The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-12-07
4 NenC Idea.
Continued merit ueek.

"What are you doing here, John p
sald William 10 boy who was sitting on
Il rock at the fork of the roads, As il was
called.
'Nothing," said John: .-and that is
Just what | don't like 1t is hard work TO
do nothing
"Why do You sit here doing nething if
you don't like ii ?"
Il have been TO the river. and uncle
has gone down 10 Burlinville. and he told
me 10 wait here till he came along"
From the point where the boys met one
road led 10 the river, as II was called, and
the other TO Il village some four miles be-
low. The distance 10 each place from
The fork o: the roads was about the same
about three miles The spot w3s sur
rounded by a second growth of wood, and
there was no house in sight Where the
roads parted there were two guide-boardS
On one was written TO the River" and
ON the other TO Burlinville."
'What have you gol i'm that basket -
said John.
"A hatchet and some nails
That gives me new idea" said John,
rising from his seat and taking the natchet
from the basket
What sort Of an idea do Won suppose
the Ratchet and nails g;lve the idle buy9
You cannot guess. and William could not,
30 John proceeded 10 explain hi> mean
inc.
Il wanted something 10 DO. and now
have Ii. Let III knock off those guide
boari>, and change them, - thai The one
which ROM points 10 Burlinville viii point
10 the river, and the one which points 10
the river Will point to Burlinville"
What DO You wish TO DO that for p
''For the fun OF the thing. Wouldn't
ii be jolly 10 have an old man come along
here, and look up and read the guide
board. and think himself on the WAY 10
the river, till he brings pat Burlinville -
Il don't see any fun in it &; besides, it
would not be right 10 DO it
''oh, you have no fun in You; let me
have the hatchet."
Il won't agree 10 IL 1t Is NOT right"
WHO cares for what i right. when
there l. some fun 10 bc had -
Il do
LEND NE the hatchet. and I'll do ii
William lei him haye the hatchet. If
ii WIS not right 10 10 the thing. WAS il
right for William To furnish John with an
instrument for DONG il
john found the boards were beyond his
reach.
"llcre, you come and help me- said
John
mo. | won't do what * not right
John argued that he ought 10 help him
Ii w;i> mean mot 10 help him-he would
take all the blame, etc Finally Williams
GOOD nature yiellcd "a far that he held a
rail against the tree for John to stand upon.
while he carrii li~ .'new idea into prlc-
lice.
William then went ON his WAY. leaving
John 10 wait tur hi> uncle Williams re-
fiectlon> were not overplelS;lnt- lie knew
that Ia DO right WAS 10 please God, and
he knew that ii WIS better 10 please God
than 10 please a companion by aiding him
10 do wrong.
\ few layS after ihe ..new idea was
realized. Mr.. Brown. a farmer. hyinr a
few miles above the fork of the roads. cut
hi> foot severely His hired man. who
was a stranger IN That part oi the country,
wils told 10 take a horse. and ride a. fast
aS possible to Buriinyille for a doctor TO
dress the wound He was told TO 90
strai ght un I'LL he came 10 the fork of the
roads, where the auile-buar,l would direct
which ruad TO take. lie did ~. and came
out al the river. where there w;lS no doc
tor. lie had 10 ride four mil further
before he found one, ln the meantime
Mr. Brown would have bled 10 death. had
not a neighbor who had some knowledge
of anatomy come in. lie placel hi> finger
on the severed artery, and thus checked
the flow of blood I'LL the doctor arrived.
This event did not increase Williams
satisfaction with the part he had taken in
changing the guide-boards If he had :ld-
herel TO the right he would have escaped
all trouble in regard TO the matter, To DO
right Is 10 avoid great deal of trouble.
John did wrong in misleading man as
TO the road he wished 10 take Those do
still greater wrong who mislead them as
to the road 10 heaven.