The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-08-24

bat few words. Yon are : stronger man
than brother Bracket. DO you not be-
lievs be haa good hearth
Yes.
wish you could show him how true
and good yoar heart is.
PArsont
wish you could show him that YOU
pOsscss true Christian courage.
PArsop, what do you meang
Iwish you had the courage to meet
him aud conquer him.
How would you have me do ity
First conquer yourself You are not
oaendedf
No. Go sn.
And thereupsn the good old clergyman
drew up his chair and laid bis hand up
on his friends arm aud told him just
what be would have him do. lie spoke
earnestly and with tears in bis eyes.
Brother Wslton, have you the heart
aud ceurags TO do thisS
The farmer arose and took two or three
turns across the floor and finally said
Twill do II.
On the following day, toward the mid
die Of the forenoon, Peter Bracket stood
In the doorway with his bead bent He
was thinking whether be should harness
his horse aud be OF before dinner, OF
whether he would wait until afternoon
He could not work; he could not even
pat bis mind to ordinary chores
wonder, he said to himself, how the
trial will come out! s'pose Welton'll
hire cid Whitman to take his case. or
course the effice'l be crowded. Tom
Frost says its poised everywhere, and
that everybody'll be there Plague take
It! I wish
His meditalions were interrupted by
approaching steps, and on looking up he
behsld neighbor Welton.
Good morning, Peter.
Bracket It gssped and finally answered:
Good morning, though rather crusli
ly.
Welton went on, frankly and pleasant
ly.
You will 90 to the village to-dsyi
ISpose so.
have been summoned by Justice Gar
field to be there, slso. bat, really, Peter
| don't want to 20. One of us will be
enough. Garfield ia q fair one, and when
he knows the facts he will do what is
right. Now you can state them as well
ss can, and whatever bis decision is
will abide by 1t. You eau tell him that
shot your dog, aud that your dog done
me no harm.
Do you acknowledge that old Carlo
never harmed you-that he never trou.
bled your sheep1 inquired Bracket, with
startled surprise.
Ii was not his nature to do harm to
anything. am sure be would sooner
have saved one Of my seep than have
killed 1t.
Then what did you shoot him for?
That 10 what was just coming at,
Peter. You will tell the Justice that !
had lost several Of my best sheep-kiled
by dcgs--that had just been taking the
skin from . fat, valuable weather, that
had been 90 killed and mangled-that ]
was on my way from my house, with my
gun in my hand, when 1 saw q dog come
out from my shed. My first thought was
that be had como from my sheep-fold. II
was almost dark, and could not see
plainly. Tell the Justice that had no
idea II vas your dog. | never dreamed
that had fired that cruel shoeat old
Carlo until Tom Frost told me.
How2 You didn't know il was my
dogp
Peter, have ysu thought so hard of me
as 10 think that | could knowingly and
willingly hsYo harmed that grand old
dogP would sooner have shot one Of
my own oxen.
But you didn't tell me so at first. Why
didn't you?
Because you came upon me $3.50 =
suddenly
., pshavl cried Bracket, with q
stsmp Of bic foot. Why don't sou spit il |
out IS it wssl say came dotsu on 500
80 like horuet that you hadn't chance
TO think. I was = blamed for -thats 1
what was.
And was another, Peter; it ! hsdn'i |
been should have told you the truth al
once, instead OF haripg up. But we will
understand II now. You can see the
Justice
Justice be hanged John--dsng 1t all !
What's the user Thcrel Let us end II |
so
From her window Mrs. Bracket had |
seen the two men come together, and
she trembled for the result. BY aud by /
she saw her husband, "a though flashed |
and excited, put out his hand. Mercy |
was be going to strike his neighbor?- I
She was ready to cry out with alright
the cry was almost upon her lips-when
abe beheld . scene that called forth re-
joIcing instead. aud this was what she
saw:
she saw these two strong men grasp I
one another BY the hand, aud she saw
big bright tears rolling down their 4
cheeks, and she knew that the fearful
storm was psssed, and that the warm
Sunshine Of love and TRANQUILITY would /