Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-01-07

and wondered where he could be going, !
and, Yankee like, set myself to guessing,
and Yankee like too, guessed it ont. He I
belonged to the church, and to-day
was Covenant meeting day. Pretty
soon | heard him come out upon the
stoop, and say to his wife, "Nancy; it
seems to me you might get your work /
done up, so as TO go to covenant meeting
sometimes. 1t isn't well for you, and 1t
plaques me to have the brothers and sis
tiers ask where sister Thorne is. What
shall tell 'em, Nancy?"
"You can tell EN-" replied Nancy, in
tart tone, that have no helr about
my work, and it's as much as can do
to get ready for Sunday"
Brother Tnorne got flea in lis car.
He had told his wife that he thought she
could get along without girl, now that
the summer work was done, and the
weather cool. Mrs. Thorne had reluc
family consented to try it for she, too,
was-as Peggoty observed of Barkis,
"pretty near" and had an eye to the
"main chance"
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 went TO the barn. Poshing
the door open and following the soundof
suppressed sobs, found jim erouching
in the 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 spoke his name he looked up with
5 the look of dog that had 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 l loosened
his shirt band and looked at his back ;
and, as | did sc, bit my lips to suppress
a scream. 1t was literally covered with
j. livid welts, and in some places the blood
came through the skin
Drawing his shirt band up, fastening
it around his neck, and commanding as
well as could my trembling voice,
proposed to him to 60 with me to his
room, and rest awhile. He rose slowly
:, to his feet, and putting his hand in min'
- we proceeded towards his house, anC
" gained the chambers in the same way
left them, unseen by Mrs. Thorne.
: I persuaded him to undress and lie up
" on the bed while bathed his achin!
head and bruised back. lie tod M
+ what the offence was for which his tathe
~ had beaten him. I'll give the story il
:, his own words. .....
VI last week, he," referring 10 his ia
NC ther it was curious tosee how he avoid
ne ' ed speaking the word father -" tol
'o' me if would dig all the 'taters in tn
south patch, | might go chestnutting tn
cy next day; and when / asked him tn
"S next day he said he did not promise mt
20 but | stuck to it he did say so, and tol
him where he aswhen he said it. The
IL he said he didn't care if he did say SO,
Gu couldn't, for must picku cider apple
zee zee and if I'd be good boy and work rigl
DC smart l might go to-day; but l knew
wouldn't keep his word, and Silas Bru,
'lr was going to-day, and | wanted to 60
'i' for the squirrels were carrying off Il
nuts as fast as they could, and Sile Bru'
ere and all the boys have got as many aga
on- as / have, and when | asked him if
riu might 90 out, he said no, | shouldn
IN and told me to go over in the back
si!s and get the sheep, and | pretend to e
ish and went off with the other boys TO hu
nj chestnuts, and he came through the WOO
huntin' for the old mare, and saw /
aWeii W there, and said couldn't find the she
ms in the lot, and was looking for em in t
ier' woods, and he said the sheep were in t
sih- lot, and he saw 'em when he was comi
ara through it, and told me | had lied, al
leo' he would lick me; but stuck to it | d
ms not lie, for knew he'd lick me anyho
and he has, and hate him and will r
oe away; I'd rather live on an island Ii
oer' Robinson Crusoe, and have Friday Ii
the with me, than to live here, and be licl,
iere every day"
What could | say2
ked said nothing, but sung him AISLE
n of and went down stairs thinking TO talk
but his mother about him; but | found
4 at up to her elbows in -four, and her he
his full of baking for tomorrow, and
sin, pursed-upexpression of her mouth war;
ude. me to keep shady, so wandered off
l the orchard, and sat down among
1t he yellow apples, and held my tongue;
the in my heart Of hearts, l thanked Go
ire / was an old maid, and had no toys
bring upl-