Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-09


and that you would be faithful in doing them
as would be- but no wouldn't hear word |
about It. [ didn't feel very light hearted |
after he was gone, but tried to brave II out |
the best that could; and worked hard all |
day. That afternoon was dark and cloudy, |
and got up the cows and MIXED them
little earlier than supposed that did; but
| didn't think the sun was five minutes high
when | got the chores done. / took the
newspaper and sat down in tho door, so as
to be on hand to take care Of the horse when
father came; and hadn't read quarter Of
a column when he drove up. Well, as true
rs live and breathe, after promising mo
I should go to Hartford with him tho frst
time that he went after haying and then
break his word, leaving mo to feel disap-
pointed and to work hard all day, the first
he said 10 me was What aro you sitting
here a-reading forP Why aren't you doing
your choresp 1t CALLED, 1 tell you. but 1 re-
piled rs calmly as could that tho chores
were all done, and he said, oh, oh, that Is
it, is itP You do the chores in the middle of
the afternoon, when am gone, and then
sit down and read, do youP' 1t was so con-
founded cutting. If he had stuck knife
into ME he wouldn't have hurt me any
worse. l vowed then that would see Hart
ford on my birthday. and shall be much
mistaken if / am not there tomorrow morn
ing and if my father sees me again for one
| year, he'll see more'n think he will. will
be here at the barn at just midnight. My
bundle of clothes is here now in the oat bin.
Don't fail to be on time, Clint. We must
get to Hartford by sunrise. | want TO get n
| glimpse of the city before the steamboat
goes out. l don't know what the fare is to
New York. l doubt il we have money
enough to take us there. II we haven't we
can stop at some of the landing places on the
way"
What variety of feelings Peter Raymond
had in the fifteen minutes he stood behind
the barn door and listened. At first he was
so utterly surprised no could hardly believe
his own ears; but as he took it all in-as he
realized what his son contemplated doing,
he was in high dudgeon; he unconsciously
closed his teeth very firm and clenched his
right fist tightly. lie could hardly refrain
from bouncing upon his son then and there,
and giving him sound druhbing. but he
decided that it would be wise to hear the
boys talk and learn all their plans, and
then confront them. But as Philip talked
on, Raymond's teeth were less firmly closed,
and then as Philip said in a hall sad tone, al
doubt If my father loves me at all" half a
dozen different feelings strove for the mas
terry.
Don't love hm?" he repeated to himself,
the ungrateful rascal! Haven't ! been
scrubbing along as saviDgly rs possible, and
privately putting little sums into the savings
bank so that | could send him away in a
year or two, and give him better chance
for an education than ever hadP Haven't
often said to my friends that he was one OF
the most faithful, trusty boys in the world.
and that could leave home any time, might
or day, and never worry about things SC
long MS he was there to take careP IL ht
does doubt my love, up to this time l have
loved him and been very proud of him.
have not been very demonstrative about it.
to be sure. l never thought it was wis'
to pet and praise children. Perhaps have
been little too unsocial and straight-faceG
with him. Maybe I'D better not let then
know that I've heard this talk about thei
running away; but l shall. OF course, dc
, something to prevent their going. I'll go t
: !, the house and think over what course u
take"
) And Peter Raymond crept away from tn,
barn rs though he were a sneak thief, an,
. then hurried home rs fast rs he could
y, not once thinking OF. his bride. He ha
!. hardly got seated in his usual place in tn
big arm chair before Philip comes in. Phil
J.. ip expected his father would say grufiiy: 81
is high time you were in bed" And so h
was taken by surprise when his father sal
gently:
won't you hand me the almanac befor
: you sit down, Philip"
Philips mother raised her eyes from he
sewing and glanced at her husband rs thong
she wondered what had called forth sue
= unusual gentleness. Raymond opened tn
almanac at September and, after glancin
, down the page, he turned to his wife an
asked, " Is to-day the third or fourth Tue'
= day of the month";"
"The fourth" she replied. "To-morro'
: is the last day of the month";"
"Are you quite sure about it?" he querie'
J. eff you are correct, am week behind
Il my reckoning. I've had many things crow
j. ing upon me lately, I've hardly known whiC
'e way to turn first. promised Mr.. Skidmol
o that would take that wo-year-old heif,
y away that bought of him the first of Oct
u Der. She must be got home tomorrow"
o. Philip got up to go to bed. Raymor
&c said:
l Don't hurry Philip; I'm thinking no
it to get that heifer home. l believe l vi
es take you down there early in the mornin
10 and leave you TO drive her up. 1t is nil
q, miles there, but you can come back leisur
Up ly, and feed along side the road. You
20 like it rs we'll as to stay at home and wor
is wouldn't you, Philip"
st "Yes, SIR"
I'd Philip replied in an absent-minded wa
IN He was in quandary. Perhaps he had b'
10 ter stay at home little longer and see
a things didn't seem more agreeable to hil
III Maybe he had Judged his father little t
n harshly. Clinton Dexter would come to Il
ne barn at midnight to meet him. and
lk Philip was arrested in his cogitations
IT his farther saying:
w 81 have so many cares, so many things
in think of, that l can hardly keep track of Il
er childrcn's ages. believe, Philip. 20
at birthday comes the thirtieth of Septemb'
nd doesn't it?"
ng ayes, sir.'
And so you will be fifteen years old
nil morrow. Well, well, it does beat all he
GU time flies. Fifteen years! 1t doesn't see
ng more than half that time since you were
l baby. Let me see. believe promised
re let you go to Hartford this fall, didn't IP v
to shall be half way there when we get
cts SkIdmore's and seeing tomorrow is 20
elf birthday, perhaps we had better keep on.
he dou't know as we have any better time to lea'
'p- We can take an early start-havo breakfI