Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-10
The Farmers Story.

I've seen you sit on the fence sit, writing
in that little book thought perhaps you
might be writing poetry. A good many folks
come down here Of a summer, and make po-
etry about the sheep and the moon. Peggy
reads en- out to me in the paper, and the sto-
rics too, sir. Do you write stories Yes ?
Well that's a gift. If | had it | think |
could make out one about what has happened
to me. Peggy says it could be done.
Now, it's all plain sailing, nothing out of
the common; but wasn't always a well.to-
do farmer. Once was a farmers boy-a
hand-with nothing but stout heart, and
strong limbs and good health.
Many's the night, when the stars were in
the sky, | used to 90 out to the great pas
ture where the sheep browsed all day, and sit
and think thoughts had no words for, and
make beautiful pictures for myself in my
mind--not fine ones, sir. This is what see
the oftenest A little cottage and u wide
fireplace, such as they had in my day, a
dresser with row Of delf upoifit, four chairs
and table Of pine. When had these |
was to marry Peggy Grey. But when |
should have them, and she her white wedding
gown and the house linen, neither of us
knew.
She puther sixpences into a red earthen saw
ings bank and kept mine in an old glove For
two years we had been waiting and hoping,
and were not much nearer than at first.
Sometimes | felt down-hearted Sometimes
her little letters were bit sad. And just as sat
in the meadow | knew she sat before the
kitchen fire in the house that she lived at
service. Simple folks we were, but we had
hearts and felt, perhaps, as deeply as great
er folks might.
My master, the farmer, was close man.
He squeezed as much work out Of his hands
as possible. But it was a steady place, and
he paid all he promised so l staid, meyer
thinking what trouble staying would bring to
me, trouble that never would have come but
for Mark Hulker. A good.for-nothing fel-
low he was, disgrace to the rest of us, and
he cheated the master and left his work un-
done. So after hours, master set me at his
stint, and it being indoor work, kept at it
all night The old man liked that, and set
me new task every night. All She better
for me (; | thought he would pay me extra,
and what was wearness to me, if it only
brought me nearer my Peggy. So | counted
the hours work as so many shillings. But
when Saturday night came he gave me just
my weeks work.
" Master" said |, I've worked over
hours every night you forget that"
hire you by the week" he said. III
give you no more than one weeks wages. So
if you don't like it, there are plenty Of strong
lads to be had; you are growing lazy" Then
he turned his back on me, and Mark laugh
ed. That angered me, and words fell from
my lips We had a quarrel, master and |, and
| called him .niggardly old rascal," and
with that he dismissed me from his service.
"At dawn you CO." said he, You've
worked to-day, and have a right to your bed
at night, but at dawn you 60"
marched out Of the room, with words
never should have used, and up to my garret
and threw myself on my bed. But did not
mean to stay to be turned out. At midnight,
rose softly, made up bundle, and climbed
out Of window. | cut my hands with the
glass of broken pane, and blood dropped
down upon my clothes But was too angry
to feel the pain and bound up the wound
with handkerchief Then trudgcd on,
meaning to look for work next day. So
did, but found none Then the thought
struck me to make my way to -, and see
Peggy 1t would be comfort to me, what
ever came. So turned my steps in that
direction and kept on until night fell Then,
faint. and weary, lay down under some
bushes and fell asleep.
Out of that sleep | was aroused by shout
and clutch of strong hands. Men stood
about me. One shouted my name. They
held me fast and bound me-
struggled, but it was of no use. Num-
bers were against my single strength.
"What are you, robbers3 I've nothing
worth the taking" said, at last and, whom
standing still, saw faces knew about ne
those Of the farm hands at my old masters.
" You know well, Jack Malone" said one
s. If he did speak an ill-word at last he was
u good man in the main and you'd worked
for him three years You might have an.
swered him as you liked, but to try and mur.'
der him was too horrible. We didn't think
it Of you, Jack we didn't think it"
" Murdered !" | cried, :" is old master mur-
dered Why lay it to mel | swear never
hurt him !"
" If he is not quite dead it's none Of your
fault" cried another man. Don't perure
yourself-look at the blood on your clothes"
The blood from my hand was in blots and
smears all over my vest. feel my heart
turn sick when think Of it.
" Master will clear me-" | said.
" lie says it was you" said one Of the men.
4" At least, he nodded yes, when we asked him
if you did it,
"Then old master was not right in his
mind" | said. He'd never be against me"
After that heard the whole. Master had
paid the men and dismissed Marx. He had
only said all right, | am tired of work."
and had eaten breakfast there, and left in
sight Of all. But | was gone and when
they found that master, who was always up
at cook-orow, did not rise at nine, they opened
his door, and found him on the floor senseless
they thought him dead at first. lie had
been robbed Of his pocket-book, watch and
an old fashioned pin he always wore in his
handkerchief-th painted head Of lady set
around with what ho used to tell US were
pears---an ornament older than his grand
father.
They found nothing around me, Of course,
but the quarrel aud my cut hand made the
case hard against me. The master dying as
they thought him, had been able to speak at
odd times and said that, to the best Of his
Knowledge and belief, l was the assailant. 1t
was dark, 10 be sure, but in the struggle ho
felt that the man wore cap, and was the
only hand who had anything but straw hat
Besides he came from tho inner passage and
down the stairs, and did not break In through
door or window, as burglar would have
done. Aud was tho only missing member