Connecticut western news., 1875-10-01


 On this old homestead where they had their
 birth. . :--..
 ROGER WADE'S DEFENSE.
 Roger Wade lived with Jonas Bram. Jonas was narrow-souled, grasping man, whose sharpness at bargain, and whose inevitable closeness in pushing his workmen, had given him the name among his townspeople of "Old Screw Driver" .,r.... l...r a.ist...f oaj..:.r-) ..s.
 No one ever knew him to 'stake off , or "throw in 8 ittle," because man was pressed by misfortune, and lacked the money to pay him his price. He would have the uttermost farthing," even though the exaction brought his debtor ruin.,,. ....slr .-...ar .t. ,3t -.
 It was in the early spring that Roger Wade agreed to work eight months on his farm, for his board and fifty cents week. Stern necessity forced the unem- ployed and homeless boy into this con tract; just as it has hundreds of others into similar situations. And Jonas Bram had received more than an equivalent for what he paid him, in hard labcr-the very hardest, and the most he could possibly get out of Rogers flesh and muscles F,,.'t iraj a.f ,.t ,3yi;>s. ..lllz
 One bright autumn afternoon, Roger had been at work in MT. Bram's five acre orchard, gathering fruit. He had filed several barrels with choice apples, and there was large heap of pears on the ground, which he was carefully put ting into boxes, when the black, curling smoke of an engine appeared in sight, and the loud whistle announced the ap- proach of an incoming train. ." '..'
 The railroad ran through the west end of MT. Bram's farm, and cut off 8 little from the orchard. The station was 8 about quarter of a mile above. -
 Roger paused in his work, and stood attentively watching the cars as they went laundering by, only a few rods from him. Then he heard the sharp rat tie and crack of the brakes, the engine was reversed, and in a minute the train rolled slowly back. It had been switch ed off upon side track, and now it stood there close to the orchard, waiting for a long freight train to pass. 2"
 The day was an unusually warm one, and most of the car windows were wide open, and the passengers were gazing curiously out, impatient at the delay.
 As Roger stood beside the great heap of pears, looking at the people, a bright, restless little girl, occupying seat in the first car, called: 7. .-r;.9 ..a "Boyl boyl please throw me one of those nice pears" t...- The next moment great juicy Bart lett went whirling through the air, and entered the car window, and fell into her lap. The child laughed her thanks, and immediately began eating it with great relish. ...-, ....... ..... ...-o.. ...... Just behind her sat pale, sad-looking young man, with dreamy downcast eyes. a'a-- -."-. .i '..-l' --- -
 His bleak, cheerless face excited Rogers pity, and picking up another ripe pear, he shouted 5e.~, -.. "a =. | "Catch, catch!''< .i... ..,... l The young man looked up, and 8 smile frightened his face as he caught the we'll aimed pear. The freight train soon came along, putting stop to fur ther communication with the boy in the orchard, and by the time it was past, the passenger cars had begun to move. Just as the rear car came in sight, Roger espied John Boswell, one of his intimate friends, leaning out of one of the win dows. .r-.-e ssa. ..,as7 ssm ..g.i.- fl" /" Halo, Roger'' h-. .-,. .,.. . l "Hallo, Johnl' And in an instant the biggest pear of the heap went flying toward John, propelled with all the force of the sender's arm. '1 ''o '5o'I The speed of the train was increasing, and instead of reaching John, the pear broke through closed window, shiver- ed the pane, and struck gray haired man in the temple, close to the eye. He was half stunned by the blow, and blood instantly flowed from an ugly cut caused by the broken glass.
 Roger saw the accident, and believed that he had injured some one, but the train disappeared so soon that he could not know the extent of the mischief. His heart beat violently. Undoubtedly he would hear something yet from the unlucky throw, and he tortured himself with wondering who was hurt, and whether the railroad company, or any one else, would prosecute him. a.s
 The sharp voice of MT. Bram just be- hind him recalled his wandering senses.
 Standing here doing nothing, you rascal It's pity if I can't be gone ten minutes without having the work stop." -' "H - .F+a --f .5:b"
 In silence Roger again began filling the boxes, but his thoughts were busy with other things. He feared trouble was in store for him.
 The afternoon passed, and twilight came. The COWS were milked, and Rogers work was done. As he was standing in the shade of great spruce tree near the gate, two men came along on the road. Said one: .r....
 "Esquire Lees got hut. He has just come from Ohio, and as he was sitting in the car this afternoon, just below the station, boy threw something at him and hit him." s.. -..o....-
 "Hurt seriously ?" inquired the other man.
 "Don't know. They say his head is badly cut.
 Roger listened to these words, and a cold chill ran over him. Esquire Lee, then, was the injured passenger. He was 8 man learned in the law, and had long been justice in the town. Many a youth full offender had found cause to fear his stern sentences, for his severity was well known against all who willfully or care lessly broke the statute" ...-
 Roger passed 8 wretched night. He now fully believed that he had got him self into serious difficulty. He was well acquainted with Esquire Lees charac- ter, and felt terrible dread of impend. ing punishment. .. s.aa .' =. .' B '!
 Leaving Roger while to his fears, we will now follow the esquire, and learn about his hurt, and what is really likely | kO ooToo of if 't .t+ -+.- .' ..t'