Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20
Che family Circle.
1 PerisOuS VOYAGE.

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j. Periious Voyage.
John Allen wa, Il well-to- do farmer of
Woods ock. on the st Johns river, and. be-
sides the income derived from his land
and dairy. he owned. in connection with
Ms son. Il tract of wild timber, some dozen
miles up the river. Beginning to turn its
advantage to account in small way. the
two had erected SIN II single mill near
the shore and kept Il half il dos n men ut
work d ring the winter. The result the
first year was so satisfactory that it was
resolved to increase the facilities OF the
m:,nniactu @, and, that it might b, done
undrr> aniingly, they determined to visit
the mill for Il personal examination.
They were to Aav'. one ofthe firn-hands
drive them up us f,r they could get with Il
team; and from that point it was hardly
more than II mile to the mill. More than
halt the way the roai was merely ii rough
rtrt-trtck through the WOODS. making the
Journey rather u tedious one; but hv i IT
iny very early in the morning they calcu-
| lated to make all the necessary invcstiy4-
tons and get back early in the afternoon.
His was the pl n agreed upon and the
time Let was the following Saturday, As
soon rs il became known in the house the
two Youngest boys, Harry and Jack, were
wild with excitement.
"Mavn't we 90 t"o?' they shout d in
| concert "Plea~e let us 80. We never
saw y shngle- mill"
A >h.nyle-mill isn't much to see" an
>wrrrd their father. " And. best les You'll
| be- getting into all sorts of dare ger"
"Oh' no. we won't Wen be so care
| ful. if You |, let us go. 1t would he su, h :.
| nice r.Ir"
ny don't You lie, them 90 father?'
~aid Mrs. Allrn. They won't take up
much room. and they'll enjoy it So much.
| Well. we'll" said the farmer ,"d
naturally. let 'em 90. then; let EN- go.
| | shall have to take the double wagon If
hey do. though; and that's big enough
for the whole tanily.'
"Whv not take the whole family them"
,-ked Mrs. Allen. half in earnest. 1--we
| hardly been ont of doors the whole winter
and spring, and should enjoy the ride as
we'll rs the b"y-.'
Farmer Allen laughed
| Any more of You want to 60? What
would you d" witt, the baby"
Take her. of course You don't sup
pose weather like this would hurt her ?
She needs the air H. much us anybody"
Are You really in earnest. mn,ht.r?'
"CertanIy don't See why YOU can't
make Il pleasure aunt out of il as well rs
a business one. | haven't been so far from
home for five years. and | guess the house
could get along without me for half dav
Becky can get dinner for The men at noon
and should get home by two or three
o'clock. III the latest"
| "Wcl Just rs you >av. then. I'm sure
I've no objrctlons Wen have to start
pre- tv early. and. instead of having one
Of the men go with us, l shall have to
,rive.'
SO the matter was settled.
| At seven o'clock the next Saturday
morn ng th. party set out. all in the high
est Joss BILE spirits lnnumcrable charges
were lift with Becky us to what to do
1b'ut dinner. and how to dispose of other
household duties, if they should not return
ut the time expected A huge basket of
lunch was placed under the seat. much to
tn" satisfaction Of Harry and. Jack. who
had been too excited in regard to the Jour
nev to care for breakfast.
| 1t was Il splendid April morning. and
but for the brown Ok of the fields and
the thiniN- Icavcd trees would have seemed
like ,Ju;e. The sun shone and the birds
sang, and everything seemed delightful.
he two boys were constantly fnniny
something new to admire in the thing,
.,bout them, and their merry shouts often
orra>ioned :; sympathetic GOO" on the
art of the baby. who stared with her biz
round eyes at the common'st objects As if
they were the most wonderful things in
| the world.
1t was after eleven o'clock when they
reached the mill. Thr W ,gon had been lett at
the end of the road. mile back, tie horses
ttken out. and Il bag of OATS empticd upon
,he ground tor them. They We're both
steady 1ong Old veterans. u>e.i to the hr-
row and pillow, and would stand just where
| obey were left hours at Il time. The far
n:rr. however, had taken the prccaution
| after putting the brides in the wagon. to
tie the halter to one of the whre's.
The MIL stood close down t" the water S
edge, and in front and all round it were
heaps of blocks. refuse timber logs. aud
-havlny>. 1t was not n very romantic
looking place, but the children were de-
lighted with it.
The long rice lad given them all a good
appetite rough table was made out of
some boards laid across Il couple of Jumps
soon placed upo it. Lunch finished the
farmer andhis son beGen their investigation
while Mrs. Allen and the children wan
dered about looking for arbutus and gath
erny pine cones. There was more to be
looked after about the i'll than was ex-
pecter. and it was two clock before the
job was finished.
So busy had they been, that the gradual
rl.,nHip.r M of b., l. hal
ed. ANA it was not until the sudden p tier
ING of rain began upon the leav. s, that the
little party began to look about them.
Its nothing but an April 81 wer."
said Tom. 1--WE shall have to oct under
the shelter of the mill till it passes over .
Don't you believe it," returned the
farmer. "Weve had rain hanging round
for II week past. and we've got it now.
sure enough Do the hest we can. we
shall be drenchrd You run on ahead.
Tom. and put the horses in, so AS to be
ready by the time we get there. Well be
right afte' YOU
Obedient to his fathers advice, Tom
hurried rapidly along the path leading to
the spot where the team mad been left,
while the remainder of the party followed
afler. as fast us they could. The place was
reached ut last. The wagon was there,
the two brides lay just where they were
thrown. but the horses were gone.
For moment the farmer stood dumb
founded. Then he began to examine their
tracks.
Its plain enough" at last he hurriedly
said. Ihtyve slipped the halter and
started back home. You'll have to see if