Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-02
A YOUNG HERO AND HIS
REWARD.
BY HELEN STANDARD.

A small rough house. far from any other
human habitation, hid itself, the balmy sum.
mer through, amid the surrounding foliage
but the cruel wintry blasts, tearing away its
leafy coverings, left it in desolate nakedness,
in full view of the railway trains, which, sew
eral times daily, sped noisily by on their
way east and west. The quick eye of many
traveller noted the column of smoke curling
upward from the chimney.
Here widowed mother and her son found
humble shelter. But three short years
before, they we're living comfortably in the
nearest village. The sudden death of the
husband and father, combined with series
Of lesser misfortunes, caused them to ex.
change their pretty home for this. which
they obtained at triAing cost from its first
proprietor
And here they had lived ever since-how,
their old friends and neighbors scarcely
knew. True, james, the son, went to and
from the village, laden with numerous pack
ages. His herbs, nicely picked and carefully
assorted, were always acceptable at the
country store; and the bundles of bright
woods he carried home, when returned, WOW
en- into many attractive forms by the nimble
finger of the invalid mother, invariably found
ready and eager purchasers.
Many lime, as James turned his back on
the CHEEKY village, the intense longing of
childhood for companionship and amuseme nts
stole over him, and an inexpressible feeling
Of loneliness caused his throat to swell with
emotions which only the remembrance of the
watching, waiting m other could quell.
One sharp wintry afternoon, when the
quicksilver with downward tendency denoted
that it was to be colder still, Our Hero -
for such he will prove to be-jumped into
his little rough wagon. and turned pony
Shags head toward home, leaving behind
him the CHEEKY glow Of household fires.
Never had his heart been happier or lighter
than now. For il was his own at last, the
book he had wanted so long, and for which
one hard.earncd penny after another had
been so carefully boarded. Now that he
had the coveted treasure in his possession, it
seemed dOubly precious. As Shag Of his
own accord turned to the right, he raised it
to his lips and kissed it rapturously, imme'
diately gancng around to see if any one
was looking at him.
The short wintry day was near its close
and the bleak hillsides, unkissed by TIE sun
crowned here and there with leaAess trees
made dreary indeed the almost trackles'
country road. The iron track of the rail
road running parallel with the wagon track
gave no token of the locomotives approach
The pony and his master were the only liy
ing creatures visible. The boy smiled joy
fully, and loosening his grasp Of the lines
opened the book, and in the almost twilight
began eagerly to read the pages. Undenia
bly, it was the nipping cold that gave to thC
end of his nose rosy hue, but it was no
that alone which sent the vivid color AyinC
all over his face What if Shag, left to him
self, did take the wheels over every stone
and bump him around considerable He, a
he read seemed to be in the land of tn
Saracens, in the midst of the Crusaders, sid
by side with Richard CGur de Lion
All about him was the din and turmoil o
battle; gittering armOr flashed in the sun
light; horses aud men we're falling together
but everywhere, stately, proud and victori
Gus, went the black horse and his rider
Hurrah hurrah hurrah !" escaped invol
unfairly from the boyish lips, Whinny
whinny whinny" responded Shay ap
preaching the curve, rounding which the
would obtain the first glimpse of home ye
half a mile distant.
Reluctantly james closed his book an
caught up the reins, for now deep ravin
bordered the way, and his mother had beg
ged him always to be careful. The curve
the road, rounding with the track, was SAT,
ly passed, when James eyes rested on somt
thing that sent the blood surging to h
heart.
A huge tree had fallen from the bank abO,
directly across the track. The strength