Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-10
Peter Raymond's Son.
Asrony ron All rArnrns.

lliht ~ Nlncht Ht AuuuchlY ftcOuected lHat ne
had left his bride hanging on a bar-post 10y
his sheep barn, when he turned his old white
mare in the pasture, that afternoon. lie
sprang over the wall and struck across lots,
hoping to secure it before any greedy mawed
bovine should make II forever useless for
bride purposes. As he drew near the barn
he thought he heard voices inside. What
any one should be there for he could not con.
lecture. lie stepped as-lightly az he could
on the unmowed rowen, and slipped in be-
hind the big door, which was standing ajar
and listened.
Philip, his eldest son, was there, and Clin-
ton Dexter, a son Of the man at whose house
he had been TO call. The lads were about Of
an age-both nearly fifteen. Philip was
talking when his father went up to the barn,
but he finished what he was saving lust as
Mr. Raymond got into position to catch the
words, and young Dexter commenced 10 re-
ply. lie said
Well, Phil, my father is Just as inconsid.
crate as your father is | don't think that he
remembers he ever was a boy There is
scarcely day in the year that he does nod
ride out-he rides moren he used 10 before
he was first selcctman and you may be sure
that he always has something on hand to be
done, just as your father does. Soon as the
frost is out of the ground in the spring, he
tells me before he rides off, that NAV pick
up stones or spread manure till it is time to
milk and fodder after that comes plowing
and planting a little later in the season he
tells me, to hoe corn or potatoes or weed the
garden, till 1t is time TO get up the cows
and, if he is at home when | take the pals
to 60 out and milk, he always tells me to be
sure and strip the cows clean, just as though
he thought | should be lazy and dishonest
enough to leave half the milk in their bags
If he did not tell me so; and he would be
just as likely 10 tell me that before a dozen
visitors as any-makes fellow feel mighty
comfortable you know. In the winter !
have TO chop wood most of the time that |
am not in school and | don't think my
father ever feels quite satisfied il | don't
| chop as much, and hoe as much, and plow
as much as a full grown man could do in
the same time. | didn't know till the other
day how it was with you, Phil. don't won
der that your patience is worn out; and |
assure you that am quite as tired of living
in this way as you are
81 hesitated good while, Clint" Phil re-
piled, before decided to speak to you about
it; but made up my mind in having time
that it was the last summer that | should
stay at home and help hay il and fare as
did then. Father is always ready to find
fault-he generally says when he gets home
| don't think you've hurt yourself working
to-day, Philip And sometimes he asks
me if my back doesn't ache I've chopped SO
much or hoed so much and, no matter if
work as hard as | can from sunrise till sun.
down, never heard anything more encour-
aging-never got one word of praise. feel
sorry to clear out, on my mothers account.
| love her, and believe that she loves me
but ii father loves Inc he never shows it
never speaks tender, loving word TO me-
My mind is fully made up, Clint. am 60
ing TO run away and | want TO get off to-
night Never mind about your clothes
I've got shirts and haudkerchefs and stock
ings enough put up, and I'll divide with you
till we can earn more. Last week thought
it would grieve mother so pretty much de-
cided TO give it up; but | got so provoked
the day that father went TO Hartford de
termined | would go anyway. You see here
I've lived ever since was born, within eigh-
teen miles of Hartford, but never was there,
nor in any other city. | asked father if |
might go with him, last June, when he was
going, and he said that | couldn't go very
well then, but ! should go with him the
first time that he went after haying. Well,
when he spoke Of going, last week, | asked
him if he was going to take me along, and
he answered pretty crabbedly.
No, sir; pretty time for you to think OF
going, when the hired man is gone : | told
him that would get you to come and do the
chores, anu Una, you W1ulu pe as l"l'niui u, =.
uollg thelii aS "ould De nut ne "ouiui
near worn "pVu' IT, rum 'ieei very hSnV
hearted alter ne was gone put ! tleu
plaSe ~ ou, tne pes' Una. ! coulo anu
W'rheu ha'u az u"y' ihat ai.erhooh was
DARK ci0uuy AFTERNOON, ana GOV w tne COVE
ana MIXED 'ne,l' i',ie eariie, 'naIl sup
posed that uiu put diuh thihk the SUI
was hNe minutes high "heh got Tue ci,ore'
uone' Vook 'he newspaper anu sl. uoNn
~ the aoor, 50 as 70 pe on hulu 70 Iake car,
OF tne horse when la'her came anu ! na'n
le"u guaioei VI oI'u.ni "nv' u. w
up "eil as true as i've anu breathe, ~
,el ms ioii,SinS "iu tiia' siiouiu ~ "
Hartford WIN MN the hrst time tila' u
wen, alter haylhg ana ,ilen oreaA,hg M
word leaving me 10 ieei uisaploili.eu anu v
work hard al uay' the hrst tnu,g ne saiu U
me When ne uroVe up was nav are yo.
sit'ihg uere "readu'g ior WY "ien
you DONG your enores ~ salied, s, . tei
you pue repileu as calmly a. ovu'u M ',,a
a Al
, on tnat Is ~ Is ~ lou 40 Tue chores .ii'
middie oi the AFTERNOON "heii am sohs
ana theh sit down ana reaa' 90 you
was so eohlounueu eu.ting' IL ne haa STUCK
kniie ihto me ne wouinh nave huft me an
worse vowed theh that would see har,
iord ON my birthday, ana / shali pe muol
mistaken II am hot tIlere to-hlorIoW morn
ing and II my iatler sees me again ior on
year, he'll see lnore'n think he win; WI
) be mere at the Darn at Just mluhigh.' ~
( bundle oi clothes Is mere now IN the oat OH
I Don't fail to be ON time, Cllnt' we mus
r get to Hartford by sunrise ! want TO get
little glimpse OF the city before the steam
boat goes out. don't know what the lar
( is to New York. doubt II we have none
e enough to take us there. II we haven't "
3 can stop at some of the landing-places ON III
5 way
+ What variety OF feelings Peter Rayinon
/ had in the fifteen minutes he stood benin
g the barn door and listened. At first he WI
/ so utterly surprised he could hardly beliey
his own ears but as he took it all in-as !
? comprehended what his son contemplate
t doing, he was in high dudgeon he uncol
u sciously closed his teeth very firm, an
G clinched his right fist tightly. lie coul
: hardly refrain from pouncing upon his SO