Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-11-15
Che family Gitelr.
Partners.
By EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER.

more, Tip himself didn't know. He wOr,
Il mans coat and Il pair Of very small
trousers, but neither fitted him. His hi
was an old felt affair that he had pickle,
up in a back alley, and his head SCENE,
very much rs if it might have been pickle,
up with it.
Top was the other partner. 1t was To,
who bought the melon. because he hat
sold all his papers but one. and had an un
common handful of change. The mclor
WAS cheap too. and only a trltle spoiled, 81
the partners sat down IN 4 stone and at,
it. Then Tip wiped his mouth On his coat
sleeve and looked at Top, who had sprea,
his last paper over his knees, and was slow
ly spelling out the news.
There's i row SOmeWhereS. but | can
make out which side is lickin'; its the Tur
keys OF the other fellcrs. What be the
Turkeys, Tip??'
"Base-ball ~ftllers, l reckon; them kin,
is great at scrimmage.'
And Il freshet carried Off Il r~ail-roa,
bridge. Tarnado in Dubbs County; blow
ed all the oats down. Does oats grow OF
trees. Tip, or bushes"
brushes, and kind CLIMBER"
"TarriLle catastrophe. What woul s
catastrophe be, Tim?'
It's u kind O. jumpin animal. Don't We
mind the one we seen ut the circus:?'
Top folded up his paper with a sigh.
The circus WAS the beginning of the
partnership. when the two boys, buried W
together in Il crockcrV-crate, had awaken
ed in the dusk of :; May morning hv the
long train of circus-wagOns rumbliny away
into the country. Half asleep, they follow.
ed On keeping pace with the great brown
hulk that strobe with swaying trunk aftcl
the wagons. and glancing half fcarfully at
the awkward cameis that barred their great
teeth viciuusly, us if they would not 1T all
mind making Il molthful of the two lite
vayabonds. Once a driver notice them,
and cracked his long whip at item, but
they only fell back Il few steps.
81 say. Tip, les 60 on till it stops
whispered Top; and with a nod the bar
gain was concluded.
1t was ten O'Clock before the circus stop
ped. and the boys. foot sore and weary.
hung around the wagons, getting plentiful
kicks and abuse, which WIS no more than
they were accustomed to at home, but re-
warled by Il glimpse of the animals Il, they
were fed, and making rare breakfast on
a loaf of bread that a girl in 4 dirty splng-
leu dltSS SHstlCIit0 / Ctl III VI lIlt Nt0Ou>
and tossed to them.
Top had risen in the world since then.
He had left rag-picking and yone into the
newspaper business, and even picked up a
little learning at the night class in the news
boys home Blu he was loyal to his part
ner. and often shared hi, good fortune
with him. He had 4 plan now for them
both.
Il say. Tip, les YOU and me 80 to farm
in
Tip looked at Top, took of his hat. turn
ed it over As if looking for an idea in it,
and then put it on again, and said moth
inc.
There's y chap comes down to the
Home told Us fellers if you 90 out West a
farm free. Jest for Twin ont. Best kind
o. ground. too. We could raise things to
sell, besides havin' all the melons ana s.utf
You could swall,r every day"
"C'm' on" said Tip, his mouth water
ing at the thought. rs it far or West.
do We reckone'
-. good bit; but I've got some money.
and we can walk it easy. Git Yer other
shirt an we'll start to-morrer mornin'.'
That night Tom drew all his money from
Allt ttpOSil IL III uCWSDoN> llOlllt-luItt
dollars and siNty-tive cents. The frs,
thing he did was to buy two clay pipes and
\ paper of tobacco. Then he laid in Il store
of provisions, in the shape of a sheet of
stale bnns. 4 triangle of cheese. and "A dozen
behring's. Tip was on hand promptly with
his other shit in 4 wad under his arm,
and the two partners started ''out West
MAY as well ride ten cents WORTH"
,. w.. .,.:~.. Geo.. g.. H.
top Of an omnibus that ran to the city
limits.
Afterward. they walked on toward the
open prairie. breakfasting rs they went,
and adding to their stores 4 turnip and a
couple of tomatoes that had joltcd from
some laden market-waSon. Miles and
miles of neutrality-suspicious., where women
and children were hocing and wedding
and gathering vegetables. They stopped
ut one house and asked for water, and Il
woman in 4 brown stuff petticolt and white
short gown offered them some milk in Il
big yellow bowl. and Il piece of black
bread. a boy WAS washing long yellow
carrots by the pump Tip bit one. and
liked it. Tip was always hungry. Then
they went on, and by and by they came to
the end of the gardens. There were great
stubbly fields and Il stack of yellow straw.
They sat dow by this stack to rest. and
then Top thought of the pipes. The men
whom he knew always smoked when they
rested at noon, and so he and Tip tried ii.
They had tried it before with end of eli
gars that they picked VI, and once Top
had bought a new cigar, a tiftecn-ccnter,
and smoked it all, though it made him
fearfully sick. The pipes did not seem to
agree with them. Tip felt particularly
Uncomfortable, and wished he had not eat
en- the carrot. They did not make any re-
marks about it but presently they put
the pipes and went to sleep in the
When they walked the sunset WAS
growing chilly.
mo use to 90 any furder to-niyht,' said
Top; and they burrowed into the straw
lnd We're snug rs two tield-mice.
In the morning there were only Il her
and w very dry buns for breakfast;
but the partners had seen much smaller
than that in their day. They ask
ed for water again when they came to a
house. but the Old lady who opened the
loOr must have been deaf. She only shook
Ter head and shooed them away us if they
lad been two stray chickens. Next time
hey had better luck. A fat little woman
With rosy red cheeks gave them 4 big
basket to fill with chips. and when it was
ull she brought them each = thick slice of
bread and butter and Il great puffy brown
Ioughnut. Afterward. they drank ut the
veil out of Il sweet tasting dipper made of
cocoanut she'll, and the woman looked
from the bread she WAS kneeding to nod
nd smile us they went out of the gate, [
came Il long strip of woods, without {
ny houses, and beyond that. open prairie I
gain. J..
Il think this is about fur 'nough," said t
'op, sitting down on a log. Il should c
ind o. like to have our farm nigh to the Q
that give us the doughnuls. She's '
good one, she is" q
''Well," said Tip, seems to be lots of !,
md, and mighty scarce of houses. Les Il
Ike it half an halt. woods and perrary." Il
that the farm was located. the next +
to be done wa to build a house. II
ever did Western elnigrants find things u
Iore convenient, for near the rosdside lay II
pile of rails that had once been a fence n