Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-14

very long, and sometimes, by quaint and
forcible use Of words, fixed the point Of an
ecdote so firmly in the memory that nobody
who heard ever forgot it. In addition to
this she was an earnest Christian woman
who never lost an opportunity TO impress re.
igious truth upon others-al although she did
it in her own way-a way not at all prosy,
or affected. or prctentious.
To-day, as they passed little stream upon
which stood small factory she asked
d" Did you ever hear about the Biggns'
quarrel, Harry 2"
A" No, aunt" said the bov.
Well old Squire higgins who died long
before you were born. used to own the whole
Of the land about here through which this
stream runs. lie left his property 10 two
sons Jonah and Jacob lie did not make
any division in his will, but left a special
charge that the brothers should improve the
property Now Jacobs idea Of improving
the property was 10 build factories on this
river. or, at least, big dam, and let out the
waterpowor 20 other parties. Jonah's idea
was TO lay out beautiful grounds, 10 build
au expensive house, and 10 make a sort Of
summerramble, for city folks, Of the woods
that used 10 cover the banks Of the stream.
They could not agree about il. and went to
law. The first result was a division Of the
property The line ran acress the stream Just
below the factory there. Jacob. who owned
that upper-haf Of the old farm, got permit
from the legislature 10 build dam Where
upon Jonah declared that he would not have
his part Of the river filed with the rubbish
OF factories, and they went TO law again.
Jonah was beaten. but hc took his revenge
by getting permit to build q powdermill
This part of the town had no houses then,
except the higgins homestead, in which the
two brothers quauclod like dogs and cats.
] suppose the legislature felt that no harm
would come to the world II the Biggins
family should be blown up. Nothing else
promised to stop their quarrelling. Jonah
/ began to build his powder-mill just as ia
/ cob had finished his dam The result Of
/ tlis was that nobody would lease water
/ power in q locality which promised 10 be
I dangerous. and Ionah's city visitors did not
I dare TO make picnios in his beautiful grove.
just as they were ready to 90 to law again,
/ a mortgage on the homestead was foreclosed
and Jonah was sued by landscape gardener
and civil engineer for an overdue bill for
/ laying out grounds Neither Of them had
/ his wish about the improvement Of the prop
/ crty since they both died in the poor-house
/ aud am very sure they didn't improve their
own characters"
"Oh, that's why you sometimes say,
| 'Cross-grained as Biggins,' isn't it, aunt ?"
! Yes and how do you think it would
sound tos say as brotherly as Harry Ames 2"
| or, to grumble like Harry Ames 2"
llarry's face, moment ago all eager with
/ interest fell suddenly at this unexpected
| home application Of the story. His aunt did
not pursue the subject, or seek TO press
harder upon him in his chagrin, knowing
/ that he would not soon forget the conversa-
| iion or the turn She had given it, They now
| reined mp at a rather forlorn story-and-a-
| half house. the patched condition Of which
] implied that the owner could not afford
| thorough repairs. Mrs. Reems was not gone
more than fifteen minutes although it
seemed TO Harry, as he stamped his cold feet
and thought of the ride he had promised the
boys if he could get Black Hawk, more than
double that time lie began to think his
detention rather unreasonable when Grum-
ble like Harry Ames " darted through his
mind, and made him smile at his own inn
patience just then his aunt raappeared,
and in a minute the feet horse, never so
fleet as when going towards home, turned
his head in that direction almost before
Harry could leap into the sleigh.
The talk on the way home was on many
and Indifferent subjects. but however much
Harry was interested in what his aunt was
saying al the time they passed the stream
he could not keep out Of the background Of
his mind the Biggins' story and his aunt,
proverb.
While her aunt and her brother wer,
gone, Louisa had leisure TO think over b,
herself the injustice of her frequent demand
upon llarry's playtime, and could not bu
acknowledge he had some reason to "grum
bic" She did not care, however, to tell hin
so in so many words, but concluded that sh'
would, for ouce at least, not keep him wait
ing for her to find her things" Conse
quently when the sleigh stopped before Aun
Amelias front gate she had nothing to do
but put on her shawl and mittens and by
the time that Harry said " Whoa !" at thu
Ames's gate She was shutting the door anC
looking at her brother with an expression
which seemed TO say, "you see | can b,
prompt if choose" The effect Of this ex
traordinary consideration was apparent t.
grandma. who stood at the window and saw
Harry help his sister into the vehicle ant
put himself at unusual pains in tuckng til,
robe around her. Although each was in q
repontant mood, and willing to be Just a lit
Tie generous even, yet neither the boy mol
the girl cared to make the first concession
They therefore kept silent except as some
thing on the road led 10 Indifferent comment
They had nearly reached Goody liopper's
when Harry. who could not 4" hold out in
silent disagreement so long as his sister, said
shall he back from Brown Mills In al
hour, LOU will that be too long for you u
be studying orotchet 70
Louisa was yanquished by this slight re
cognition of her convenience and answered
in a strain of unaccustomed generosity
90 no, indeed stay as long as you like
Harry; maybe shall walk back as far a
the Lymess; if do | will be at the window
and stop you as you come along"
The boy helped his sister out, wondering
what had produced so mellowing an eifec
upon her, and inwardy resolved that h
would certainly be back within the hour
and perhaps give her little longer ride. |
was lull two hours before Harry was read
on his return to 20 for his sister. lie ha,
not driven far OH the road to Goody Hopper
when he overlook Stephen barley VIII
begged ride as far ~ the grist-mill. Leay
, ing him there, he went ON till he reache
Mn Lymess house, whore hc found I.ouiss
and was making the best excuse that h
could for his long delay, when she stoppe
him with good-natured remark that it wa
. Of no consequence and that she was glad
: lac had had a good time Such a receptio
y in the place Of a scolding lightened his heal
SO eifeotually that he looked upon everythin
through rose colorcd atmosphere, an
, really himself believed that he had neye
! had So Jolly time as during that Afternoon
!, lie told Louisa all the particulars, and whe
they drew near the house persisted in giyin
,, her half an hours longer ride, although
was growing dark and it was necessar
=, that She should be at home to help abol
the supper, During that half hour til
! children "made up" their little quarrel
explained in rather partial way their r
A spective i'll treatment Of each other, an
promised to be good and not get "mad
!, IN the future. It was, ON the whole, a comic
! performances, since it had taken place
!. least thirty times within the year.
u CHAPTER TX.
WINGED ARROWS
= On Sunday Mr.. Blake took Mr.. barley
=, class in Sunday-school, in which were llari
Amcs and Simon Byttes. During the opel
:, ing prayer Simon's wandering though
v were arrested 10y Mr.. Readwell's prayer.
"Oh dear !" he said to himself, thi
means a revival know it it's a sure thin
=. and | hate the whole business wish Il
. ] ,.a,anu tVaulIuft praV qn