The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-28
Mysterious Mutton.

In a district adjoining large forest
wolves were so plenty that it was al
most impossible to keep sheep, and
only now and then "cosset" was
raised as a pet. A good deacon had
reared one, and as it had become rath-
er troublesome, he killed it. Mutton
was great treat in those parts, so he
reserved one quarter for himself and
one for the minister, and divided the
remainder into smaller portions and
distributed it among their few neigh
bors. The minister's part was placed
in an out building for safe keeping
until the next day, but in the morning
it was nowhere to be found some onf
had stolen it, and the pelt in which ii
was wrapped
Greatly disappointed, the deacon
and his wife resolved to make some
amends for the loss to the minister,
and therefore selected their incest
cheese, and placed it in a covered bas-
ket, and sent it, with polite note, by
their two boys. 1t was berry-time, and
the boys made frequent stops, both
going and coming. When they re-
turned, great was the surprise of the
deacon TO find a note from the minis
ter, cordially thanking him for the
present Of a quarter of mutton, and
asking him to accept the gift CON
tanned in the basket as an expression
Of his regard.
Mutton Mutton ?" said the deacon
"he was probably thinking Of the
sheep l killed yesterday, when he
wrote the note. But let us examine
the basket" He opened it, and there
was a fat stonel
The deacon was a good man, but
this aroused his Indignation, and he
could not refrain from speaking harsh
ly Of such treatment from one he had
always considered his friend By the
advice of his wife, in the afternoon he
called on the minister for an explana-
ton, taking with him a small cut of
mutton for piece. offering. The min
lister and his wife had Just gone out,
and as the deacon was talking with
their little girl, he happened to look
into an open pantry, and there spied
the very quarter of mutton stolen from
him the night previous; he knew it by
the marks he had made dressing it.
Without another word he seized it,
and went home in great wrath, con
vinced that the minister was q thief,
and determined to have nothing more
to do with him The minister on his
return was equally indignant at the
conduct of the deacon, but prudently
resolved to say nothing of the matter.
For three weeks after, the deacon
and his wife were absent from church.
Everybody wondered why; but he
would make no explanation, neither
would the minister Finally a meet
ing Of the church members was called,
with determination to have the
strange actions of the deacon ex-
planned, and he resolved to let the
whole story out. He told the circum-
stance, and expressed great grief at
what he considered the shameful con-
duct OF the minister. The latter gen
tlemen then made his statement. He
said that the deacon's boys had broght
him a quarter Of mutton in basket,
and that in return he had placed there
a neat family bible.
Everybody now looked at his neigh
Dor, wondering what it could mean,
some thought them both crazy, others
thought of witchcraft. All was still
rs the grave, for some minutes, when
there arose a man formerly known as
Wicked VIII, who had lately reformed
and joined the church.
Brethren" said he, in trembling
voice, Il stole that quarter of mutton.
On my way home in the night ] was
chased by wolves, and climed tree
for safety, where | had to stay until
they went away in the morning. Be
ing afraid to take the meat home by
daylight, | hid it in the woods; but to
make sure of it l strayed near the
place. intending to carry it away early
III the evening. While there, the dea-
cons boys came along, and from my
hiding-p place l heard them speaking
of what had happened. ! also found
that it was too warm for the meat to
keep through the day, and SO when
they were busy. gathering berries, |
slipped the cheese out of the basket,
and put in the meat. When they re-
turned they stopped again; and hear
ing them speak of present for the
deacon, l examined the basket; and