Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-14
miscellaneous.
Mhal . Clty Ilcnu tnrncd Oni 10 Do.

JlRtS SEttIdllHDllS.
What u City Beau turned Ont 10 Be.
John Osgood let down the bars for the tire
oxen, with which he had been plouehina al
day TO 60 through them and seek on the COO
nillsides their nights pastures. They turne,
their heads and looked at him with their rrea
mournlul eyes as if expecting a word, for the
were used to the sound Of his voice. the slow
patient creatures, and liked it, as such dunn
brutes always do the voice Of kind master
But tonight he had no voice for thcm. H.
put up the bars again when they had gon
through, and leaned heavily against them
\ May sunset was flushing earth aud sky
The new springiug grass looked fresh an,
green. A light feathery leaiago was on al
the trees, and few Of them, pear and cherrt
trees, had put on white blossoms. The west
ern sky was piled high with crimson cloud.
with, close TO the horizon, bar Of gold. 4
reflected brightness flushed the cast with
soft roseatc hue which spread up to the zenith
All was still as the new birth OF new world
sense Of wonderful beauty and mystor,
thrilled through John Ossood's uncducatet
perceptions Ile had no words for snch ,
scene no clearly defined thoughis about 4
evcni but it moislcned his eyes, and quicken
ed his pulses and seemed to food bis life with
a rush of dreams and longings
How beautiful the world was! There wer,
some men, he had heard, who painted suoi
scenes as these others who wrote poetry
about them-others who set them to music
like the songs Of birds, or the soft swash ol
waves What was his part of all this
Flowing to-day, planting Tomorrow Wa.
that all that life held for him2 There must
be other use some other meaning if he could
only grasp it. If he had no part or lot ia all
this beauty, why did it move him so ?
Just then he heard the sound Of horses
feet and looked in the direction whence it
came.
Angelinc Walmarth was sweeping down
the hill, with gay gallant beside her. How
ike part Of the sunset beauty she looked
with It's rose upon her cheek, its radiance in
her eyes and hair, her long, blue habit falling
low, and swinging to the motion OF her cream.
colored horse, her white feather streaming
back on the wind her little hands with the
dainty gauntlets on thcm-so much youth,
and grace, and beauty. And the city chap. "
as Johu Osgood called him By her side. did
not mar the picture. 4 handsome cavalier
lsh looking man, there was no denying that
he showed well beside Angie but what was
he here so much for2 They swept by, An
gie's low, silyery laugh linking response to
something her companion was saying aud a
Int c cloud Of dust, which the hoois Of the hor-
ses beat up behind them. filled Johns eyes
and choked his throat and added bitterness.
to his mood.
lie glanced down to bis hard, horny hands,
his course toil-staiued clothes How well he
would look at Angeline Wamarth's side Aud
yet he bad loved her in vague sort Of way,
whose meaning be had just began to fud out,
ever slnee he could remember Life would
not have such SAVIOR, he thought, without her
Aud yet, she would be no iit farmers wife,
and that was ust what he was-a farmer.
Then the question came again which had
haunted him belore-could he be nothing else d?
Did fate doom hin, did God ask him always
to 60 in and out on these old ways-to plow
and plant, ana make hay, aud reap grain, all
summer, and 60 back and forth between the
homestead and the wood lot all winter2 If
his father were getting old, il he was all they
had-dld that settle the matter? Some one
could be hired to do as well for them, and he
believed he had enough in him to 90 away
and make a career which Augeiue would not
scorn to share.
The crimson had died out OF the west, the
rose hue out Of the east. A low wind had
arisen and blew mourniully and slowly across
the fields. John Osgood's mood changed with
the face Of the night. The exutltion forsook
him, aud something hard, stern, sullen, alien
II seemed, to his generous, hearty nature en-.
tered in and took possession Of him. lIe
went hone slowly with heavy footsteps,
Tired johnny p his mother said, chccrly,
as he came into the kitchen.
Somehow the words yexel him She had
said them often enough before but they had
never struck him just in this way till now.
Johnny If she would only remember that
he was twenty-five years old,
Yes I'm tired, he answered do1gedly,
Well draw right mp to tho table. I've
got a nice cup of tea all ready for yc. Thatll
rest yo, and brighten ye up little"
John Osgood threw down his hat impa-
tieuty. A." "rea2' What notions Of life wo-
men had He looked at his mother as he had
never looked at her before
Mother" said he, with bitterness he
hated himself for years aitcrwarl " won.
Ter If you ever had trouble that a good cup
IF tea wouldn't cure? Things don't 60 any
leeper than that with some folks
IIsmother's eyes clouded, but she answered
him very gcully. She felt that tonight, for
some reason, he was not responsible for him
lelf.
Il have had trouble that went deep enough,
John. Five children that had played round
ny knees, sleep yonder, behind the old meeting
house, and to bear aud nurse, and then lose-
there's none knows what that is but just them
hats borne il, aud God that made mothers
with mothers hearts. Yes, I've had troubles
hat creature comforts would nj holp much
lud yet, don't de.pise this worlds good
hings. You have n't any graves where you
EEL as if your heart were shut in and smoth-
,red, aud for bein' tired and mopin' do think
here s virtue in good cup Of tea"
Her patience aud gsntleness touched him.
lie threw up his chair to the table, where his
ather was sitting, and answered her in a soft
n tone.
" s'poso you're right mother, but I'm
lot Just myself tonight"
Then he ate his supper in silence, and
ller it was over, sat for tew moments, /
linking silently. At last he took courage
nd opened the subject Of which his mind
las full.
"Father james Mccormick is waiting for
place. Don't you think, with you to over.
&c him, he could do the work on the farm
his summer 2"
Mrs. Osgood did not speak, but the cup
he was wiping all to the floor with sharp
rash. For full minute il was the only
ound which broke the stiffness.
At last the old man answered
don't know, John maybe he could,
never liked to have any strangers working
n the old place in my time. did il all my
off till you was old enough to help me- aud
has prosposel under your hands,
ohm Sill n,atka Inn,as M.fia.n,t.t .nuf.l ID.