The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-03-02

y
children to pay them for the loss of their
walk, Come, don't disappoint me-"
Jareb took the coin, and though his
thankfulness was deep. its expression was
simple and polite
The old man put on his boot and went
away The wife came in and Jareb
showed his treasure. They were as rich
as monarchs now ow.-They danced and sang
and then called each other fool.
However after this they went and took
their walk-they and their children. The
oldest child was only twelve years, and
the youngest was two. Tommy and john
ny were twins-They were Jolly looking
family.
When Jareb returned and entered his
shop, the first thing he saw was green
silk purse.-He picked it up and found it
full of gold.-Quick as thought he put on
his hat again and ran from the shop. He
reached the hotel but the stage had gone,
and the old gentleman had gone in it. So
the cobbler returned to his cot, and there
sat down with the purse in hand.
What shall we do with it 2" he said,
uneasiy'
The wife pondertd long while and
finally replied
Let's take it down cellar and hide it.
Then we shan't be robbed of it, nor we
shan't lose it; and when he comes we
shall have it for him."
But aupposing he should never come,
Heppy2"
"Then we will leave it for our children
and they may use it,"
"Heppy, my delight, you are right
So they went down into their narrow
cellar, and having looked all around they
finally removed stone from the wall, put
the purse in-having first rolled it up in
many thicknesses Of stout paper-and then
put the stone back as it was before.
On the following day the cobbler
watched for the stage, and when it came
he went up to see if the old gentleman had
come back. This he did every day for
two months, but no old man came.
At the end of that time, Jareb was
taken sick. He was very, very sick, and
for long time the doctor despaired of
his life. And Jareb was very poor, too.
Many a night the children went supperless
to bed.
"Jareb," whispered Heppy, with a
frightened look, there's gold in Me ce1-
lar :"
"Don't don't oh never speak of it
again i" gasped Jareb, in agony. "I've
thought of it it!--Ay-there's gold there +;
but 'tisn't ours, 'tisn't ours, Heppy"
"I didn't mean we'd take it - cried
the wife. Il only thought you mustn't die p
IL shan't die, souls delight. But
should die if we took that. 'Tisn't ours,
Heppy"
After many days Jareb Gropp was able
| to walk out. One pleasant autumn day
as he hobbled along on crutch and a
staff, he saw the stage coach coming. 1t
passed him, and he saw that same white
haired old man upon the box with the
driver. The poor cobbler hurried on ,and
when he reached the tavern, he found the
old man standing in the hall.
"Ah is this the merry cobbler 2" asked
the stranger.
81 am the cobbler who mended your
boot last spring, sir replied Jareb.
"Yes, / know" added the old man
"and the driver tells me you have been
very sick"
al have been sick, sir. All, | was
made nervous first, and then l caught cold
Yes, I've been very sick"
| The driver tells me your family suf
fered much during your Illness"
| "Some, sir. But that isn't the thing
now.-Didnt you lose something the day
| you came to my shop2"
| "Lose" repeated the old man, starting
"Did you find anythingH"
| "Yes, sir"
| WAS it purse 2"
| "Yes, SIR"
| "Of green silk p
"Yes, SIR"
with fifty gold guineas in it 2"
al don't know what was in it. foun,
it; and if you will go down with me, yol
shall have it,
| The stranger regarded the cobbler 70
some moments in silence, and finally sal
he would 90. So Jareb led the way t
his cot.
| Here. my love- said the cobbler, ad
dressing his wife, let us have candl,