Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-24

She might as well have undertaken to move
the Andes with crowbar.
About two weeks after that cold Decem-
Der day, during which the tea-kettle had
been filed every morning, by Isaac, and as
often re6lled by Susan from the cleared
pump, Isaac, after seating himself at the
dinner table, very coolly made the follow.
lowing announcement:
"Lulu Sanders brought me letter from
the boys, this morning"
"Why didn't you tell me before 7" ex-
claimed Susan, irritated at Isaac's apparent
Indifference to what was SO fraught with in
terest to her
"What do they write2 Are they well ?
Is the baby sick Why don't you tell met
Where's the letter ?"
"No, no They're well enough Do
eat your dinner :" said Isaac. who, although
he could never keep anything from Susan,
enjoyed letting it out as spau-worm moves,
at measured distances. Are they COM
ing up2"
Didn't write anything about it,"
" Has Frank got over the measles ?"
Don't know"
Business good, isn't it2'
Didn't say"
"Give me the letter"
"It's in my overcoat out in the barn"
TELL me what's in the letter, or I'll 20
right there and get it,"
ala, ha, ha !" CIsaac enjoys this)
Nothing in particular in it. Twas
mostly bout Squire Hills horses"
What do We care for Squire Hills
horses 2"
Nothing, only he's got four he wants
to get kept the rest Of the winter, aud the
boys thought might like to take EN-"
"Oh, pshaw Didn't they write anything
else 2"
Not much"
"Going to take the horscs?"
Yes, | guess so twill be good pay.
"Will they send 'em up?"
mo guess III start for Boston in th,
morning and bring 'em up myself"
Now Susan would have been better
pleased if Isaac had said Don't yot
think I'd better take the horses2 AnC
don't you think I'd better start for Bostoi
tomorrow morping2' But that wasn't hi
way. fle didn't want to be always asking
Susan's advice. What did she know abou
Boston horsesi
Iu this case, however, Susans opinion co
incided with that Of her husband, for sh
knew it would bring him more money thai
be could get in any other way, and sh
never allowed dollar unadvisedly to sli
through her palm.
The next morning she was up early, pre-
pairing a specially nourishing breakfast, an
getting everything ready, nice and warm
for Isaacs departure.
Sam'll come up, night and morning, I
turn out and feed the cattle, but you ha
better 20 out to the barn once or twic
through the day to see that everything
, right there" said Isaac. Susan didn't nee
this injunction, for she kept an eye on tn
barn as closely as the Pope on st. Peter
!, whenever Isaac was away.
IL never took Isaac long to start, and b.
! fore the sun was up he was out OF sigh
Susan turned away from the window wher
she had watched him, and went about ht
morning work with feeling Of LONELINESS
and thinking what she should do il be shoul
take that long journey from which there
no return.
Three whole days would she be alone
the house, for this was before q network
: railroads was spread over the soil of Ma
. sachusetts At length the third night cam
J.. and, Just after sunset, the feebly tinklir
: bells around the neck Of old Billy n
nounced the approach of Isaac. That nigh
there was much to tell and be told, b
u Isaac soon grew drowsy, aud was glad
get into his own comfortable bed, aud whe
Z a little later, Susan came with bowl
c hot sage tea and a warm blanket TO sprel
u over him lest he should feel 4 chill after Il
days exposure, Isaac, in his heart, felt thi
It Z" Whose fndeth a wife, fndeth go'
thing" although outwardly he demurred
y being made such baby of.
u The pendulum in the old clock swung o
more regularly than did Isaac perform b
- daily round of feeding, watering. curryil
" and combing the Boston horses. On plea
'e ant days they were allowed to prance abo
u the yard in their gay housings, and Isai
?, who excelled in the discipline Of domes
p" animals, would march them up to the do
for Susan to look at. with as much pride
u General Scott led his army into the AIT
:, capital
- In February there was New Eoglal
- snow storm. and
e Ere the early bedtime came.
TX The white driIn piled the window. pane.
~ When the second morning shone,
e, They looked upon world unknown"
I'D Suddenly the wind had changed to
northwest, and the mercury was Is degr,
70. below zero. When Isaac entered
nd Kitchen. that morning. bis usually bro
ed checks we're purpled with the cold. and
or beard covered with white frost.
&c. "The watering trough is frozen up SOLE
nd said he, and shall have to pump wa
g, and carry to the horses and cattle tv
p- be pretty hard job, too, for they drink
as lot Of it through the day, and we sha
an have any more water at the barn till
ground thaws out in the spring"
20. "Well, | wouldn't mind" said Sus
ad consolingly you can't do much but "a
1t. care Of your barn, such weather as this
ys and it won't be great while, for wints
cir most gone.'
,ir "Yes; it's got to be the 18th Of Feb
he ary, but March is generally about as tou
on a month as we have"
c's Susan persuaded Isaac to eat his brs'
of fast before pumping water for his hors
a although the arrangement evidently DISC
oil certed him considerably, and long before