Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-07-15

boots, took down his heavy hickory whip
stock with its hard twisted lash, and then
stepped briskly into the kitchen. Mrs.
Ramsdel, whose fine face and gentle ways
seemed in strange contrast with the rough
ness about her, was crowding into stout
bag huge slices of brown bread, sage
cheese, cold meat, and fat doughnuts.
"victuals for four, Almiry. David's a
going with us"
"Father, you don't mean to take that
child on the mountain, to-day. Yesterday
the sun shone through snow-banks, and
this morning we have no sunshine"
"lf don't mean 1t, my name amt Silas
Rdmsdell. Nine years living with me
oughter have teached ye kin have my
way. Ye want to go, don't ye, Davidf"
II, man turned to a slender boy of about
49, years, who stood closeto his mother,
ehd whose eyes flashed AS he answered,
mo- do not think it Is right for you to
make me go when mother feels so bad"
"There, ye see what it's coming to q
sassy, shiftless fellow, who can't earn his
salt. Money don't grow on bushes, 'spe-
. cially on Stratton mountain your boy'll
earn his'n or find it mighty scarce. If his
grand ther was minister, he amt no bet
ter than the other boys. You've cuddled
your ycosset lamb long enough, Almiry; 1t
is time he was turned out. Them critters
has got to be folded afore them snowbanks
yonder are down onto us. David can help
hunt as well as the other boys"
Father, don't be harder with David than
with your cattle; he is not used to cold
winds and hard tramps; want my boy to
work, but he must begin little by little"
"'Tain't no kind O. use to talk, Almiry !;
my minds made up; he's going. Bun
die him up as much as yer mind, but
he'll go. Step round, David, and show
some life."
Mother" said Gideon, who came in for
his mittens, and saw the tears fall as the
little cap was tied over David's ears, "don't
take bit of worry for him. I'll see to it
no harm comes to him. never failed you
yet, have I, mother?"
"No, Gideon, my own son could not have
been truer. God will bless you, and, IL he
lives, David may do something for you"
"That l will," said David, a bright flush
kindling his cheek ~ mean to get away
from this mountain, and be rich, like tho
people we read about, and what's mine will
be yours, brother Gideon"
"That is as tits" said Gideon; "Tm paid
for this job as 1 go long; but, come what
will, don't believe you'll forget brother
Gideon"
"No, moi never, as long as liver said
David
When the party had gone few rods from
the house, they came to a bend in the road 1;
a moment more, and home and mother
would be lost to sight. David turned, put
his little hands to his mouth, as he had
seen Gideon and his father do when shout
ing across the lots, and called: "Good bye,
mother; I'll be gone only little while"
Hhe cattle bad strayed farther than Mn
Ramsdell had expected; and many a shout
and call penetrated the dusky darkness OF
the forest before single tinkling bell rang
out upon the frosty air.
"My fun's small play this time," NUT
tered Job to himself, and in revengeful
mood he thrashed his stout stick right and
left among the withered branches. Sud
denly cracking of underbrush startled
him few steps brought him to large
clearing, where stood huddled together the
greater part of the missing cattle.
81 ain't up stump this time" said Job,
joyfully. Cautiously he pulled the rope
that seemed the stoutest from its conceal
ment, and then with desperate look in
his eye, leaped forward and flung it at the
boldest-faced animal of the group. Alas,
practice had not made Job an expert, and
with wild tossing of the head, the bullock
dashed into the woods, followed by the
rest.
Mr.. Ramsdells loud "Co', boss - sound
ed in the air.
40 dear |" exclaimed Job, "Tll catch it,"
Hastily secreting the rope under heap
Of dry leaves, he plunged into the forest in
the direction opposite that taken by the
cattle. A few steps brought him face to
face with his father.
81 heerd cracking, and was sure twas
some O. them pesky critters. Didn't you
hear nothing, Job?"
"Where's Gid and DavidH" asked Job,
evasively.
"Gideon was no better than nobody while
the boy was long. sent him to Riders
clearing David can follow the brook from
there to the saw mill, then enter the road
| fur hum"
"Now, Davie, go right home; mother
will worry" said Gideon, after he had
given the child directions he could not
miss
"The sun shines little here, and / am
so tired, may rest awhile, brother Gid
eonY"
"Yes, but not long; it's dark day, and
night will come fast"
II wonder il could build chip house,
thought David, as he saw the material
heaped about him. He sat himself tc
work, and very soon neat little establish.
ment rewarded his efforts. "Now some
thing ought to live in this" he thought, a'
he stepped back to view his creation.
A relocated squirrel came out from un
der a fallen tree, and disappeared in tn,
woods.
so, if could only catch him, or one o
his brothersp
Animated by the thought, David left the
clearing and went into the woods. Some
times merry-eyed squirrel darted out be
fore him; he gave chase, never mindins
the tiresome climbing, and decayed logs ant
underbrush. Like many older persons, h,
reached out to grasp the coveted treasure
and clutched the empty air. He found
heap OF nuts nicely stored away unde
leaves and sticks.
II am dreadful hungry, and 1 think
will eat few, Mr.. Squirrel you will nev
er miss them"
II was astonishing how many 1t took 4
make few; baby might have had
handful when David stopped to rest.
80, how mean am" he said aloud
like tho wicked robbers Gideon reaC
about, who take what other people hav'
laid up, and never give anything back.
will hunt some nuts; l don't want you Il
starye, Mr.. Squirrel, because I've beer
naughty"
David had been eating so busily he haC
not noticed that darkness was coming fast
! al dear - no said as he started to his feet