Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-20
The Lazy Boy at Uncle Davld's.

1 Hflt Is u Wlut olu muse up IN lue mis-
called " Uncle Dayid's," where many chill.
dren go for summer vacation. Few far
mers want to be bothered with city boys
about the barn and in the fields but this
good old man allows them to follow him
about, and even to work, and this makes
them both happy and useful.
Even city boy can rake hay, hoe pota-
toes, and ride the horse TO water; and in do
ing this he feels as proud as if he were him
self farmer
Last summer three brave boys and four
girls were perched on the fence one evening,
watching for the stage that was to bring
another boy to help in the hard work that
always attends hard play.
al hope he isn't proud" said one boy
81 hope he isn't delicate said another.
al hope he isn't lazy" said the third
If he is lazy, Wen cure him by hard
work Wen shake that out Of hint" said
a bright girl who always wanted to share
the hard work with her friends, and -
Here they caught the sound of the crack
| ing whip, the cheering click of thedriyer,
and clanking of the iron-shod steeds on the
granite road, and suddenly there emerged
| from behind the old oak grove at "the
turn the shining black horses and yellow
stage, Harry Brooks holding the reins as
| proudly as if they were the reins of state
Among the passengers for Uncle David was
a handsome widow and her son. the new
fellow of whom so much was expected.
The children knew his age as well as their
own, for it had been mentioned in the letter
of application" quiet boy Of sixteen"
Here he was, then, with frock coat a
| gold chain and a cane; as dignified as a
college sophomore
"We'll roll him in the hay tomorrow
add take off that city shine" whispered one
of the boys as he sprang off the fence to wei
come the newcomer.
Ward Bowers looked little surprised al
the gray flannel shirts and the twenty-five
cent hats, but he was very civil and said he
twas glad there was company for him--hs
had feared there would be nobody but ladie.
and girls there"
The next morning at breakfast Sir New
Corners" maroon breakfast acket faced will
gold color contrasted strangely with theil
clean gray shirts and flowing black necktes
lie was so fine that d" Mrs Uncle David ,
was overpowered, and called him Sir" anC
asked him "if his tea was agreeable" Will,
she only asked the others, " Is your cofle,
right, boys 2"
1t was day or two before Ward coult
leave off his fine things; and then he roweC
and raked few minutes at a time with kiC
gloves on lie never entered heartily int,
work Like Dickens Cheap jack" hi
favorite posture was sitting down.
Very soon the merry party gave up al
hopes of help from him. The girls took tn,
oars and carried the baskets, and left 81
Newcomer to sit or walk quietly with tn
one delicate girl.
nna NIGHT a., nod. .,....4 49,. a. IL. l.
tledoor and shuttlecock on the green ut tn
sideof the house. Ward Bowers was tired,
and said he would sit down on one of thos
benches and watch the game"
No one took any notice Of this still the,
heard crash and a scream, and looking
round behed him and ." the bench "a lonl
row of bee-hives-lying thoroughly mixeC
up on the grass
Myriads of bees, furious at the loss of thei
homes and their winter stores, turned upoI
our lady-ike boy and in moment he wa
black with them. Uncle David and Mrs
Uncle David flew to the rescue, ringing til
pans and blowing horns, and with silk hand
kerchiefs over their faces they rescued hin
from the avenging army of black coats. ii,
had never seen a beehive before
1t was many days before he could see, Sc
swollen were his eyes.
The country doctor advised him to do
after this, just what he saw the other boy
doing, to share in all their sports Tor exer
else or pleasures and if he ever felt thil
"lethargy, as he politely called it-creep
ing over him again, TO look out what he sal
down on. Indeed, the blunt old man tolc
him he was dying for want of exercise.
No sooner had Ward become presentable
than he fitted himself out like the others
and went to work and very soon he did full
justice to " Mrs. Uncle David's" corned beef
brown bread and beans.
His old habits would often come back OF
him, and his weak mother would coax hin
to lie in bed but by the advice of the boy,
he fought manfully with the demon of lazi
ness, and conquered him.
When they all left Uncle Davd's in Sep
TENDER, Ward Bowers could row with eithel
of the others. We dare not tell how much
more he weighed than when he came lest you
should think our story fiction IVatchman