Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28
A Perilous Voyage.

John Allen was a well-to- do farmer OF
Woodstock, on the st. Johns river, and, be-
sides the income derived from his land aud
dairy, he owned, in connection with his
son, tract of wild timber, some dozen
miles up the river. Beginning 10 turn its
advantage to account in a small way, the
two had erected small shinglo-mill near
the shore aud kept halfa dozen men at work
during the winter. The result the first year
was SO satisfactory that it was resolved to
increase the facilities of the manufacture,
and, that II might be done eunderstandingly,
they determined 10 visit the mill for per-
sonal examination.
They were to have ono Of the larm-hands
drive them up as far as they could get with
tea N and from that point it was hardly
more than mile To the mill. More than
half the way the road was merely rough
cart.track through the woods, making the
journey rather 4 tedious one; but by start
ing very carly in the morning they calcu-
lated to make all the necessary inv cstiga-
tions and get back early in the afternoon.
This was tho plan agreed upon and the
time set was the following Saturday. As
bOOI Us IL DtNAlllG III luO hhO
two youngest boys, Harry and Jack, were
wild with excitement.
"Mayn't we go, tooH" they shouted in
concert. "Please let us go. We never saw
a shingle. mill"
"A shingle-miil isn't much to see," an
swered their father. "And, besides, you'll
be getting into all sorts of danger"
"Oh! no we won't. Wen be so careful,
if you'll let US so. 1t would he such a nice
ridew
"Why don't you let them go, fathert'
said Mrs. Allen. "They won't take up
much room, and they'll enjoy 1t SO much"
"well, WELL" said the farmer, good.n
turedly, "let 'em go, then let 'eIn go. i
shall have 10 take the double wagon If they
do, though; and that's big enough for the
whole family"
"Why not take the whole family, then ?"
asked Mrs. Allen, half in earnest. "Pve
hardly been out OF doors the whole winter
and spring, and 1 should enjoy the ride as
well as the boys"
Farmer Allen laughed.
"Any more of you want 10 goH What
would you do with the baby"
"Take her, of course. You don't suppose
weather like this would hurt herr She
needs the air as much as anbody."
"Are you really in earnest, motherf"
Certainly. l don't see why you can't
make pleasuro-jaunt out of it as we'll as
a business one. 1 haven't been so far from
home for five years, and guess the house
could get along without me for half day.
Becky can get dinner for the men at noon,
and we should get home by two or three
o'clock at the latest"
swell, just as you say, then. Pm sure
I've no objections. Well have to start
pretty early, and, instead of having one of
the men go with US, 1 shall have to drive"
So the matter was settled.
At seven o'clock the next Saturday morn
ing the party set out, all in the highest pos
slble spirits. Innumerable charges were
left with Becky as TO what TO do about din
ner, and how to dispose OF otner household
duties, il they should not return at the
time expected. A huge basket Of lunch
was placed under the seat, much to the sat
isfaction of Harry and Jack, who had been
too excited in regard to the journey 10 care
| for break last.
1t was a splendid April morning, aud but
for the brown look of the fields .and the
thinly-leaved trees would have seemed like
| June. The sun shone and the birds sang,
aud everything seemed delightful. The
two boys were constantly finding some-
thing new TO admire in the things about
them, aud their merry shouts oiten occa-
stoned sympathetic 1000" ON the part OF
the baby, who stared with her big round
eyes at the eommonest objects as If they
were The most wonderful things in the
world.
1t was after eleven o'clock when they
reached the mill. The wagon had been left
at the end of tho road, a mile back, the
horses taken out, and bag of oats emptied
upon the ground for them. They were
both steady going old veterans. used 70 the