Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-13
The Father


rEou THE yoRvroiAS.
lhord was the mighuest man in the parish.
lie stood Que day in the parsons study tall
aud grave 81 have sou, be said and
wish him chris'euod'
What shall be bis name3'
Fin, after my father
And the godiathers}'
Thorl told their names, and they were the
best men OF the parish, and @omeu OF bis own
Kin.
J.. there anything moret asked the par
'on-he looked up
Ihord stood a moment. would ike to
have him baptized alone s." SAID he.
That is to say on weekday ?'
saturday next at II o'clock %
NO, that Is all.
Ihord fumbed with his cap; he was about
to leave. Then The parson stood up went
straight to him, aud grasped his hand. " God
give, said he, looking into his eyes, "that
this child be a blessing unto thee.
Sixteen years after that day Thord stood
vhct UoIe lu tue llIsou study. " lhCu
keepest on quite well, Thord, said the par
son; he could see no change in him
" For have no grief answered Thord.
To this the parson said nothing, but after
awhile he asked What is thy crrand to-
night
This night l have come for my son. lie
Is to be confirmed tomorrow.
" lie Is good boy.
" would not pay the parson until knew
what place he was to have among the other
boys.
"He is number one"
g. hear so. and these ten dollars are for
you"
us there anything more2" asked the par.
son; he looked at Thord
Eight wears have PASSED AWAY and then
one day. a great noise was heard before the
parsons study. for many men were Coming
and Thord at their head. The parsou looked
up and knew him. " Thou comeyt in great
uumber, to-day" he said.
q" come to read the banps for nv son. He
is going to marry Karen Storlidep, dauobter
Of Gudmund. who stands here"
o She is the richest oirl in the narisb "
q. People saw sop answered Tbord he
smoothed away the hair from the forehead
The narson sat 4 minnie in deem tboncbt
He said nothing but rut down the names in
his books and the men .igned Tbord I,;d
three dollars on the table.
.. [ shall have only one said the narson
81 know il bu, he l.. mo onlv cbid ana
| want to do all this well. The parson took
the money.
"T This is the third time. Tbord tbou stand.
est here for thy son"
But this time is also the'last. said Thord.
" for now I am done He folded his nocket.
men following .lowlv "
Ten days after that day the father and son
were rowing in calm weather, over the water
to Storiden, to speak about the weddinr.feast.
This seat is not firm under me, said the
son he rose to make it right. But the board
he stood upon slipped He threw mn his
arms, shrieked, and fell into the water
Take hold of this OAR said the father
he stood up aud held it out. But when the
son had made few strokes he grew stiff.
Wait a minute cried the father he
rowcd toward him. But the son fell back
looked longingly at the father, and sank.
Thord could not believe it. He kept the
boat still and stared at the spot where the son
had gone down, as if he must come up once
more. Some bubbles arose, some few more,
then one big one that burst, and smooth lay
the water like glass
For three days and three nights the people
saw the father rowing about this one spot,
taking neither food nor sleen he sought for
his son. On the third day, toward morning,
he found him and bore him home up over the
hills.
About year passed away. Then, one
late evening IN the fall, the parson heard
somebody cropping in the entry and feeling
for the lock. lie opened the door, and tall
but STOPPING man came in he was thin and