Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-01
| at such a rate that they were glad to stan
back ont of nv WAY

back out of my way.
Il reckon the landlord didn't loose mucl
by his trade that time. We had fried po
tatoes, cold salt beef. and corn bread fol
supper, and it was all proper good. ne
mistake.
THE next morning the sun rose clear n.
Il bell, and was offagain bright and early
I went past Cousin Hezibole's, for wa.
anxious to get through to my uncle's tha
night. 1t wasn't no great disappointment
to me; for rs said, she was only a seconC
cousin on my mothers side and though
had never seen her, had always hear,
that she wasn't the pleasantest and mos
even tempered woman in the world.
could have had my choice l thinl
1 should not have gone there anyway.
Il logged along at a pretty good pace
that forenoon, and by twelve o'clock wa.
pretty we'll up among the mountains.
had more than half my doughnuts ant
cheese left. Mother wasn't one of thai
kind that scrimped in putting up lun
cheons, and there was plenty of goo
clover by the roadside, SO Brutus and
were not accountable to anybody for oul
dinner that day.
About sundown | reached Bolton, bu
l didn't know in Just what direction my
uncle lived, so l stopped before the dool
of Il wood-colored house and asked the
old woman, who sat knitting by the
kitchen fire. if she could tell me where
could find Jeremiah Gales house
".Whv lor' yes. of course | will said
she; its a good mile further on. but the
road is us straight rs an arrer. The house
is a gambrell roof, with two popple trees
standing right afore it-vou can't miss i,
but do not be in such hurry. Stop
and rest yourself a spell. can't ve?'
thanked her but hurried along. pleased
enough that | was SO near nv Journey s
end. After | had rode half mile saw
Il little old man laying stones on a wall
near the road. l saw him stop and look
1T me Is though he meant to speak, but
was tired and thought | wouldn't give
him chance, and was passing him upon
Il trot. when he uSt reached out his hand
and took Brutus by the bride.
You seem to be in 4 great hurry, said
he. Where mought YOU be from?'
Il told him Dunderbrook, Massachu-
setts.
why, how YOU talk said he Did
you ever run against a cousin of mine
David Smith who lives in the Bay State
somewhere? I've lost all track of him
lately
Never heard of him.
".Ah. what mouhgt be your name. if l
mought be so boid?'
Ezekiel Gale
ANY relation to Square Gales folks?
He is my uncle
"'Sho YOU don't SAY. Here. don't be
in such an everlasting hurry. How would
You like to swop off that ere pony of yourn
: for pair of steers? He seems to be
lively beast.
Il replied that | didn't care to trade
that day, and pushed on. although he tried
to stop me again by asking how long l
expected to stop in those parts.
In about ten minutes more l had
climbed the hill and stopped at Uncle
Jerrys l think l should have known
the place without any direction. it looked
so comfortable and homelikc. | fastened
my horse by the gate and then went into
the house by the kitchen door. l expect
ed to take Aunt Nancy by surprise. but she
wasn't there. No one but girl sitting in
of quarters Stod by her side, and the table
was filled up with those she had already
strung. felt kind of awkward like, and
began to whirl my hat around my hands,
for | was so taken aback that didn't know
"'Do YOU wish to see Mr.. Gale said
She, looking up.
- am his nephew, Ezekiel Gale |
stammered out. and came up from Mas
sachusetts to make him n viSir.
oh, did youy said She, jumping up
and putting down her pan of apples
why, You must be very tired. Sit down
here by the iire-it's quite frosty tonight
and let me take your hat. Mr.. and Mrs.
Gale have gone to Grcenough, but they
will be back this evening. | am Content
Sabin.'
Il said would 90 ont and put up my
horse. | was glad of a chance to 90 out
in the open air and get my breath, for she
was Just the ncateSt girl had ever set
eyes on: and although | was accounted
quite beau at home. she flu>tered me 81
that l hadn'ta word to say for myself.
When went back into the house she had
drawn out 4 little square table, which was
spread with biscuits, cold-boiled ham,
apple sauce and a pumpkin pie. She sat
down opposite to pour my tea. and could
hardly eat nv supper good as it was. fol
watching her. She did just look like 4
picture, that's a fact, She had on n lin
sry-woolsey petticoat and blue short gown
her brown hair was braided back Just as
smooth and shiny rs could be. and she
had blue eyes. plump rosy cheeks and a
neck and aims rs white rs milk.
Il am sorry that Mr.. and Mrs. Gale
are away, said she. for l hadn t had the
grace to speak civil word yet, and she
began to be afraid that was not pleased
But, dear me. although had come SO far
to see my relations, | was beginning to
wish they would never come back at all
-;t hat l..
room all the rest of my life. with the tea
kettle singing. the cat purring on the
hearth. and Content pouring tea for me.
and looking at her. | found my tongue
after awhile too. so that when Uncle Jerry
the fire rs sociable rs though we had
known each other all our lives.
"Well. staid and staid there till my
home helped Uncle Jerry get in the
late crops, and had 4 knack with saw
and hammer which made me very useful
about the house to Aunt Nancy. Then in
the evening l sometimes took Content to
Il husking or IN apple-bee.
FINALLY my father sent for me, and thai
night, coming home from Il husklng 4,
Deacon Baniford' 81 mind how the moon
shone down through the pine trees that
shaded the road-Content promised to sc
back to the Bay State with me when
came up in the spring"
Uncle Ezekiel grew thoughtful. li'
seemed to be living over again that golden
October evening; Geneva claspcd hel
hands together and said in that pretty llttl'
affected way she has:
What did she say when you propose'
to her? Oh, l should like to know Sc
much"
Uncle Ezekiel reused up;
'She gave me simple straightforward
answer" said hc "ind didn't oglc OF pu
on airs, rs you would have done, in he
place, miss
We were familiar with Uncle Ezekiel
rough ways, but we all thought he was to
hard upon Geneva. SO we changed the sub
iect to the last importations by Stew'i
and he fell into :, doza in hi, easy ch;,l
by the CRATE.