Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-10

to do with, potatoes decaying everywhere
now what is a poor fellow 10 do ~
believe you are about right, neighbor
! never knew a rich man in my ife--that is
one who begun life as you and did as you
say with nothing but our hands. If a man
inhorlts farm all stocked, why that's anoth.
er affair but here you and | have worked
hard all our lives and what have we got to
show for it2 Now I've come TO the conclu.
sion that every one must look out for himself
what you can't get by fair means, why, try
some other"
Amen responded Henly.
| know Of some game" said Jack Wade.
drawing near and adding in whisper, and
1t you're disposed, we'll 90 halves aud keep
dark as Egypt"
Or course Henly was on the qui rice to
learn the particulars. So he promised faith.
ful obedience in all things. Then he told
him there was nice young heifer who had
stIayed into his pasture, for whom he could
find no owner. Shes been there more or
less for six weeks; as no claimant appears, no
one seems to have better right to the
animal than l."
You're about right there" chimed in
ilenly. Now then" said Wade, if you'll
take the responsibility of killing the heifer
we'll 60 halves and you shall have the hide
for the killing; and mind, we're both to keep
dark should the owner ever appear"
"Ill do It" said Henly, without a mo-
ment's hesitation. 4" But look here, Wade
1t can't be my heifer can it you know she's
a leetle breechy and might once in while
get into your lot"
" Bless your heart; don't l know your
heiier with the white spot on her forehead?
should know her among a thousand The
one IN my pasture is all red-not a sign of
white about her better kill about nine aud
Ill be over soon after and help divide be
sure and keep dark" shouted Wade as the
two men separated.
That evening about eight o'clock Jack
Wade lighted his lantern, went to the barn.
took from high beam large piece of red
chalk and proceeded hurrielly through the
yard down to the pasture back of the house,
where he knew Henly's spotted heifer would
be feeding He found no trouble in finding
the animal by the aid Of his lantern there
she was, quietly sleeping under large apple
tree quite near the wall-a beautiful creature
she was too-Jack almost regretted having
hand IN the affair, but he argued that he
was only paying Henly in his own coin, as he
expressed it so he seized the heife- and
commenced vigorous rubbing Of the red
chalk over the animals forehead until he had
obliterated every trace Of the star then he
hurried home, seated himself on the milking
stool at the barn and waited not rery patient
ly for the clock TO strike nine. Finding
time was dragging rather heavily, he took
out his pipe, reilled it and commenced smok-
ing.
"Wade where are you 2" said Henly, putting
his head in at the door and peering cautious.
ly about, " thought | should find you here
come on-the deeds dono ; take your lam
tern, mine won't burn. I've skinned her as
clean as whistle and she's about the incest
creature I've seen for many day guess we
shant be out of meat, hey, for the present"
said Henly, slapping Wade over the shoulder
in familiar manner.
No sooner had the men reached the barn.
then they commenced to divide the meat.
Benly reserying the skin for butchering, laid
it aside until he could attend to it on the
morrow The clock struck ten before the
two men separated for the night, each chuck
ling over the success of the undertaking.
week passed. and one morning Henly
came to Wada's door quite early 10 ash is lls
had seen anything of his heifer; of course,
Jack Wade was mum-said she had not been
to his pasture for week or so, (which was
true) so of course could give no light on the
subject. Henly inquired of the neighbors,
but no one had seen the heifer with white
spot on her forehead. Then for the first time
it occurred to Henly that Wade had been
playing trick on him, perhaps, in revenge
for the turkey affair which he had kept so
silent about; so he went home, walked into
the barn where the hide was hanging, gave
it thorough examination, and there discover
ed the chalk marks upon the star in the fore
head. At first his indignation knew no
bounds-but on farther reflection he con-
cluded it was best on the whole to keep dark,
as he had promised. He had slaughtered his
own heifer and who was to blame Jack
Wade never found out whether Henly dis
covered the trick or not as they both kept
dark on the subject.-Massachusetts Plough
man.