Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-14

ABOUT III, ne Salu.
After a little reflection Mr.. Welton
told the story He knew the old clergy
man for true man and a whole hearted
friend, and he told everything just as he
understood it.
"And neighbor Bracket thinks, even
now, that you shot the dog, knowing
that it was his?"
"I suppose SO.
elf you had told him the exact facts
in the beginning, do You think he would
have held his anger9"
This was hard question for John,
Welton, but he answered it manfully.
Truly, parson, I do not think he
would"
Were you ever more unhappy in
your life than you have been since this
trouble came ?"
81 think not"
"And, if possible, neighbor Bracket
is more unhappy than you."
"Do you think so 2"
"Yes. He is the most angry and re-
vengeful."
A brief pause, and then the parson
resumed:
Brother Welton, with you are need
ed but few words. You are more a man
than Brother Brackett. Do you not be-
lieve he has good heart ?"
eyes"
"I wish you could show how true and
good your heart is.
"Parson!"
"I wish you could show him that you
possess true Christian courage"
Parson, what do you mean p
"I wish you had the courage to meet
and conquer him."
"How would you have me do it9"
First, conquer yourself. You are
not offended9"
"No. Go on"
And thereupon the good old clergy
man drew up his chair and laid his
hand upon his friends arm and told
him Just what he would have him do.
He spoke earnestly, and with tears in
his eyes.
"Brother Welton, have you the heart
and courage to do this 2"
The farmer arose and took two or
three turns across the floor and finally
said:
"I will do it,"
On the following day, toward the
middle of the afternoon, Peter Brackett
stood in the doorway with his head
bent. He was thinking whether he
should harness his horse and be off be-
fore dinner, or whether he would wait
until afternoon. He could not even put
his mind to ordinary chores.
81 wonder" he said to himself, show
the trial will come out Ispose Wei
ton'n hire old Whitman to take his case
OF course the oficell be crowded. Tom
Frost says it's noised everywhere, and
that everybody'll be there. Plague take
it! wish -
His meditations were interrupted by
approaching steps, and on looking up
he beheld neighbor Welton.
"Good morning, Peter"
Brackett gasped, ,and finally answered
"Good morning." though rather
crustily.
Welton went on, frankly and pleas
antly:
"You will go to the village to-day 2"
"I s'pose so."
81 have been summoned by Justice
Garfield to be there, also, but really,
Peter, don't want to go. One of us
will be enough. Garfield is fair one,
and when he knows the facts he will do
what is right Now, you can state them
as well as I can, and whatever his de-
cision is, 1 will abide by it. You can tell
him that I shot your dog, and that your
dog had done me no harm"
"Do you acknowledge that old Carlo
never harmed you-that he never trou-
bled your sheep ?" inquired Bracket,
with startled surprise.
Z" It was not his nature to do harm to
anything. 1 am sure he would sooner
have saved one of my sheep than have
killed it,"
Then what did you shoot him for 2"
"That is what / am coming at, Peter.
You will tell the justice that I had lost
several of my sheep-killed by dogs
that I had just been taking the skin
from valuable wether, that had been
SO killed and mangled-that I was on
my way from my house, with my gun in
my hand, when I saw dog come out
from my shed. My first thought was
that he had come from my sheepfold.
1t was almost dark, and I could not see
plainly. Tell the justice that had no
idea it was your dog. I never dreamed
that had fred that cruel shot at old
Carlo until Tom Frost told me 2"
"How9 You didn't know it was my
dog2"
"Peter, have you thought SO hard OF
me as to think that could knowingly
and willingly have harmed that grand
old dog. I would sooner have shot one
of my oxen."
"But you didn't tell me SO at first.
Why didn't you9"
"Because you came up so-so-sud-
denly -
"Oh, pshaw p cried Brackett, with O
stamp of his foot. "Why don't you
spit it out as it was9 Say 1 came down
on you SO like hornet that you hadn't a
chance to think. Twas blamed fool,
that's what was."
"And I was another, Peter; if
hadn't been should have told you the
truth at once, instead of fiaring up. But
we will understand it now. You can
see the justice y
"Justice be hanged John, hang il
all | What's the use9 There, let us end
} it so 70
From her window Mrs. Bracket had
seen the two men come together, and
] she trembled for the result. By-and-
bye she saw her husband, as though
flushed and excited, put out his hand
} Mercy was he going to strike his neigh
bor9 She was ready to cry out with
alright, the cry being almost upon hel
lips, when she beheld scene that callel
! forth rejoicing instead. And this wat
| what she saw: