Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-30

"How .would you like to be companion
to literary man p inquired.
He nodded expressively and wrote, q" l
should like that overall. But [ speak and
hear not"
"No matter replied. "You will only
have to sit and appear to listen, and nod
occasionally"
You shall be the gentleman ?" he ask
ed, with bri ight look
l explained to him that the gentleman
was an unfortunate connection OF my fam
lily, whom We could not regard as being
quite in his right mind.
Jacob Menzel smiled, and touched his
forehead interrogatively.
nodded adding on the slate" He is
perfectly harmless but he can only be
kept quiet by having some person to talk
and read to- He will talk and read to YOU
He must not know you are deaf. He is
very deaf himself, and will not expect you
to reply" And, for person wishing
light and easy employment, | recommend
the situation.
| He wrote at once, {" How much do you
pay?"
"One dollar day, and board you," l
replied.
He of the nose nodded eagerly at that
and wrote, " Also you make to be washed
my shirt ?"
agreed; and the bargain was closed.
[ got him into the house, and gave him
bath, clean shirt, and complete instruc
tions how to act.
The gravity with which he entered upon
the situation was astonishing. He did MT
seem to taste the slightest flavor of a joke
in it all. 1t was simple matter Of busi-
ness he saw in it only money and Faith
erland.
Meanwhile | explained my intentions to
Dolly, saying in great glee His deaf
ness is his defense the old three-decker
may bang away at him ; he is IRoN-CKAD "
And that suggested the name we have call
ed him by ever since.
When he was ready for action, | took
him in tow, and ran him in to draw the
Popworth's fire in other words, intro
duced him to my uncle in the library.
The meeting of my tall, lank relative and
the big nosed little Jew was a spectacle
to cure hypochondriac " " Mr.. Jacob
Menzel-gentleman from Germany-trav-
cling in this country" yelled in the old
fe llow's ear. He of the deminutive legs
and stupendous nose bowed with perfect
decorum, and seated himself, stiff and erect
in the big chair | placed for him. The
aruncular countenance lighted up; here
were fresh woods and pastures new to that
ancient shepherd. AS for myself, | was
well-nigh strangled by cough which just
then seized me, and obliged me to retreat
for | never Was much Of an actor and
the comedy of that first interview was
overpowering.
As passed the dining room door, Dol.
ly, who was behind it, gave my arm a fear
full pinch, that answered, l suppose, il
place of scream, as a safety foI
{ her hysterical emotions. 90 you crue
man-you miserable humbug " says she
and went off into commissions of laughter
The door was open, and we could see anC
hear everything.
You are travelling, him says my un
Gle. The nose nodded duly Him hav,
travelled, myself, the old gentleman proceed
ed my life has been one of visctudes
HIM! l have journeyed, have preach
5 ed, have published ;-perhaps you have
f heard of my literary venture and over
, went the big volumn to the little man, wht
! took it, turned the leaves, and nodded an(
e smiled, according to instructions.
/ d" You are kind to say so; thank you
a says my uncle, rubbing his husky hand
Q with satisfaction. Rejoiced to meet will
t you, truly! 1t is always a qualification
= to have an intelligent and sympathizin
j, brother to open ones mind to it is es
e pecially refreshing to me, for, as | ma,
b say without egotism, my life and labor
e have not been appreciated"
From that the old interminabe stor
= took its start and flowed on, the faithful
: nose nodding assent at every turn in tha
!, winding stream.
{; TIE children came in for their share o
(; the fun and for the first time in our live
we took pleasure in the old gentleman
? narration of his varied experiences.
4 20 hear him see him 90 it! !" sal
n Robbie. What nose !"
s Long may it wave." said Harry.
). With other remarks Of like nature
o while there they sat- the two,-my uncl
IS on one side, long, lathy, self-satisied, ges
S ticulating, earnestly laying his case betor
s a grave jury of one, whom he was boun
to convince, if time would allow my littl
IS Jew facing him, upright in his chair, stf
imperturbable, devoted to business, honor
9 ably earning his money, the nose in tn
t air, immovable, except when it played u
# and down at fitting intervals: in whic
e editying employment left them, and wen
q about my business, cheerier man.
. Alb, what relief it was to feel myssl
: free for season from the attacks OF tn
= enemy - to know that my plucky littl
, Iron Glad was engaging him In an hou
a l passed through the hall again, heard tn
,, loud blatant voice still discoursing Gt ha
e got as far as the difficulties with til
t second parish), and saw the undinchin
. nasal organ perform its graceful see-sa'
o of assent. An hour later it was the same
= except that the speaker had arrived q
!, the prosecutions which drove him frol
parish number three. When [ went
n call them to dinner, the scene had change
t little, for now the old gentleman, poun(
n ing the table for pulpit, was readin
e aloud passages from powerful farewe
e sermon preached to his ungrateful parsl
It toner's. was sorry [ could MT give m
6 man hint to use his handkerchief at th
y affecting periods, for the nose can hard
a be called a sympathetic feature (unle
\ indeed you blow it), and these mods wei
,e becoming rather too mechanical, exec
in when the old gentleman switched off {
At the argumentative track, as he frequent
N did. "What think you of that -
would pause in his readings to enquir