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

by one of the human species. Well, it would
never do if we all had the same ambition -
" bile some persons aspire to rule their fellow
men, there others who prefer to exercise
authority over the brutes, in driving horse
and cart. This was Jonn's case. horse and
cart, with a corresponding increase of business,
and a drive down the road to the Jolly
Butchers on Sunday afternoon, with the missus
IN Ill her best by his side, and the kids with
their faces washed behind, like a pen of Gle IN
little pigs-this had been the dream of Johns
life but it dream that had not yet
come true. Indeed, so far from this, Johns
prospects were becoming darker rather than
brighter every day.
s'What TO be done P'
This question winch had long suggested it
self both to John and Martha, found audible
expression one night, after the black Beadles
had scampered away to their holes for the
night. Old Daddy Dodd was sitting doing in
MS chair by the side of the fire, and John and
Martha were sitting opposite.
1t was John who propounded the question ::
hat to be done ?'
Martha made no audible reply but, after a
pause, raised her eyes to John s face, and then
looked across significantly at Daddy.
John shook his head, and covered his face
with his hand.
81 have no right to ask you to do it any
ever to expect you to do it,
But it was my duty and my pleasure to do
it, Martha" John replied. "He's your "a
ther, aud L couldn't the poor old man
starve !"
"But he needn't starre you know. John,"
Martha said and her lips trembled as she said
the words
Il know what you mean," reformed John
"but | can't bear the thoughts of it. It's not
&. k,.J a4
his own and drove ms own ebay, and paid rates
and taxes, and every comfort
'sWell, it IS hard when you think of it,
Martha replied, sldly land the drawing room
tnat We had, too, and the silver spoons, and the
real china CPS and saucers." And at the
thought of the china cups and saucers, Martha
dropped tear.
Yes. it is hard," John returned ''and that :
why have s.ood between him and 1t as long as
coud."
but you can't stand between him and IL
any longer, John, and | mustn't ask you to 3;
ITS not fair to you, John, and you shan't be
burdened with him any longer"
Poor old Daddy was sitting doing in his
chair, blissfully unconscious of these delIbera
tons of which be was the subject In his
time Daddy had been 10 good, though small
way OF business in the carpenierng line,
combined with a little undertaking (Which he
undertook IN his overtime, 10 obilge frlends),
and he had brought up large family decent
ly but his sons, who might have been help
to him in his declining years, emigrated, aud
died in foreign parts and when the lntrmltles
OF age began 10 creep upon he old man, and
ne was no longer able work with his own
hands he disposed of his business at alarm
ing sacrifice, and retired to 1--we on his means.
His means were small, )ut his remaining Years
were few aId proceeding on MS philosophical
calculation, DADDY lived upon the principal, in
stead Of the interest (Which ne could not have
lived upon at all), and lived longer than he cal
cuIated.
Although Daddy disposed OF his business,
and let the carpenters shop, he still continued
10 occupy the dweIling-house Of which II formed
a part, and this led many to believe that be
pretty veil of. His daughter Martha shared
IN TINS impression, and was rather disposed to
boast OF the independent gentleman, her
father, and cherish expectations Of an Inherit
ance.
One day, about TWO years after Martha had
been married to John Beadle, and shortly
after she hal prodigally presented John
Wit The second pledge OF her affection, old
Daddy arrived at the emporium suffused with
smiles. Martha thought be was gong TO pre-
sent baby with the silver spoons. hen tho
old man had settled himself in a chair, and re-
covered his breath, ne said with a pleasant
chucke:
''lve got something to tell you, Martha"
What is it father -
"Wel, Martha, I've been looking in the top
drawer, and-and-
.sYes. father, yes" said Martha eagerly,
making quite sure now that the baby was TO
have the spoons.
"Pve been ooking in the top drawer" he
repeated, "and-and-"
The spoons" Martha suggested, as du-
tifully helping her poor old father IN difficult
ty.
"No, not the spoons Martha" he said ''the
money,
Nv hat about he money, father2
"It's all gone, Martha.
"AlI gone! The money you've got to live
upon, father," cried Marina Historically, "all
gone p
Every fardeu,' said the old man.
Martha could not believe it. She gave ba-
by 10 a neighbor to mind, aud insisted upon
the old man going back with her TO his lodging
immed1tely. He gave her the key, and she
tore open the top drawer IN frantic WY -
She seized the canvas bag in which the old
man kept his money (tor he had an uncOnquer
able dIstrust of banke,) and plunged her band
into it. She could feel nothing ike coin. She
turned the bag inside out and shook 1t, nothing
fell out of it. She rummaged among the
useless ODDS and ends IN the drawer, and not
farthing could she find. Suddenly she paused
and said,
you've been robbed father. Someb ody's
been at he drawer"
"No, no, my dear, you mustn't say that no.
body's been at the drawer but me. I've spent
1t al. There wasn't much OF it, only eighty
pounds altogether, and it wouldn't last forever.
lts me that's lived too long, Martha and the
old man sat down in chair and began to
whimper and weep
Martha could only sit down and weep
toe. She was overN helmed by the thought OF
her f4tner's desti.ution and the prospect
which ay before him in his weak old age.
His money was ali gone, and his few sticks of
furniture, with the silver spoons, which
were the only portion OF his plate which re-
NAMED, would scarcely realize enough to bury
him.
This was sad news to tell John when he
came in (tron moving Job) TO his dinner.
Martha, Dy way Of breaking 1t gently to him,
Historically shrieked out the tldings at the
top of her voice as John was coming IN at the
door.
.Oh, John, fathers moneys all gone" she
CRED.
Seeing hat Martha was i'll d dreadful state Of
excitement about the matter, John, with a
proper degree OF artistic contrast, took the un-
welcome announcement coolly.
"Well" he answered, SIN that case we
must keep him. He has nobody else to look
to-"
And so one day John went over to Daddy's
house, sent for broker and disposed of all
the things sxcept the old mans bed, which he
despatched by the truck to the emporium
That done, ne locked the door. sent the key to
the landlord, and taking the Old man by the