Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-05

SO uolng, WOu mdt hedp cOWN ~ VIe on HS
hedd'"
This unexpected quotation told powerfully
on Roger there was a sort Of moral electric
ity in it, lie stood for a minute or two as
if quite bewidered, and then bright smile
Of determination passed over his dusky fea-
lures, and, striking his hand emphatically on
the table, he exclaimed, I'll burn himl III
burn him
IL was q droll speech, and yet Miles Jack
son smiled not he was so pleased with the
hearty response to his proposition of Chris
tian revenge, that he could notice nothing
else just then. lie grasped Rogers hand,
shook il warmly, and said, " Keep TO your
resolution. my friend, aud may God bless
your efforts
Some furthor conversation passed between
Miles and Roger which we do not detail suf-
fee it to add, that when the benevolent old
farmer said goodbye to Roger, there was
an expression Of quiet happiness on his
broad features aud that, on passing Mark
Buffers house, he looked at it with an air Of
evident triumph; and that, as Roger saun-
ders turned away from the door, he brushed
a real tear from his eye; and, moreover, he
Wa observed 10 be unusually silent during
the rest of the day.
And now you want to know whether any
attack was made upon the enemy? Oh yes
Roger began Immediately 10 put his heroic
pu.poses into action. " Strike the iron while
it is hot was tavorite adage Of his. The
very next morning, as he was turning round
the corner Of his forge, he saw, at a few
yards distance. Mark Butler and his eldest
child, pretty little boy Of six years Of age,
coming toward him, and he determined 10
speak to him. just then Mark k-intention-
ally OF uuintcutionally we cannot positively
say which -crossed over to the other side of
the street but Roger was not the man to be
easily thwated in his plans; so he crossed
over also, and when he was close upon them,
h3 looked full at his old acquaintance and,
said, with az much ease rs he could assume,
GOOD morning, ncghbor what beautiful
weather we haYe!" Mark either would not,
or could not, give any answer; he certainly
did not the probability is that he was taken
too much by surprise 20 be able to make any
reply. However, Roger was satisfied the
first decisive step had been taken on his part,
and he congratulated himself almost as
much il the victory were already won.
" lie will come round in time" murmured
the blacksmith confidently, as he trudged on.
What Mark Butler felt must be left to
his own consciousness and the readers i'm
agiuation.
Marks wife was, as we have already said,
a weak, sickly woman indeed the doctor
more than hinted that She was in a decline
aud her appetite was very fanciful. She
had a great longing for strawberries, but
strawberries, as it happened, were very
scarce and very dear that season. Scarcely
any fine ones were to be seen in the village,
except on few roots which grew in Roger
Saunders garden; and if Mark was enyious
at his ucighbors success in rearing them,
I 10 btl i'll g., Ia
pleaded in excuse. lie would gladly have
bought some from Roger but he could not
stoop to ask favor Of one whom be so
much disliked \ neighbor offered, with
out mentioning Marks name, to try whether
Roger would part with a small quantity.
The answer. although courteously expressed,
was in the negative " Mr.. Saunders was
very sorry, but they were saved for friend
Mark was vexed and disappointed. He for
got-so unreasonable are angry people-that
Roger was ignorant OF his intent to the APP
/ plication, and declared that the refusal orig
mated in spite TO him.
Ga Marks return in the evening from
work, he saw, TO his surprise. a large plate
half filed with beautiful strawberries on
/ the kitchen table; and he learned upon in
| quiry that they were a present to his wife
/ from Roger saunders Mark was almost
as much annoyed as he had been in the morn
[ ing. lie would have sent back the fruit at
once, but he had not the heart to deprive his
/ sick wife of her unexpected enjoyment be-
/ sides, hall was already eaten
Mrs. Saunders brought them herself"
! said Marks wife, with bright glow Of pleas
ure on her cheeks " and she told me her hus-
I band was SO glad that they happened to have
/ some. Ii was very kind OF him !"
How did he know that you wanted straw
/ berries - answered Mark, in a very ungra-
| cious tone.
Willy accidentally told Harry Saunders
/ as they were coming home from school the
other afternoon, and Harry told his father"
Willy has no business 10 talk TO Harry"
said her husband sharply and | wish
Roger saunders would keep his things to
/ himselli'
So did not Marks wife; but she was a
wise woman, and She held her tongue,
Mark said no more about the strawoer-
rics he wouldn't, Of course, taste one that
woull have lowered his dignity too much;
but the next time that he met Roger Saun-
ders, he conld not help being a little more
civil
There is certainly thaw," said the
blacksmith to himself :" he will be sure to
melt in the end"
a few weeks after the strawberry affair,
a nice long job of carpentering came into
Mark Buffers hands, entirely through the
recommendation of Roger saunders. Thank
ful enough was Mari, for the unexpected
employment, for business was very duh in
deed. and his wifes in health considerably
increased his expenses; yet he did not like
to be indebted for it 10 poor Roger saunders
However, it could not be helped, neither
could the expression of his thanks be
avoided. Mark was naturally proud; but
the very pride which kept him so long
cstranged from Roger, and made him averse
10 receive any favor from him, also led him
to take the earliest opportunity of saying
how much obliged he was for the recon-
meudation which bad been given.
lie tried to say it as collly as he could,
for fear Roger should imagine that he in
tended anything more than the commonest
ciyilty; but the blacksmith somehow was
proyokingly dali, and seemed resolved to
treat him as one OF his intimate friends
and his friendly little wife would fain have
persuaded Mark b. come aud sit down, aud
take "a glass of her uew-made cowslip wine.
But Mark was not one Of the "persuadable "
sort he was offended with Roger Saunders,
and offended he would remain, so he wished
them good morning as dstantly as if he
had been an emperor, and moved from the
doorstep
But Roger was not going to let such a
golden opportunity as this slip he did not
know when he might see Mark again, or
, have so good claim upon his attention.
So his "good morning" was accompanied
by hearty shake Of the hand, and faw
words which expressed his sorrow for his
, own past uncourteous behavior, and implied
, hope that they wonld be better neighbors
in future.
Mark, IN spite of the freezing atmos
+ phere with which he chose TO surround him
/ self, could not resist the kindly influence OF
the blacksmith's manner and language and
, before he well knew what he was about, he
had actually half assented to Rogers sensi-
ble proposition. lie was surprised, when he
- got home, to think that he had yielded SO
5 far; indeed like many obstinate people, he
! felt almost vexed with Roger, for having in
duced him to act contrary TO his intention
! Yet how could he persist in his opposition to
:. Roger, when Roger appeared bent upon
! showing him every kindness in his power
+ Conscience whispered, too, how much more
t noble and Christian-ike was the black
smiths conduct than his own and as he
r thought upon the events of the last few
Z weeks, his heart was considerably softened.
Still Mark was not won over TO hearty
; and thorough reconciliation the black
81