Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-31
I'm rarter's Garden.

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Tom Carter's Garden. ghaoS
don't think anybody in the village Of
Frogdod liked Grundy Archer. lle was
surly fellow at the best, aud sometimes he
was DOWNRIGHT quarrelsome. He had his
good points too. lie was sober aud industrl-
Gus. He pridod himself particularly upon
bis own cottage garden, in which, every even
ng, after he had lefi working for his master,
be worked for himself Gruudy's next neigh
Dor was q good-tempered man, IS industrious
as himself and, as their gardens joined, there
was a kind Of rivalry kept up as to which
Tom Carter or Grundy Archer should have
the earliest peas, the biggest cabbages, and SO
forth On the part Of Carter, this rivalry
was carried on with pleasant good.humor ;
but when he happened to get the upper hand,
Grundy was as savage az bear.
One morning 10 March, Grundy locked out
Of his chamber.window as he was dressing
aud saw a sight which might have made a
better tempered man than he cross A mum.
bor Of fowls had got into his garden, and
were ns busy as bees, scratching up row Of
peas which were pst appearing above ground,
aud dcvouring them by wholesale. He did
not wait to put on the rest Of bis clothes, but
rushing down stairs in fury, he made a sud
den onslaught into the thick Of the offenders,
and soon dispersed them but not till two hGe
hens were gasping their last on the unlucky
row of peas.
The fowls were Tom Cartcr's They had
made breach in their place of confinement,
aud, trying 10 make the best Of their short
liberty hal unfortunately strayed into Grun-
dys garden, after having done mischief
enough in their owners.
Archer was rather ashamed Of himself when
the deed was done, aud managed matters so
that the dead fowls were found in field at
the back Of the two gardens, while he repaired
the damages they had done in his own. And
when they were found he pretended to know
nothing about the matter But Tom had his
suspicious, nevertheless; and from that time
the two neighbors and their wives were as cool
as cucumbcrs towards each other.
A few months later Archers garden began
to wear q neglected look. After the autumn
crops were gathered in, it became more and
more Of a wilderness Weeds overran the
empty beds, aud there was no attempt to
eradicate them--no turning up the ground 10
prepare il for fresh crops. Winter came
and the goosehcry- y-bnshsf, and currans- -hyshes,
aud appie-irecs vece ieif uncut. Spring was'
coming on ard the gardeu looked more DESC
late than ever.
Grundy Archer had fallen from the top Of
a wagon while carrying corn at haryest-time,
had broken his leg and two or three of his
ribs, and for months was lying in bed helpless
He was pretty well cared for by his master
aud the parish together Tut his garden, the
pride Of his life, nobody cared for that
can't bear to see it SO, said Tom Car
ter one day to his wife. " 'Tisnt doing as
We would be done by. I'll take spell at
poor Grundy's garden myself"
lie doesn't deserve it, though" said Mrs.
Carter who was thinking Of her two dead
hens.
The Bible tells us to bear one another's
burdens" said Tom.
Grundy wouldn't have put out his little
iuger to bear one Of ours, said Mrs. Carter.
If ye DO good only TO them that do good
TO you, what thank have ye2' answered Tom,
quoting a text we should all do well to study
more, aud to follow as well as study.
| believe you are right Tom" returned
Mrs Carter but there's our garden wants
as much work as you can give IT,"
Look not every man on his own things
but every man also on the things Of others"
rejoined Tom, who seems TO have studied the
Bible 10 some purpose.
Grundy Archer was sitting in an easy chair
one evening, in no pleasant frame OF mind
for he was getting better and they say that
when a sick man gets extra cross, it is one
sign that he is mending.
The door opened and in came his neighbor
Carter.
" How d ye do, mate 2" said Tom kindly.
" None the better for seeing you" Grundy
would have said, perhaps, if he had spoken
his mind, but he growled out a half civil re-
ply instead.
About your garden, neighbor," Tom be-
gan to say.
What about it2" asked Grundy quickly
"'Tis in a terrible mess"
"Coud have told you that said the sick
man
81 want to put it to rights bit, if you'd
let me-"
"Your
Yes l why not There's them goose
berry-trees, now they want cutting"
IL know they do" growled Archer
"'fis time to think Of putting in seeds"
"Of course it is" replied Archer testify.
And good many ether things saat aeas
ing to- continued Tom Carter
You needn't tell me that" saidth mau
with the fractured log and ribs
May do it 2" asked Tom.
"What for p said Gruudy " cant pay
for it if you do"
| don't want you to may do it2"
II you like" replied Archer.
A month later, aud Grundy was 10 his gar.
den, hobbing on with a stick, looking with a
curious expression Of countenance at Tom,
who was raking over the onion-bed Every.
thing was neat and tidy as ever Trees aud
bushes had been trimmed, weeds burned
ground dug in, seeds sown and planted
Gruudy Looked over the fence into his neigh
boris garden.
Why, Tom, you are backward with your
own work !"
Rather, neighbor, but I'll soon fetch up
There, think that puts the finishing stroke,
he added shoudering the rake.
But, Tom stop bit, Toni have go
something to say. say, Tom, this is very
kind Of you, | could not have thought ii
And, Toni say, Tom, can't bear III" and
Grundy Archer drew his brown, bony hant
across his face, and took II away moist al
can't bear it, Tom to think how crooked I'v,
always been with you. Them hens of yours
Tom"
Never mind about them, Grundy"
Twas | that killed 'em, Tom"