The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-01-07


4 not inclined to1let the m alter rest, 50 he
applied to the town authorities FOR assist
/ ance But the thieves were sharper than
the detectives. who, if must speak the
truth, dill not sit the affair SO thoroughly
IA they ought, and the cSprits escaped
the merlIcd punishment, simply because
Of Mr. Wilcox's unpJpularity. lie ragged
loudly, but usecssy.
The pastor of the church, oppressed by
Mr.. Wilcox's haugjIty attendance, seized
4 this opportunity TO impress upon his at
tcnion the value of friendly relations and
intercourse, the wisdom and necessity of
n social life and of practicing the golden
rule. Strange TO relate, the minister's
advice was received with pleasantness
and respect, and he was invited 20 call
frequently, an invitation soon accepted,
believing as he dill in taking man at
his word, and in never letting an oppor-
tunty slip. Into the intercourse, the mino
lister deitly managed to include, one after
another, others, until farmer Wilcox Nith
extreme asionishmcnt, founl himself
thwarted IA second time, and led by the
nose, into the very nest Of society. Once
there, he rather liked it, and it, at stub
born times, he cndeavured TO ensconce
himself within the old shell )f naughty
repulsion, he was soon drawn forth again.
Ills ne ghbors had attached their kindly
claws upon him. at last, AMI now it was
impossible to release them.
The winter that followed was product,
i've Of more happiross than the previous
ones, khdlinesa of heart. WAS after all,
more blessed to harbor than sunfipcss.-
His wife felt the change more scnsibly
AMI began to have rusy cheeks, and elias,
tlc motions As he noticed her soft eyes
frightening each day, and form and man.
rer assuming somewhat uf the witchery
lhtt captivated lis earlier, nob!er man
hood, he wondered at his stupidity, and
cursed the spirit that had taught him to
tnake barren Of realities, 4 life that had
promised nl lovpliness. Every one made
the most Of their advantage, and ere he
could realize 1t, socability and kind inter
ests were bcautiiying his daily life with
leaves Of joy add buds of promise. Ii
was II slight thing that turned him so
marvelously, but there are men who get
into the well beaten path Of error, and
keep there, not 80 much from u real de
sire to be there, as that the Adamite ma
ture delights in perverse sin. Perversity
is an inheritance, therefore, but the ways
o! gratifying perversity are always urigi.
nal with ones own instinct. Mr.. Wilcox
was not perver-c and Grabbed through
perfect Intention, but circumstances un-
necessary To- mention had began the change
and perver>ity had completed It. One
would naturally think that Nature could
have taught him how to regard his earth
ly existence, she j. such kindly thor ough
teacher. But he valued only her pract-
cahilty could not, or rather wonll not
understand her ditlactic poetry, the gen
cruuS meaning Of her artistic labors, -
neither love the music of her min~trels,
nor read upon tie face of his fields "Gnd' ;
Scriptures ploughed in land Bot hea-
ven is pililul. anl ldom for-ets to en-
lghren such men, and make them look
through Nature up to Natures God.
Towards the boys Of the village, how
ever, his crabbednes1 remained unrelent-
inI lie surmi4ed that they knew all
about the sudden disappearance OF his
tiujt, for to stop their depredatiens, had
been the sole motive Of procuring his dog,
and wei! aware WAS he that boys have a
shy way OF revengiug thcmselves and
ever knew more than they will tell. He
intended 10 obtain another animal, before
the coming Of the summer, and this fact,
had accldently dropped in h,s convers;,
iions The boys heard Of it, and were
planning accordingly.
One Sabbath evening, he attended with
his wife, Sand ~ School meeting, devo-
ted to the religious pleasure OF the clil.
6ren. While lis.ening TO the singing that
young vOIces make 50 sweet and innocent,
and the b,is Of scripture related with timid
grace, "a new resolution flashed into his
mind, as one htlle fellow Jumped up and
. repeated distinctly, Give, and it shall
be given unto you g'o measure, pressed
down, AMI shaken together, and running
over, give into your bosom. For, with
the same measure that YOU mete wlha
it shah be measured Ia you again."
After the exercises when permission
was given frenls to address the children
he arose. There ensued ii general rustic,
and little dsinayed faces looked towards
him. with the expectation of receiving n
scathing rebuke of some nature. But he
simply related the following story "A
kind Old minister had in his garden sew.
eral peach trees, that Were his pride and
pleasure. One summon, they were heav.
lily laden with peaches, and he watched
the ound irnit, as they turned from q
de, p green tc "a pale red, then to blush.
ing tend,ness that was, indeed, truly
tempting When they were fully ripa he
, retired to rest one night, with the intens
+, lion Of rising early and securing hi:
i.caches, beiuro decay could touch their
fairness with its rude grasp, The mex
, morning with the first peep of day, he
! was.awake, AMI getting ladder he pro-
cceded TO his trees. Fancy his grief and
disnay, when he found tbs trees almot
: denudcd of peaches, only few liul'
things remaining upon the ground auC
liInbs TO mock his prpie. The good min.