Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-10
For the I{nnna.


Just for Fun.
1t was rather favorite excuse with Willie
Goodwin, whenever he was deep in mischief,
or had to plead guilty when accused Of some
boyish scrape, that it was done just for fun.
Many time he resolved to try to be more
orderly and let boyish pranks alone, but the
next prospect Of fun would Danish all his good
resolutions, until the penalty recalled them
again He was nearly fifteen when the TRACE.
dy um about to tell you sobered him for
life. He was a middle aged man when he told
me the story, but even then he could not speak
without emotion Of his last piece Of "lun."
1--WE had been out for walk, l." he told me,
FRANKIE Ford, Tom Lee, and / and we're
coming home at twilight, when We met Sam.
my Willcts, who was a rather iavorite butt
for teasing with all the boys. Hc was a very
timid, rather sickly boy, Of about fourteen
peeyish and easily irritated. and the rougher,
stronger boys said coward. As soon as we
saw him coming, the spirit of mischief seem.
ed to possess US all, and each one planned how
to tease the poor, timid boy.
"'Let's hide and jump at him. one sug-
gested.
"'Let's tell him his house is on fire, and see
him run" cried another
"I'll tell you what we'll do" said.
."Well coax him down to Rutland's barn for
a game Of romps, and shut him up 70
"Rutand's barn was a large barn standing
alone, at some distance from any other build.
ing The farmhouse to which it had belong.
ed had been destroyed by fire, and the great
barn had been left standing when Rutland
deserted the place and went West. 1t was a
lavorite pay-room for all the village boys
who spent long Saturday afternoons 10 it
making it gymnasium aud rectaton-hall
as occasion required.
Although it was twilight, the summer
evenings were long, aud Sammy was not sur
prised to be told we we're going to Rntlauds
barn for an hour Of play before bedtime. He
was quite willing to join US, and we were soon
IN the old barn. making it ring with our shouts
and laughter.
" The hour passed rapidly, and it was get
ting quite dark, when VIC sent Sammy into the
hay-lolt on some errand, ran out ourselves and
drew the big doors after US. 1t was hard work
TO iasten them with the rusty iron latch but
We accomplished this, too, aud then ran off.
" Just as we were at the edge Of the field l.
we heard one fearful scream, but we only
hurried on, laughing at the thought Of Sam
mys discomforture
| must say, in our defense, that passing
one night in the barn would have been no
great misfortune to any Of US. We were all
hardy, country boys, full of life and health
free from superstition or morbid fears and we
could none Of Us realize what the dark lone
Iiness was to a timid, sickly boy with rather
weak mind
" 1t must hayo been after midnight when
We were reused at home by violent knock
ing at the door. My father spoke from the
window, asking what was wanting, and
heard our neighbor, Mr.. Wllets, asking an1.
iousy;
g. Is Sammy here p
"' No. Is he not at homer
80 He has not been home since sunset
| am very much worried, because be is not
we'll
"I'll ask Willie If he has seen him.
la another moment father was by my
bed, and told him where they would fnd
Sammy. Never shall | forget the fathers
cry Of horror
a. 1t will kill him My poor, timid boy.
He is afraid OF the dark, and the doctor has
told US we must humor him, because be is
not strong enough to bear fright. Win you
come with me- Mr.. Goodwin 2"
was dressing as rapidly as i~vosia, sad
was by my fathers side when he lighted a
lantern and joined Mr.. Willets.
go Let me 90 = | begged. | never meant
to hurt him. | wouldn't mind staying there
all night bit, and | did not think it would
really hurt him. Oh sir, do you think it
will kill him 1t was all JOKE, just for
fun
''' God forgive you, boy, he answered me
in choked voice am afraid it will be
dear fun for US all. Sammy, my poor boy !
Who will tell his mother if harm has come to
him ? Our only one-our poor, sickly boy .
So he lamented as we hurried across the
fields, every word increasing my terror aud
remorse. 1t was my proposal, and felt my
self the only guilty one, though the others had
helped me carry out the cruel Joke that SEEM
ed anything but fun now. We reached the
barn at last, and undid the heavy fastenings
of the door. Mr.. Willets called his boy by
name every moment, but no answer came 1t
seemed to me hours before the heavy doors
swung back. One Of them would not open
wide, and looking for the cause, we found
poor Sammy, white and senseless, lying on the
floor behind it. His father lifted him
"' He is not dead = he said Can we get
water ?"
hurried to the well and brought water,
but the boy was too far gone for that Oh !
the long distance it seemed to Mr.. Willet's,
and beyond that to the doctors, where | ran
at once. Never shall forget the face Of
Sammys mother as she took the boys face in
her hands, and looked into it. 1t was so white
and still, dared scarcely believe he really
lived as | hurried to the doctors. He did
live, recovering his health after long, dan
gerous illness but his mind was gone for.
ever Some fright in those lonely hours of
darkness gave shock to the weak mind that
was never cured, and be lived only to be az
idiot
1t is some years now since we laid him
in his quiet grave, the victim Of boyish
prank. tell you it was the last piece oil
mischief ever did just for fun.