Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-18

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religiously observed for more than forty years.
One of the inconvenience of this requirement
was that the old man had to be provided every
morning with three halfpeuce in current coin
of the realm and, another, which folio owed
in the course of lime, when the old man be-
came decripid and feeble, was that some one
had to take MIN TO the particular public house
on which alone ne would bestow his patron
age (half mile distant), and bring him back
again.
Still no word of complaint escaped either
John Martha, unit their family increased TO
that extent when every haifpenny became, as
Martha said, an "object." The crisis arrived
that night, when John, in general but signih-
cant Terms, asked his coed wife what was to be
-one.
"lts not fair to you, john" Martha said
sand you sban't be burdened with him any
longer And while the old man at doing in
his chair, all unconscious, it was resolved be-
tween them, after hard struggle on John S
part, and many silent tears on Martha's, that
John should next day put old Daddy into The
workhouse. The resolution taken, and
the old man slept on. Neither John nor Mar
tina had the courage TO wake him. 1hey were
afraid that he might read their terrible inten-
tons towards hum ia their guilty faces.
al canno. do i, Martha John said ; and he
uldUc all SACuot 10 go out OI QOOls " sLlphC
his pipe. Martha could not do it either, aud
waiting for the oid to wake, and pres
entity he work and called for her. She had
Withdrawn into The shade, and he could not see
her ith his dim old eyes
"Martha," he said, where are you? Come
here and let me tel you what I've been dream
ing about. Such pleasant dream, my dear,
about the ola days wnen you was al at home.
| thought 1 saw yol all round the table eating
YOU Cnris' mas dinners, and here was turkey
and plum puld.ns and III the nice things that
used TO nave, you know; and then l dreamt
that was takIng you 10 me boarding school,
where you ior twelve n onth, you
know aEd-4nd, IS We was driving down the
Edgeware road ~ the coalse, John Came up,
and wanted t. botIo~ tye pounds, just as ne
use4 10 do, and-And | .ent it TO him, just
10 do, YOU know, and, but what, the
mailer with you Martha ? you're not crying
surely"
Pocr B. ID ian lie it'll, knew what thorns he
was planting Ii his daughters breast. She was
CRYING, but she hid her tears, and said kindly
it was time FOR him to 20 to bed.
So, ;aAlng nim by the hand, and leading him
TO his room, sic put hiin to bed and tucked
hlm up Ike ! chIld.
When Martha went down stairs again, John
was tmldly peeping in At The door
rave go1 put A4h - osu, nal tAa NC IL
qulIed.
'Yes, Jim
DO you INK ne suspected anythingP" ?"
''Oh 40, poor I'D -vAr."
mo, ot curse he did lot, Martina" an
swered Johl, me uld never dream that We
coulu be suc1 monst- rs-but did ne say any
tning p
"Yes," she replied "he said, God bless you,
Marthi and God U!ess John, for ali your kid
ness"
Joh-, wh,se heart was much too pig Tor
AIS O,aer faculties, withdrew his head from
the door, aud vented his smIlten feelings in d
nosI.
John aud Martha crawled up to bed that
.eIghi : upon their souls. As they passed the
room s. here The cd man lay, they turned away
their faces.
Next morning Martha dressed her old baby
IN n best clothes, crying over him ali the
whIie, and hdIng her tears as best she could.
DADDY waBtel 10 know if it wss Sunday, tnat
they were puJ.ng on MS best things, and Mar
tina could 40; answer. Every innocent word
.e uttered Nas d reproach to ner. she could
not COX al Tin. at breakfast time, neither could
John.
" heu breakfast over, John said to the
OF man, il Is cheerful ton. as ne could COM
mand,
.G.andt4ther, 1 am going to take you tor
walk"
That's kind otyou, John," said the old man,
Every kind"
"Weil, come along, grandfather here's your
hat and stick"
"i'm ready, John, quite ready. En-? bless
me what's he matter now. my dear p
Martha had her arms round MS neck, kissing
him.
"Good b., father" she said, through her
sobS, "goOJ by
she mad resolved not to say i, but she couldu'.
help il.
Tut tut, my DEAR" said the old man. ''we
are not go'ng far. Are we, John p
n, grandfather, not very lar"
"And we'A come back soon, won't We,
John 2"
ION yes, grandfather" John said and the
words Almost chOked MIN.
Martha whispered to the children TO go and
shake hands with their grandfather and woa-
GeIing what this unusual Ceremony meant,
they did they were told, quietly and silent
ly.
The old man was much puzzled as the
children, and wanted TO know if it birth
day. John could not answer him /; his heart
was full and his utterance chokt d. Without
another word he took the old man by the hand
and led him from the house; aud Martha
stood in the doorway, surrounded by the chill
dren, looking alter them sadly through her
tears. 1t barely quarter Of mile to the
work house, but 1t was long Journey for Dad
dy, who was getting very fraIl now. He drop
ped his stick very often, and John had 10 stoop
and pick it up for him, and there were danger
Gus crossings to pass, where it was Necessary
tor j ohm to signal to drivers of vehicles 20
draw up and slacken speed until he carried the
old man safely over to he other side OF the
road. Poor old Daddy going to the work
house, highly honOred that day. The
stream of traffic stayed its current and diverted
its course to let him pass. 1t could NOT have
done more for the Lord Mayor. At Iengt III
John, leading his unconscious charge by the
haud, arrived in front Of the work-house gates.
Al he sight of the gloomy portal and the high
black WALL which shuts in life and shuts out
hope his resolution began to fall him. He
stopped and hesitated.
"Grandfa ther," he said, 'it's about time for
your glass OF ale, amt it ?'
"Wel. yes, John, | think it's getting
on that way" said the old man in CHEEKY
tone.
"Will you take it here p John asked.
as this the Nag's Head P'' the old man in
quired.
The Nag's He'd was the house which he had
"used'' for forty years.
"No, grandfather John said "but they
keep good glass of ale here
swell just as you like Daddy assented.
So John took the old man into a public
house opposite he work-house gates, and gave
him The usu4 three haitpenee ior it was Dad
dy's pride 10 pay for his liquor with his own
hand. While Daddy was slipping his ale,
John tossed II :. couple OF glasses Of spirits !;
he vas tryiug screw his failing courage to
The point. When the did man had finished d his
glass, John look him once more by the