Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-29

give the story in his own words.
Last week, he, referring to his father
it was curious to see how he avoided speaking
the word father" told me If would dig
all the 'taters in the south patch, | might 60
chesinutting the next day and when | asked
him the next day he said he did not promise
me, hut | stuck 10 It he did say 50, aud told
him where he was when he said il. Then he
said he didn't care if he did say so, couldn't,
for must pick up cider apples, and if Id be
a good boy and work right smart might 20
To-day but | knew he wouldn't keep his
word. and Slas Bruce was going to-day, and
! wanted to go,--ior the squirrels were car
rying Oft the nuts as fast as they could, and
Sile Bruce and all the boys have got as many
again as | have aud when | asked him if |
might 60 out he said no, shouldn't, and
told me to 20 over in the back lot and get the
sheep and | pretended to 90, aud went of
with the other boys TO hunt chestnuts and he
came through the woods huntin' for the old
mare and saw me there, and said couldn't
end the sheep IN the lot, aud was looking for
EN- in the woods and he said the sheep we're
in the lot, and he saw 'em when he was com.
ing through it, and told nc had lied, and
he would lick me but stuck to il did not
lie FOR | knew he'd lick me anyhow, and he
has aud hate him and will run away; I'D
rather 1--WE on an island like Robinson Cru
see au6 have Friday live with me, than to
live here and DC licked every day"
What could [ say2
/ said nothing, but sung him asleep and
went down stairs thinking to talk to his
mother about him but | found her up to her
elbows in -four, and her head full Of baking
for tomorrow, and pursed-up expression Of
her mouth warned me to keep shady, so
wandered off to the orchard, and sat down
among the yellow apples, and held my tongue
but in my heart Of hearts, | thanked God
was an old maid, and had no boys to bring up
At night the Deacon came home, turned
out his horse, ate hi- supper, and then iu-
quired for Jimmy. Mrs. Thorne did not
know He looked surprised, not to say
alarmed, took down his hat aud went to the
barn. Soon he came back, and, I'll confess
it, chuckled to sec that he looked pale and
scared. had a good mind to keep still and
let him get what Theodore Winthrop calls a
"prickly scare but he came direct to me,
and asked me if knew where he was re-.
luctantly answered. sup stairs and asleep in
bed"
The deacon shot an inquiry from beneath
his shaggy brows and went up the stairs |
would have given all the apples in the orchard
to have seen him as he stood over his bruised
and beaten boy
He came down with slow, hesitatng step,
aud look on his face that | thought boded
much good to jim.
Strange, Jim told lies
Who taught him?
Next morning when Jim came down,
breakfast was over, and he asked his mother it
he couldn't have some boiled eggs. She told
him she had sold all the eggs to Tim Thurs
ton yesterday morning. jim, in looking
around for something to eat, found a painful
ofeggs
Strange, Jim told lies!
Who taught him
One day, Deacon Frsbie came to Dea.
Thorne to buy good COW. The irrepressible
J i'm was on hand to drive up the cows, with
f instructions to leave three or four Of the best
ones in the field. They we're driven into the
milking yard, duly inspected by Deacon Fris-
bic, aud praised or deprecated by Deacon
Thorne, as his anxiety to keep or sell any
particular one, lay in the scale. At last by
skillful maneuvring Frisbie was induced to
choose the poorest one in the lot-not only
IA ftsh but poor every way. aud what
think you decided him to take ber
Deacon Thorne said to jim, 4" What do
you think mother will say when she finds that
I've sold old Fill-Pail -
40, she'll just tear, replied Jim.
Did she tear ?" not at all she bore it
IN
Thorne-w he and Deacon Frisbie came
in to finish the business, by transferring fifty
dollars from one pocket to another" You
always manage to sell the best cows and keep
the poorest l guess you'll find some differ
ence iu the butter now old Fill-Pail isgone.
At which Jimmy snickered behind his hat,
and was ordered to 90 aud feed the hogs
Strange, Jim told lies
, Who taught him2
Deacon Erisbie was invited to stay to din
ner He graciously assented and the two
deacons settled themselves comfortably in
their chairs, and had good time talking
over church matters. When the dinner was
ready we all sat down and Deacon Frisbie
asked a blessing, in which he praised Deacon
Thorne, and Mrs. Thorne, and Jim, and the
stranger within their gates, tmeaning mel
aud really expected to hear him give thanks
for the old spotted COW, but he stopped just
short Of it.
Dinner done, he shook hands all round in
a most friendly manner and then went away.
When he was safely in the road, Deacon
Thorne chuckled audibly and observed to his
wife, with poke in her side,-old "Fill-
Pail, )" " difference in the butter" eh =
To which Mrs. Thorne replied with grave,
cunning smile
Neither chuckle, poke, or smile were lost
to the ever-present jim.
Strange, jim told lies
Who fouuht him -