Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-16

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dark be thinks he must reach the main point
sooner or later.
He does not know this part Of the wood,
but runs on. Oh, little midshipman why
did you chase that owl2 If you had kept
the path with that dark man behind you there
was a chance that you might outrun him or
II he had overtaken you, some passing way
iarer might have heard your cries and come
to save you. Now you are running straight
on TO your DEATH for the forest water is deep
and black at the bottom Of this hill. Oh
that the moon might come ont and show it to
you.
The moon is under thick canopy Of heavy
black clouds, and there is not a star to glitter
on the water and make il visible. Tho fern
is soft under his feet as be runs and slips
down the hill. At last he strikes against q
stone, stumbles aud falls. Two minutes more
and he will fall into the black water
" Heyday :" cries the boy whats this
Oh, how it tears my hands Oh, this thorn
bush Oh, my arms can't get free :"
He struggles and pants. All this comes Of
leaving the path he says d" / shouldn't care
for rolling down if it hadn't been for this bush.
The fern was soft enough I'll never stray
in a wood at night again There, free at
last Aud my jacket nearly torn of my
back"
With good deal Of patience and great
many scratches, he got free Of the thorn which
had arrested his progress when his feet were
within a yard Of the water, manages to
scramble to the bank, and make the best Of
bis way through the wood.
And now, as the clouds move slowly onward
the moon shows her face on the black surface
Of the water, and the little white owl comes
aud boots and hutters over it like wander
ing snowirit. But the boy is in the woods
again, and knows nothing Of the danger from
which he has escaped.
All this time the dark passenger follows
the main track and believes that the boy is
before him. At last he hears a crashing Of
dead boughs, and presently the little midship-
mans voice many yards before him. Yes, it
is too true the boy is in the cross track
He will pass the cottage in the wood direct
ly and after that his pursuer will come upon
| him.
The boy bounds into the path but as he
sees the cottage he is thirsty and so hot that
he thinks he must ask the inhabitants if they
can sell him glass of ale,
He enters without ceremony" Ale p says
the woodman, who was sitting at his supper
" No, we have no ale, but perhaps my wife
can give thee a drink Of milk. Come in Sc
he comes in and shuts the door, and whil'
he sits waiting for the milk hears the foot
steps of his spursuor, who goes on with the stak
in his hand, angry and impatient that he hai
not yet come up with him.
The woman goes to the dairy for the milk
and the boy thinks she is gone a long time.
Fast and faster the man runs after him
1t is very dark, but there is yellow streal
in the sky, where the moon is plowing up
furrowed mass of gray clouds, and one o
two stars are blinking through the branche
Of the trees.
Fast the boy follows, and fast the man run
on with the weapon in his hand Suddenl,
he hears the joyous whoop, not before but be
: hind him. He stops and listens noiseIcssly
yet it is so. He pushed himself into tn
thicket, aud raises his stake when the bo
: shall pass.
On he comes, running lightly, with h
G hands in his pockets A sound strikes at tn
7 same instant on the ears Of both and th
boy turns back from the very jaws of deaf
0 to listen. 1t is the sound Of wheels, and
: draws rapidly nearer. \ man comes u
+ driving a gig Hiloa !" he says, in
$ loud, cheerful voice. " What, benighteC
e youngster r.
Is " Oh, is it you, Mr.. D---?' says Il
boy " no, | am not beuighted, or at al
# rate, know my way in the woods"
z The man drew further back among Il
It shrubs. Why bless the boy" he hea
L the farmer say, " to think Of our meeting
this way. The parson told me he was
e hopes Of seeing thee some day this week |
e give thee lift. This is lone place to
t. in this time O night"
le " Lone ?" says the boy, laughing, II dor
mind that aud if you know the way it's
h. safe as the quarter deck
Or So he gets into the farmers gig, and
d. once more out of the reach of the pursue
ID But the man knows that the farmers hou
M is a quarter Of a mile nearer than the pa
le sonage, aud in that quarter Of a mile the
ne Is chance of committing robbery He
lg termined still to make the attempt, and CT
I'd across the woods with such rapid strides tn
he reaches the farmers gate Just as the I
r drives up to it.
ID Well, thank you, farmer" says the m
m shipman, as he prepares to get down.
e. | wish you good night, gentlemen 81
So the man when he passes,
nd Good night, friend" the farmer repli
y " say, my boy, its a dark night enoug
er but have mind to drive you on to the p
lis sonage, and hear the rest of this long ste
ed of yours about the sea serpent
er The little wheels go on again. They p
X the man; and he stands still in the road
ful the sound dies away. Then he filings
es, stake into the hedge and goes back agi
lp- His evil purposes have all been frustrated
vi the thoughtless boy has baltled him at ev
ect step.
IN. Aud now the little midshpman is at home;
joyful meeting has taken place and when {
Did have all admired his growth, and decided \
the he is like, aud measured his height on
But window frame, and seen him cat his supl
ear they begin to question him concerning his
,ny ventures, more for the sake of hearing
talk than any curiosity.
las Adventures says the boy, seated
t a tween his father and mother on the SC
be- "Why, ma, did write an account of
the voyage, and there is nothing else to
es- Nothing happened to-day-at least moth
,ar particular"
nat You came by the coach we told you Q
md asks his father.
ark 30, yes, papa; and when We got al
twenty miles, there came up a beggar, W
an, we were changing horses, and | threw d
the (as | thoughp shilling but as it iel
not saw it was a sovereign She was very ho
len and showed me what it was, but didn't I
kes it back, for you know, mamma, it's a long t
h since gave any thing to any body
ing Very true, my boy" his mother answ
ses but you should not be careless with y
t." money, aud few beggars are worthy obj
Q" of charity"
ere suppose you got down at the err
wi, roads ?" said his eldest brother.
,ng Yes, and went through the wood
iDs should have been here sooner, If hadn't
lis. my way there"
to Lost your way" says his mother, ala
,es ed "my dear boy, you should not have
o- the path at dark"
IS II