Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-09-15


at one end of the place at all unseemly
hours of the day and night, wind them
selves about it, rushing off at the other
after horrifying coil, and roaring ovei
the bridge like great serpent, such a:
we have read Of in legend, seeming tc
say, "Well | have spared you this time
only swallowed few of your
people. The next time I come I'll take
the whole of your tiny village"
Yes, there was time when the little
place was still smaller than now. Not
so very long ago either. We can all re-
member it--all who can see the little
lines of silver streaking through their
hair. They can remember how, when
they were young, this spot was favorte
on sleigh rides, about halfway house
in the progress, where fiddler (Since be-
come yiolinisD was always to be had
at moments notice ; where they had a
way of knocking up the incest little sup-
pers, while hot punch Cob, whisper it
lowD was being discussed, and where
there was just room enough for party
to dance, and no more, no matter how
large the party.
What! in the village?
Nonsense ! | lam speaking now of the
little white house that stands about mid
way as you pass through. That is "The
Village Tavern" always has been the
village tavern for more than half een>
iury, until within ten years the last word
was painted out, and that Of Railway
Hotel" substituted.
There was time when, as | said this
Village Tavern" was the great place for
riding, driving and fishing parties to stop
at for dinner and supper. 1t was a spo:
too, for travellers, when they did not scud
over the land and arrive at the places of
destination in less time than they could
stay at home. Many a traveller who
came only for the nights rest, for his
supper aud break fast, stayed over a day
or two, perhaps for week. There were
trout and pickerel in those days that could
be caught in the clear, bright waters of
the mill-stream, which ran stealthily by
the foot of the garden less than a stones
throw from the back garden, and was
not banged and whirled, and beaten by
a thousand milIwheels and rumbled over
by half a hundred of steam trains daily.
There was woodcock, too, FIVE minutes,
walk away, and partridge ; or, if you
liked little longer walk, something of
larger growth worthy of your powder
and shot. ...f..
John Gordon kept the "Village Tav-
ern." Gordon was a hard-headed. stout-
bodied, red-faced, jolly, humorous Scotch
man. He was liberal, with an eye to the
main chance. He was proud of his po
sition as landlord, proud that his house
should be known and spoken of in the
great city of London, and particularly
proud tina; so many connoisseurs though
it well worth their while to drive out TO
The Village Tavern" that they might
drink Gordon's inimitable punch made
from the peculiar whiskey of which the
landlord had trace from the moment it
came from the still, just close by the
foot of Ben Nevis, to the hour it went
gurgling down the drinkers throat.
OF all these things was John Gordon
proud. This was the pride of his pro-
fession but there was one thing more
of which he was proud, and to which all
other things were but as accessories
This was his daughter Lefty. Lefty
Gordon was the landlords only child
He had married an English ,7ife, and ten
years after his marriage there came to
John Gordon this one child. On the day
that little Lefty could count eight years
Mrs. Lefty Gordon, senior, was called to
another and a better world, leaving little
Lefty heiress of all the goods, cbattels,
and real estate of which she died posses
sed the last item being "The Village
Tavern" with its furniture and belong
ings; comfortable little setting out
which, with true Scotch thrift, her good
father had settled upon her the day she
was married, and from which John Gor>
don d garnered some solid wealth,
which lay stretched out in various farms
in the country round
Lefty Gordon had great blue eyes,
very blue, very large. and sparkling with
suppressed mischief, Lefty Goragi., bad
light brown hair that danced about her
head, laughing all combs to soorn. and
almost repudiating a ribbon. She had
- ,.I:...4 IT, onl IL .rI..a.t t..tL