from the trunk of the tree, saying,
"Dig here"
The workmen looked ut each other and then
at their master.
1T would be useless to dig well here, Sir, -
said one of the workmen, very respectfully
mo water would ever come into it,
"Who asked for your opinion?" inquired
Godfrey, IN an angry tone " Do as bid you;
the well shall be digged here, and water shall
come into it,
The man ventured no further remonstrance
he took off his Jacket, and struck his pckaxe
into the hard, dry soil near the point where the
cane rested.
Godfrey Purcil was choloric old gentleman
who, having had his own way all his life, was
by no means inclined to forego that privilege
now that he was advanced in years. As he sat
beneath the chestnut-tre one warm spring day
he felt very thirsty, and he suddenly thought
what a good thing it would be to have well
there, 50 that he might refresh himself with a
draught of clear, cool water, without the troub-
lie of returning to the house. The more thirsty
he grew, the pleasanter seemed the project to
him,-a large, deep well, neatly stoned, with a
sweep and buckets,-i would be pretty object
to look at, as well as comfort to man and beast.
The well should be digged forthwith, and what
Godfrey Purcill once resolved upon he was not
slow to execute and, despite the remonstrances
of those who knew better than he, the work was
commenced at once, ...--.,........
more unpromising place for well could
not have been selected in all his extensive
grounds; but he was not a man to be patiently
baf1ed even by Natureherself, and he stood look
ing with grim satisfaction at the hole which
rapidly widened and deepened under the vigor-
GUS efforts of his sturdy workmen.
Day after day old Godfrey watched the work
men on the knoll. The well increased in size
till it was large enough to have watered whole
an,-but the desert of Sahara itself was
not drier. Geoifrey fumed, raved and swore
bhu WtiCu oWO hiCh WClO AiiACu w tuO vi
the earth, and the rest absolutely refused to
work any longer, he bade them 60, pack Of
ungrateful scoundres as they were, and, pro.
curing more laborers, declared " he would dig
there till the devil came to fetch him."
Godfrey was as good as his word he labor.
ed with pertinacity worthy of better object,
and dug deeper into the bowels of the earth
and partly stoned his well, but no water, save
that which fell from heaven, ever appeared in it
And when old Godfrey was gathered to hi,
fathers, he left his house and grounds TO his
only daughter, Eleanor PIrcill, on the express
condition that the well was not to be filled up
but to remain open till water did come into it
One July day, when Godfrey had been som'
twenty years with his fathers, or with Satan
(which two destinies might have been one anC
the same, after all, for he came of q wicked
turbulent race,) two children, boy and girl
sat on the brink of the well and looked dowI
into it.
1t was half filled with the rubbish of the fall
en- stones, but it was still deep, and dark enougl
to tempt their curious eyes into trying to dis
cover what lay hidden in its shadowy. depths
The great chestnut-tree, rich with dropping
feathery blossoms, shaded them from the burn
ing sun "a few stray beams only finding the
way through the glossy leaves, and resting OF
the golden curls Of the girl.
The boy leaned over the well, and peered in
to it the little girl bent forward, as if to dc
the same, but drew back again.
60 Take hold of my hand, Mark said she
and let me lean over as you do"
"What do you want to look in for ? " aske,
the boy" there is nothing to see Oh, yes, ,
continued he, mischevously, " there is horri,
dragon, just such as st. George fought with, ly
ing all curled up in 10. bottom Of the well
with fire AMI smoke Snwwr, vur # eis moutIui
: Rosamond PurclI was too Asa descendaan
Sol I'd Geoifrey to be frightencS@at the though
of dragon She caught hold of Marks arl
to steady herself, and leaned over the well.
" Let me see let me see " cried she e,
gerly.
Mark made one or two feints of pushing he
in, but at last held her firmly by the wais
ster below.
Where is he, Mark? don't see anything
and don't believe you saw him."
"Oh, yes, did, SAID Mark Sc there don
you see the end of his tail sticking out from III
dor the largest stone? Maybe he has had on
little girl for breakfast this morning, and don
care about another for luncheon, or else
would spring up after you, ard gobblo you u
in minute"
"What stories, Mark Aunt Eleanor sa,
there are no dragons nor never were"
" Pooh " rctortcd Mark, contemptuous
-" Aunt Eleanor has not seen everything the
is in the world. Look again, Rosy"
Again the little curly head was bent over ii
well, somewhat puzzled which to believe Au
Eleanor or Mark, hut halt inclined to cred
Marks eyes rather than Aunt Elcanor's word
4" Do you think that can he one of his scaesi
asked she, pointing to piece of tin which 81
tered in stray sunbeam among the stones.
Marks eyes followed the direction of her fl
ger, and he was about to declare that it must
ii scale that the dragon had scrapcd off his la
wriggling among the stones, when both childr
were startled by loud voice calling o,
"What are you doing children? You will {
into the well and break your good-for-nothi
little necks "
Mark and Rosamond drew back, and say
young man, their brother Bradford, with a b
ket and fshing-rod in his hand, coming
the knoll.
"Why are you here, Mark ," asked