Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-17

! bill IS certainly very promising "A tinge OF
/ irony that was not so favorable" but these
men and women are bad men aud women
! They forsake honest industry aud useful la.
| bor and consent TO lead a lazy, vagabond
| liie consent TO be laughed at and dsspised
for the sake of getting money in an easy
manner. They study foolish sayings and in.
decent songs. and, il seems, too, the language
and manner of wild beasts, 10 amuse an tx.
norant and vulgar rabble. They seek nc
| good, they gre no good. People are neither
wiser, better, nor happier for having visited
them. Now, think such people ought moi
to be encouraged. should blush TO se'
your mother there, and should feel ASHAMED
| TO find myself there"
Mother there you, father" we invol
unfairly calculated, in amusement. The
idea was so ridiculous. " So out of charac
ter ~ said Eben.
"Well, my sons, that is good criterion
by which TO form your judgment. Never
| visit am place whatever, where it would be
out of character, or improper for your par
ents TO 20 with you. win not forbid your
going to this show, but | expect you to de
eide like sensible, thinking boys in this
matter"
al shall not go, sir" said Eben, in his
quick, decided manner. Robert said moth
| ing. walked off, with my hand instinct
lively attracted toward the silver ninepence
which lay snug in my pocket, just the sum
to admit me. | know, now, with what in
tense soicitude our father watched the strong
conflicts between inclination and principle
which went on in the bosoms of his sons
and how anxiously he waited TO behold the
calm selfapproyal, which We always fell
when cheerfully obedient to his counscls.
When the shadows began to lengthen, al
the close of the long, summer afternoon, we
all bent our steps homeward from the school.
room, the playground, or the counting-room.
The tsa-bell rang as | turned up the paved
walk TO the door Just then, George Preston
whistled, and beckoned me to the opposite
side of the way.
Are you going tonight, Ralph ?" he
asked, in an undertone, as soon as | was by
his side.
No, | don't want to go;" for by thi.
time | had digested my fathers opinion into
my own.
" I'm going" and he gave me stealthy
peep at his money, but father does not
know it-he wouldn't let me go. Mother
gave Inc this" and he winked, as much as
to say Don't tell him." Come, you go,
Ralph, dot"
d" But are you doing right, George ?" |
asked, earnestly.
Right? Why, always do so Father
scolds so, but mother always lets me- Come,
DO gol" Poor George This was not his
first lesson in parental mismanagement.
Father does not want me to 60, and
shan't," said !, manfully and ran back to
the second ringing of the supper-bell.
Well, my sons" said our father, looking
round the table, and beholding, with deeI
qualification, the cheerful, happy faces of his
children, "a fine evening for a sail. Eben
can take his flute. Cousin Kate is here, and
she and your mother will not object, know
Beautiful !" exclaimed cousin Kate.
Good !' declared Ehen. With one ac
cord and one heart, it was pronounceda de
! lightful plan"
Me CO. too, father ?" said Alice, looking
up wistfully.
"No; Alice is not old enough to 60 out in
the evening vet. She will kiss us and bid
us have good time, while she goes pleas
anty 10 sleep on her little pillow" And
| he looked down with tenderest affection on
the fair, sweet child, Alice did not pout, OIL
cry, or object, as some children might have
done, neither did we forbear talking about
our anticipated pleasure in her presence
but a struggle went on in her little bosom,
for she hastily rubbed the back of her little
fat hand across her eyes. These trials, and
| they are trials to child, we were early
taught TO bear, and thus by degrees, TO ao
qure that moral horoism so necessary tc
meet the fiery trials OF later life. About
seven we sailed forth into the street, and
bent our steps 10 l.angley's landing-fathel
aud mother, with Robert by her side Eber
bearing the shawl and gallantly stepping by
cousin Kate, bright girl of seventeen, th'
first shrine at which Eben, three years he
junior, offered his boyish image. followed
on sometimes here, sometimes there.
" Fanny, wish you were going with us,
said |, skipping up TO Fanny's front door, a
we passed by.
"Its most my bed time" replied Fanny
huggng closer the white kitten she held il
her arms, but turning her bright black eye
up TO me.
"Now if You were as old as |, Fanny,
aud strutted a step or two, with an air O
more than the four years difference in ou
ages "but | must 90" and patting he
pussy aud roguishly kissing her beautiful
cheek, away | ran as fast as could 60
Passing by groups of people on their way d
the show, " Just such folks as would 60 u
such place thought l. not a whit regret
ting that | was on an opposite tack. w
reached the landing and jumped into tn
boat. Robert pushed off from the shore, an,
with a few strokes of the oar we were in tn
middle Of the broad river which washed on
town and bore our ships to the great ocean.
How glorious - exclaimed cousin Kate
Glorious indeed was that evening. Churcl
spires, stately trees aud tall masts rose il
clear outline against the golden west. Rich
purple clouds hoyered over the horizon
Higher up hung the bright, young moor
Beside it a little star, as it were Just palp
tating with newborn light. All these n
aected their glories IN the waters beneath u
so that we seemed sailing in the very dupl
cate of heaven. Our skiif glided by gree
slopes, rising here aud there in the harbol
aud schooners lazily lay at their mooring
far from the shore. The busy hum of tn
town died away, and the FLASHING Of our oar
alone broke upon the quiet For q time "
all felt too much the deep beauty Of thi
grand picture 10 speak our own thought
, Then Eben, dropping his oar and taking u
his flute, it seemed as if he could only civ
expression to his own full feelings by frG
gush OF melody. IL was a beautiful hou
, Mother named her favorite song, which
while Kate sung-and she sung diyinely-
Eben joined in sweet accord, and no coneel
, have | since heard which so charmed my d
lighted ear, as did that in my childhood, o
those still waters. Then followed much cas-
. aud pleasant chat Father showed RobeI
and !, and Kate too, the science Of rowing
for Eben was already quite skillful oar
, man. How we laughed to see Kate claspn
, the oar in her white, delicate hand The
he told us about vessels, about his own earl
sea voyages-how his ship weathered fea
full gale-how, when he was in hollow G
. the sea the huge waves came leaping dow
t from mountain height, ready TO engul
them forever.
"Did you not die OF very fear, father ?
asked Robert drawing in his breath.
al had long before made the God of tn
waves my friend, Robert; what had |
fear 2" replied our father, impressivell
How light were our spirits How joyful ou
hearts How our happiness bubbled up /
the playful smile and merry laugh. 1t wa
nearly nine when we returned TO the landin,
Icould dwell here on these calm waters
exclaimed Kate. "What delicious endin
, Of this hot, dusty, summers day !" On OF
. homeward walk nestled up TO my mother
side, and, taking her hand, said 30 motbe
! have we not had u beautiful time p
} Nothing was said TO contrast our evening
! pure and innocent enjoyments with the al
! surd and vulgar fooleries of the show bu
thus did our father often counteract the pc
nioious influences, or secret regrets for fo