The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-11-13
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Kitchen a. De spoke, aud leaving th'
tracks of bis hob-uaiIed shoes on th,
painted yellow hoor, N you've got e
dflak from a skimmcr-aad there b.
stopped short iB bis Walk and converse
ton, aUd SAT down. Throwing bis rag
ged siraw hat on the floor between hi
feet, be gazed into il for + moment IL
profound meditation.
Young man, be said imprcsslyely, ,wber
be looked up agaiu, II you've got to drinI
from a skinner, you've got--to--drink -
quick.
David Sharp was a honespuu, home
made philosopher There was sinai
chance for sentiment, idlenesss, or die
content to be found on q single acre ol
the bleak, stony, Vermont farm which
formed the family heritage. From the
time when the old man, now bowed aud
broken, had begun bis life, each day bad
proved 10 him that only ia the sweat o.
biz facc should he eat bread: SO what
David Sharp knew Of men and things he
bad learned by shrewd observation, aud
that inner experience OF life which, in
some form or other, comes 10 everyone
no matter how limited may be outward
surroundings or circumstances.
The young man carelessly leaning
against the open kitchen door, where the
smoke from his cigar elouded the clear
blue Of the heavens, smiled at the words,
aud the glance which he bestowed upon
the speaker might have been called con.
contemptuous. Small sympathy between
them, evidently, aud though the young
mans estimate Of the farmer was super
fetal and consequently shallow, the latter
regarded him very much as a newlg-ar-
rived missionary might contemplate the
savages of Patagonia.
Perhaps YOU don't know what skim
mer I'm spcakin' of, he resumed While
you're catin' the ten O'Clock breakfast,
Jane has left her i-onn' TO git you, my
sisters son shall have somethin' more
substantial to carry away from the table
than poaehed eggs, biscuits aud coffee.
I've weeded out more'n half that potato
patch down by the south barn since day
light--on brown bread and cold water,
too, Perhaps if I'd have waited till this
genteel hour, I'd have found coffee neces-
sary to my constitootion-and biscuits.
His nephew smiled again. No instruc-
ton in the art of oratory could have made
that word more expressive. When the
old man had anything to say, he general
~ said il in a way to be understood.
More'n half that potato patch, he re-
peated, what are you goin' to do after
breakfast?
A yawn from the young fellow in the
doorway.
Wen, | don't know. Can have one OF
the horses, Uncle?
Busy, was the laconic answer; SOS
their owner, alus.
Then I'll lay low and catch ride TO
the village, if see anyone goin' down.
want to see about some trout flies, and
look over the papers.
Couldn't walk down, s'pose, and aft
ert be trout is ketcbed you'll be glad to gil
rid OF 'em. Well, before you ketch a
ride to the village, and look over the pa.
pers, I'll just say word or two abo ut
that ere skinner, for if you've got to
drink out Of skinner, you've got to
drink quick.
'Taint as though hadn't no paternal
affection for my own sisters boy. Its
Just because | have. A better woman
than your mother never lived She KEEP
me pretty straight when | was a lad, and
always tender like, too, and | say to my
self when think of her: David Sharp,
by the grace OF God and your sister, you
are what you are, not that am any great
shakes myself, anyhow, but that don't
make no difference about The skinner.
50 when ! think Of your mother, my boy
feel great hankerin' TO pay off that
debt by giyin' YOU lift, for now that
you've lost hcr--well, there ain't no one
10 say things to YOU mean disagreeable
things, that we are pretty apt to take like
pills, if we have to take 'em at all, in
eurraut jelly, 50 that we shan't taste
'em.
When your father left you all his mon
cy, be thought he was doin' agood thing,
and guess he meant we'll enough, but
you see II makes difference whether you
SOW seed IN the furrows after the earth
has been turned up, or just scatter it
along on top Of the ground, and to thy
thinkiu', Young man, you wasn't plough
ed deep enough 10 hold il. Money buys
lots Of things, fine broadcloth, and pa
tent leather boots, aud blue neckties, aud
yaler Mid gloves. It buys handkerehiefs,
with a big letter down IN the corner, aud
hair oil, aud gold loothprick. It buys
bots Of other things besides. II can git
books and Iearun', and travel, aud chan
ees for a man to make somethin' Of him.
self. I've heard, TOO, about lendiu' il to
the Lord sud 20 my thiukin', that Is an
investment that pays pretty fair interest.
There Is riches that take to themselves
wings, aud ily away all Of a snddcn, and
there's riches that melts just Ike a snow
drift Ia April but what don't run out Of
the h0les on one side wifi on the o,ber,
aud 50 you'yc got to drink quick.
Then, IL there was more'D twelve hours
ia a day,you might let few run through
aud never miss EN-, bat them robins thAt
vas singia' this mornin' got all through
by sunrise The red and gold all faded
out q the sky before you bad a peek a,