Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-01-05
Vol. 65.-3209. No. 10.

Well, now, Rachel" said he, as he took
in the situation, "you are spunky little
girl but tell my wife | wouldn't give
brass iarthing for a girl that hasn't some snap
to her
We couldn't stand it any longer" said
Rachel defantly. The Brayton animals
were ovcrrunning u.s. and It's my opinion that
there's point where patience ceases TO be
virtue"
That's true as preachin and all the bot
ter for my trade, said the man, walking slow
/ y round one Of the cows, that was shaking
and quiycring now, as if in an ague ft. "But
/ it strikes me you must have druv pretty
good jog he added, with refreshing disre-
/ gard Of grammar. 4" This one acts as if she
was sick. She had cat herself as full as a
tick and it amt safe to drive critters much
| in such case They sometimes die n less
than twenty-lour hours That would be q
bad piece Of business You would not like to
kill noighbor's COW, now, would your"
OF course not returned Rachel, sharp
| ly, with dreadful sinking of the heart
You don't mean to tell me there is any
such danger 2"
." I'm afraid so," he replied, eyeing the COW
professionally " it looks a little scaly but
you had better 90 and End Herman Brayton,
and tell him all about it, he is better posted
on cattle diseases than half the COW doctors
in the country and if anybody can save the
critters life he can"
Rachel turned back on the road, feeling
half dazcd and wholly frightened. Her ia
ther was slow to anger but she did not like
to think what the consequences might be
should he discover that his girl had been in
stlumcnial in killing Deighbor's COW. Her
| pugiistic spirit had oozcd out, and left her in
bad serapo How could she face those
Braytons with her story; and how could she
! beg pardon aud assistance as il we're, Of Her
man Braytou, toward whom she had begun to
/ feel a settled dislike2
While she was hurrying along with burn
! ing checks, turning over these wretched
thoughts in her mind, and feeling very hum
bic, young man sprang over the low wall
| by the roadside, and politely raised his hat.
lie wore a farm laborer's blouse and checked
shirt but the lines of his form were graceful,
and his manner had charm quite foreign in
the homespun youths Of the neighborhood.
Excuse me, Miss Henderson," he said at
once. knew you by sight, and seeing you
20 by thought | would take the opportunity
to send word to your father that six Of his
cows are in my barnyard. Of course, be can
have them on demand. Old Bess, believe
they call her, has u vicious pair of horns.
She slipped her hamper, and let the others
into my buckgneat field. | shall leave it to
Mr.. Henderson TO estimate the damage, for
from what report says of him, know he will
be inclined to do the fair thing
For moment Rachel stood quite over
whemcd by the lesson in Christian forbear-
ance which Herman Brayton had uucon-
sciously tuught hor but at last the tears
would como to relieve her painfully excited
state Of feeling aud | must admit that for the
moment her conduct was not at all in keeping
with the character Of high-strung, spirited
girl. How concession was made | do not
quite kuow but certain it is that Herbert.
as old Mrs Peitigrcw expressed it, " took u
shine to Rachel. even in her tears.
Don't distress your-elf about Brndle,'
he said soothingy, as soou as matters were
made plain to him. " | understand COW doc
torng pretty thoroughly, and think know
just what TO do for her. You have been sad
ly pcsicred with our unruly animals this sum-
mer but must say, by way ofapology. that
the old place when we moved in was neither
hen nor pig-roof Crops were pressing hands
short and. OF course some things were neg
octcd. BE assured you shall have nothingofthe
kind to complain Of in the future, Miss Hen
derson, unless you take me up for trespassing
lor ! mean to come ever some day and arrange
a treaty Of peace
That evening Herman sent a messenger to
say the COW was out OF danger, and strange
neS auttering awokc in Rache's heart.
\ few weeks later, when the first snog
were lying on the ground, one Sunday morning
Ia church the parson took for his text these
words Love your enemies. DO good 10
them that despiietuhy use you y; and Rachel
turning around caughta glance from Herman
Bnyton's eyes, which shot forth mischief and
triumph When she walked away at noon,
Herman joined her in the most natural man.
ner possible.
" DO you know, Rachel, said he, I" how |
construed the minister's text To me it
SOUNDED like this Love them that stone
your chickens. and scald your pigs, and drive
your COWS oil to pound aud it did not seem
very diiiirult command to obey"
Mrs. Pettgrcw, who was walking behind,
nudgod her daughter Esther, and whispered,
IL allns told you bow il would come out"
Now the Henderson and Brayton farms are
united in one, and Herman has demonstrated
to his neighbors, by his tail grain and his fat
meadow-hnds, the reasonableness of scientific
farming. lie never tires of joking his wife
Rachel about her war, and il she expects to
hear the end Of it during the term of her nat.
ural life fear she will be disappointed