The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-01-18

and looked at his back and, as | did SO,
bit my lips to suppress scream. 1t was
literally covered with 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 I could my trembling voice, propos-
ed him to 90 with me to his room, and
rest awhile He rose slowly to his feet,
and putting his hand in mine we proceed
ed towards his house. and gained the
chambers in the same way left them un-
seen by Mrs. Thorne.
persuaded him to undress and lie up
on the bed while | bathed his aching head
and bruised back. He told me what the
offence was for which his father had beat
en- him. IN give the story in his own
words.
Last week, he" referring to his faith
er 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 90 chestnutting the next
day land when asked him the next day
he said he did not promise me, but stuck
to it he did say so, and told him where he
was when he said it. Then he said he
didn't care if he did say So couldn't, for
I must pick up cider apples, and if I'd be
a good boy and work right smart I might
go to-day but knew he wouldn't keep
his word, and Silas Bruce was going to-
day, and wanted to go,-for the squir-
rels were carrying off the nuts as fast as
they could, and Sile Bruce and all the
boys have got as many again as | have,
and when I asked him if | might 60 out,
he said no, shouldn't, and told me to 90
over in the back lot and get the sheep, and
I pretended to 90, and went off with the
other boys to hunt chestnuts, and he came
through the woods huntin for the old
mare, and saw me there, and l said
couldn't find the sheep in the lot, and was
looking for 'em in the woods, and he said
the sheep were in the lot and he saw 'em
when he was coming through it, and told
me | had lied, and he would lick me but
| stuck to it | did not lie, for for knew
he'd lick me anyhow, and he has, and
hate him and will run away; I'd rather
live on an island like Robinson Crusoe,
and have Friday live with me, than to
live here, and be licked every day"
What could | say?
| 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 or
chard and sat down among the yellow ap-
pies, and held my tongue but in my
heart Of hearts, | thanked God l was an
old maid, and had no boys to bring up!
At night the deacon came home, turned
out his horse ate his supper, and then in
quircd for Jimmy. Mrs. Thorne did not
know He looked surprised, not to say
alarmed, took down his hat and went to
the barn Soon he came back, and I'll
confess it, | chuckled to see that he look
ed pale and scared. had good mind
to keep still and let him get what Theo-
dore Winthrop calls a 'prickly scare but
he came direct to me, and asked me if |
knew where he was. reluctantly an
swered, up stairs and asleep in bed.
The deacon shot an inquiry from be-
meath his shaggy brows, and went up the
stairs. | would have given all the ap-
pies in the orchard to have seen him as
he stood over his bruised and beaten
boy.
He came down with slow, hesitating
step, and look on his face that thought
boded much good to Jim
Strange Jim told lies
Who taught him
Next morning when Jim came down,
braakfast was over, and he asked his
mother if he couldn't have some boiled
eggs. She told him she had sold all the
eggs to Tim Thurston yesterday morning.
Jim, in looking around for something to
eat, found painful Of eggs,
Strange Jim told lies
Who taught him
One day Deacon Frisbie came to Dea.
Thorne to buy good COW. The rrepres-
sible Jim was on hand to drive the cows,
with instructions to leave three or four OF
the best ones in the field. They were
driven into the milking yard, duly inspect
ed by Deacon Frisbie, and praised or de-
preciated by Deacon Thorne, and his
anxiety to keep or sell any particular one,
lay in the scale. AT last, by skillful ma
neuvring, Frisbie was induced to choose
the poorest one in the lot--not only in
flesh, but poor every way. And what
think you decided him to take her.
Deacon Thorne said to Jim, "What do
you think mother will say when she finds
that I've sold old Fill Pail?'
20, she'll just tear" replied Jim.
Did she tear p not at all she bore il
with meekness merely saying to Deacon
Thorne-when he and Deacon Frisbie
came in to finish the business, by transfer
ring fifty dollars from one pocket to an.
other,-"Y on always manage to sell the
best cows and keep the poorest. ! guess
you'll find some difference in the butter
now old Fill Pail is gone.
AT which Jimmy snickered behind his
hat, and was ordered to go and feed the
hogs.
Strange Jim told lies
Who taught him
Deacon Frisbie was invited to stay tc
dinner He graciously assented and tn,
two deacons settled themselves comforta
bly, in their chairs, and had good time
talking over church matters. When thu
dinner was ready we all sat down anC
Deacon Frisbie asked blessing, in which
he praised Deacon Thorns, and Mrs
Thorne, and jim, and "the stranger with
in their gates" (meaning mel and
really expected to hear him give thanks
for the old spatted COW, but he stopped
just short of it.