Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-26
The Bridge.
BY JEAN 1NdELow

a great distance aud the fame of it was such
that many people came from far to admire it,
as well as to talk with its inhabitants, who
we're said to be very wise race Of men, skill.
iul 10 all the arts Of life, and constantly mak.
ing new and great inventions.
One evening, long time ago, stranger
came to tAs city. He had travelled long way
aud seemed weary, but he had heard 80 much
Of the city aud its wise inhabitants. that he
allowed himself little time for rest before he
set out to inspect the streets and admire the
large squares with their long lines Of over
shadowiug trees, the fountains springing up
and tumbling into their deep marble basins
the tall, graceful spires aud the clear win.
dows shadowed with sweeping curtains, and
filled with towering plants.
The more he saw, the more he was delight
ed. The city was as beautiful as he had ex.
pected, aud the people were wise aud kind.
Some Of them were rich, aud had houses like
palaces others were poor but the rich were
very good and had built schools for their
children, where they taught them the peculiar
learning Of the place, with various arts, aud
trades, by which the boys soon learned to get
their own living, and the girls to practice
neeilework aud other useful arts, besides
which they had them instructed in the laws
which had been made by the King; aud so
well we're the children taught on this point
that many Of them knew as much about tue
King and his laws as their richer neighbors
who had founded these schools.
The stranger thought this such pleasant
city that he wished to remain in it for awhile
that ho might observe the manners Of the
people, aud how they employed themselves.
So he went about from day to day aud OBJ
served how industrious the meu were-how
they built houses and woye cloth, dug wells
and made bread--and how the women spun
aud knitted, and took care of their children
and Of their houses He was pleased too, to
see the children going 80 regularly to their
schools; and when their task was over, be
often followed them into the meadows to see
how happy they were gathering flowers and
playing about in the long grass.
This town Of yours seems a very good
place to live in2' be said, one day, to a man
who was weaving a basket.
" So it would be, said the man looking up
thoughtfully, if it were not for the river.
"What river asked the stranger
have not seen or heard of any river"
"Why no." replied the man. | dare say
not, for it runs little way out Of the city,
aud we have planted some trees in that drec.
ton that we may not see it; you will not Of
ten hear it mentioned. for in fact, we do not
consider it good breeding to allude to it."
" But what harm does it do to the town 90
asked the stranger
A Il 4 g Il. 4
the man, it is very painiul subject; but the
truth is, our King, whom you may have heard
Of lives long way off, on the other side of
the river. and sooner or later he sends for al
here to cross over. We shall certainly all
have 10 cross before long. The King send.
messengers for US there is scarcely a d.y in
which some one is not seat for"
But are they Obliged to 20 ?" asked the
stranger.
Oh yes. they must po," replied the man.
for the King IS very powerful If he were
to send for me to-day. | could not wait to
finish nv work. Sometimes he sends for our
wives or our children, aud the messenger new
er waits till we are ready"
"What sort of a country is it on the other
side Of the river ?" asked the stranger "Is
il as pleasaptas it is here ?"
The river is so wide that we cannot sec
across il distinctly" said the man g and
when onr friends and relations arc once GONE
oyer they never come back to tell us how il
fare. with them there. But vet every one
here is agreed and the highest evidence con.
6rms il. that the country across the river. is
far better one than this The air is 50 pure
that il heals all their diseases besides there
is no such thing as poverty or trouble, and
the King is yer7 good to them. and so /. his
son"
"Weu. then" said the STRANGER. " if the
country is So fine. do not see wby Won should
think il sneh misfortune TO have to 90 to il
particularly as YOU are to see there all your
narepts and children and friends who have
cone there before Won. Wbv are van So
much afraid to cross the river %
Tho man ala NOT answer a. G,st. bo .oom.
cd 10 bc thinning of bis work AT length he
looted nm and said "When anv Of onr
'f