Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-01

When | saw the old piebald horse
hitched TO the old green wagon, and the
deacon seated therein, and all together
moving through the gate, hurried down
stairs and through the woodshed, and
took my way to the barn. Pushing the
door open. and following the sound Of
suppressed sobs, found Jimmy crouch
ing in corner, with his head half hidden
in a tuft of hay, quivering with excite
ment and pain. When put my hand
upon him he shrank from the touch; when
I spoke his name he looked up with the
look of dog that has been beaten; when
| lifted his head and pillowed it on my
lap. floods of tears gushed forth. | let
him have good cry, soothing him by
passing my hand lightly over his damp
hair. When he grew calmer | loosened
his shirt band and looked at his back /; and
as | did SO, bit my lips 10 suppress n
scream. 1t was literally covered with
liyid welts, and in some places the blood
came through the skin!
Drawing his shirt band up, fastening it
round his neck, and commanding rs well
as could. my trembling voice. propos-
ed to him to 90 with me to his room and
rest awile. He lose slowly TO his feet and
putting his hand in mine, we both pro-
ceeded toward the house, and gained the
chambers in the same way left them,
unseen by Mrs. Thorne.
! persuaded him to undrcss and lie
down upon the bed. and while | bathed
his aching head and bruised back, he told
me what The offence was for which his
father had beaten him. I'll give the sto-
~ in his own words.
Last week, he"-rcferring to his faith
er; il was curious to see how he avoided
speaking the word father, told me
if | would dig all the 'taters in the south
patch, might 90 chestnulting the next
day and when asked him the next day,
he said he did not promise me, but | stuck
10 it he did. and told him right where he
was when he said il. Then he said hc
didn't care il he did SAY so. couldn't for
must pick up cider apples. and il Id be
a good boy and work right smart | might
90 TO day; but knew he wouldn't keep
his word, and SiaS Bruce was y going
TO day, and | wanted 10 go too, for the
squirrels was a-carrying of the nuts rs
last as they could.and Silss Bruce, and all
the boys, have got rs many agin rs have,
and when | asked him il might 60 out
he said, No. shouldn't. and told me to
90 over in the back lot and cit the sheep.
and pretended To go. and went of with
the other boys TO hunt cheStnutS. and he
came through the woods a.hunting for
the old mare, and saw me there, aud he
asked me what was there ior?' and |
told him conldnt find the sheep in the
lot and was a.looking for 'cm in the
woods. and he said the sheep was in the
lot. aud he seen 'em when he was comm
through il. and told me had lied and he
would lick me but | stuck to il did not
lie, for knew he would lick me ANYHOW,
and he has, and hate him. and I'll run
away Id rather live way off on IN Is
land like Robinson Crusoe, and have FIJI
day live with me. than TO live here and
be licked every day
What could say? | said nothing
but sang him fast asleep. and left him
sleeping and went down stairs thinking
TO talk To his mother about him; but
found her up TO her elbows in flour, and
her head full of baking for to morrow,
aud pursed up expression of her mouth
warned me 10 keep shady. And so
of la the orchard, and sat down among
the yellow apples, and held my tongue ;
bul in my heart of bearts, thanked God
was an old maid, and had no boys TO
bring up.
At night the deacon came home, turn
ed out his horse, ate his supper and then
inquired where Jimmy was. Mrs.
Thorne did not know. He looked sur
prised, not to say alarmed, took down
his hat and went at a quick pace toward
lhe barn. Soon he came back, and I'll
confess it-I chuckled 10 sec that looked
pale and scared. had q good mind to
keep still and let him get what Theodore
Winthrop calls ''prickley scare" but
he came direct to me, and asked me if
knew where he was. | reluctantly an
swered, up stairs, in bed, and asleep,
and added, malciously, "sick too, and
shouldn't wonder if he has to have doc,
tor before he gets through with it,"
The deacon shot an inquiry from be-
meath his shaggy brows. and went up
stairs. | would have given all the apples
in the orchard to have seen him as he
bent over his beaten boy.
He came down with slow, hesitating
step, and Il look on his face that l thought
BODIED much good to jim.
Strange, Jim told lies!
Who taught him?
One day, Deacon Frisbie came to Dea-
con Thorne, to buy good cow. The ir-
repressible Jim was on hand to drive up
the cows, with instructions to leave two
or three of the best ones in the field.
They were driven into the milking yard,
duly inspected by Deacon Frisbie, and
| nraised or denrpciaied hv Deacon Ihorne