Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-05-23

IuTlll-NUIu, luLllN WnlSNl1k tlitli
to scare off the hosts of gnats. But now
all was gloomy and desolatc; the orch
ard trees FLASHED their arms together in
the tempest torrents of water poured
from the thatch now and then heav-
Ter gust caused the spray of the distant
sea to mingle with the rain, and pools
of salt water soaked here and there in
the garden. The beggar unlocked the
wicket, passed in, and with feeble hand
struck the door again and again.
"Who's there ?" ut length exclaimed
gruff voice from within.
"A poor man, that bcgs nights
lodging for the love of God"
"Then God may take care of you, for
/ will not,n said the farmer There
be trampers enough ! know, now-a-
days"
"Only an clubhouse and bundle of
straw, pleaded the poor man.
"Be off with YOU" shouted the far
mer, cor I'll loose the dog"
81 give you one more chances Jan
Marsen,u said the beggar will you
yield me nights lodging ?"
"Here, Gormo! Gormo!n cried the
farmer again. And Il fierce growl with
in showed that the dog had answered
his masters voice.
The beggar, without troubling him
self to hurry, walked quietly through
the garden, out into the village street
and passed on.
Now come with me to another farm
house. half mile further on, and some
what nearer the sea. This time we will
step into the Kitchen and see who are
there.
A cheerful, happy group. At one side
of the fire the HOusetdther, (as the Ger
mans say) Conrad School, a strong,
sunburnt, gOod-humored farmer. He is
rghting a pair of shears that is out of
order, and every now and then casting
well-pleased glance on the other-on
his wife, Dame Fleta, who is plying her
needle busily on the other side of the
fire, and Coletta, who is helping her
younger brother Wilibald to make a
cross-bOw, and little Trudchen, who is
playing with the great long-haired dog
that lies baslling before the fire.
II wish Poppo would come in," said
Dame Schoorl at length.
"More like that | shall have to get
Out,o answered her husband. The
Water staat will want all the hands they
can get tonight 1t is an awful storm
surely. BY st. Wilibald, what gust
that was ~
l must stop to explain to you that the
JVdter-stddt are the persons into whose
charge the dykes of Holland are given.
lHcy HIVE IL ltlSc IcNtuuc, itliu lllull
officers and servants under them and
one of their chief stations is the Honds.
bossche, of which | have already
spoken.
"I trust, father, there will be no mis-
chief" said Coletta.
"Aye, child, and you would say so /;
thousand times as earnestly if you cOulC
remember the last great storm-ten years
ago come next month. Aye! that Wd'
storm indeed And yet we had bu
little of it here"
II shall go out, wife, if this lasts,
said Schoorl. "Last tide only wanted
and that is near foot above Great Dan
ger mark. IIark what is that?'
A hand was laid on the door, and al
aged voice said-"Take poor man il
for the love of God !"
"Mary, come in and welcome,n crie(
Conrad, starting up. " 1t is not tn
night for n dog to be out in" He drew
back the bar-the door was dashed opel
by the wind--the squall beat into TIN
house-the fire glared out, and it wanted
the strong mans full strength to clos
it again. The same beggar whom w
saw before, pale, weary, and dripping
from head to foot, stood in the kitchen
"Come in, good man, come nearer t
the fret" cried Dame Fleta. "What'
it's use but to warm a body at? Nay
never stand about the tiles. I'll wal
rant it's easier to clean them than t
cure fever"
"That's true" said the honest, farmer
"Or stay--step this way, man-any
thing were better than those wet rags.
With many thanks, the beggar TO
lowed his host, and presently came bac
wrapped up in thick dry rug.
ttSet on sumner girl ~ said her fath(
to Coletta " this honest man is hunl
cred, / know-and if he is not, l am.
So the supper was set on; might
boar ham the bearer of which had ia
tened himself ON the acOrns of Older
burg; great Permerend cheese /; brea
as white as snow, and Alkmaar beer.
And now the storm lulled little. Tl
beggar, seated ut the lower end of til
long table, that shone like black lool
ing-glass, said little and ate scarcel
anything. The others, and especial
Conrad, commented on the tempes
wondered if Poppo would return tn;
night, and told doleful stories of pa
floods. Towards eight o'clock the win
rose again.
I" l will go out, said the farmer; "it
u shame to leave those men on such
night" And he had just taken dow
his ponderOus stick, when the door W;
shaken violently, and voice shoute
''let me in let me imp
at is PoppoW cried Coletta; and 81
flew to the door.
"FatherW cried the young ma
rushing in, battered and drenched wit
the storm, ''come to the Dyke instan
ly! The water is higher than Il
Water-warden remembers it in the We
of the great flood-all the village is o
old Simon the sail-maker has sent
his last yard of canvass come at once
And fatherand son We're off in IN
ment.
A wild fierce scene. a long dyk
L. L. l.,