Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-08

man who had them, was pretty sure to pick
up all the loose change that was af1oat
When money failed bushel of corn would
answer, and when corn failed, days
; chopping was always good. Many an acre
of land did the Squire clear with few
gallons of whiskey Every man had an
axe, and you know axes will get dull then
they must be carried to the erindstone, and
as Mr. $ could not afford to have his
stone worn out for nothing, all was kept
straight by spending a sixpence or shilling
III whiskey. Before one barrel was out
the Squire would always manage to have
another on the spot ; and on this account
he was considered public benefactor, and
, was elected Squire an Office which he held
for more than twenty years. | shall never
forget the last time | was at the grindstone
Nerer, NEVER. shall | forget that day.
/ What happened on that day said we,
- that makes you remember it so well ,"
Why, if you have time to hear it.
will tell YOU the whole story | was once
a wicked man, stranger, very wicked, a
blasphemer, an inhde and a drunkard |
was going to tell YOU about the last time /
was at the 'Squire's grindstone. Well, |
started one fine morning in the latter part
Of May, with busbel cf corn on nv back
and, a. the day was long, and | had got an
early start, | thought | could get out to
the mill and back again by night. Indeed
it was necessary that should return the
same day, a. | did not leave a pound of
meal in the house We were dependent
mainly upon meal and milk for living
a. pork at that season Of the year was
pretty scarce. ] did not take my axe that
morning. as was in the habit Of doing
having determined not to make any stop at
the 'Squire's although it lay in my way
Having rot along to within about half a
= mile Of the house. | was overtaken by three
Of my neighbors, with their axes, going to
have a grixd. and of course the stone must
be wet They invited me to turn in and
partake with them in drop of the new
barrel. for 1t had been reported that Il bar
rel of Z superior quality had arrived a few
days previous. OF course | did not need
much pressing. The new stock was pro-
nounced by all hands to be excellent. and
turned the grindStone and drank whiskey
until noon. | now thought it time to start
= for the mill. and it did seem to me that
walked on great deal faster by the help
of the spirit than otherwise could have
done. | had no doubt but that | could
get home by night But for all the speed
with which | was getting over the ground
| found, on arriving at the mill. that had
been five hours in travelling nine miles
could not believe it, but the miller showed
me his noon-mark, and calculated the time
20 that there could be no mistake. He
told me that the water was low. and he
could not 10 my grinding short OF an hour
1t was not q mill like the mills we have
nowadays, that can grind a bushel of corn
IN 1ifv Somewhat sobercd, felt vexed
at this state Of things; | saw plainly
could not get home that night. and my
children must 20 to bed suppcrless felt
ready to cry. for no man ever loved his
children better than did drunkard that
| was. my heart was never clean gone |
cursed the 'Squirc's grindStone. whi.key
barrel aud all, but it was of no use: : my
cursine did not mend the matter in the
least vt last, | thought the children
might make out with milk for supper for
one night, and | should get home bright
and early in the morning. | got my grist
about an hour before sundown. and re-
turned four miles when | put up at the
house of nciehbor for the night, 1--WE
were all ncighbors within twenty miles,
'' was up in the morning as soon as it
began to get light, and while engaged with
a bow OF bread and milk some one Knocked
the woman Of the house went to the door.
and was asked by young man if Mr.. B
was there. Being told that he was. the
man entered. and coming up to Inc said
. Mr.. b.. two Of your children are lost
in the woods
T. told him he lied, for knew not what
said. but had some kind Of thought that
the man wanted to scare me
= 1t is true" he said +" and have been
clear down to the mill, looking after YOU
And some Of the neighbors have been hunt
ING for the children all night"
| saw the man was in earnest | can
not describe my feelings. stranger, at that
moment. Did YOU ever feel as if the
earth was sinking away from under your
feet, and the whole weight of the heavens
coming right down upon your head? Did
you ever feel your heart knocking against
your breast like a sledge hammer, and
threatening to force passage up through
your throat If you ever felt so, YOU
know something Of my feelings on that
terrible morning. But, after ALL my feel
ing did not bewilder me, nor render me in
active. | rushed from the house like a
madmari-soon leaving the messenger and
the grist far behind Neither stump, stone.
nor fallen tree impeded my course was
young, then, and few men were more fleet
afoot than | was in those davs. | remem-
Der nothing Of my thoughts, until had got
within half a mile of my own house
then began to conjecture which of my
children it could be that was lost. for |
had forgot that the man mentioned two)
Could it be my own dear little Nelly, who
used to come dancing to meet her father
every night, with her little eyes sparkling
like diamonds? ? Whether | came home
drunk or sober, Nelly was always rejoiced
to meet me.
Have you any children. sir?'
We answered in the affirmative.
You will not wonder, then, at the old
mans tears, when remembering and speak
ing of the strong pure love of little |
daughter But none can tell how dear
child is until it is lost in the woods 1t is |
nothing, comparatively nothing, to lay
child in the grave | have had the expe-
rience of both the one is a hard thing, |
but the other awfully terrible. As | came /
in sight of my house, a new idea struck |
me-a strange idea to enter head like |
mine. | thought, now, if there is a God. /
he can save my child. [ don't know WHY |
it was, but for the first time in my life [ |
felt sure there was a God. Ny iridelity |
had in a moment completely vanished, and |