Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-01

once, pointing to shining object that was
half buried In the dust
ut is an old horse shoe," replied /, un-
hesitatingly, for my eyesight was better
than his.
"well, pick it up; 1t is pity 10 let any
thing be wasted"
ooh, but that is worth nothingi can't
stoop down TO collect old iron of that
kind"
"As you please, my boy"
And the old soldier, bending his thin,
lank body, took his stick, and tried TO draw
the object toward him that 1 had just de-
spised. He could not reach 1t, however,
and 1 acknowledge to my shame, that al
lowed him 10 disencumber himself of his
packages, with a rapid movement, which
liberated him SO that he could bend down
When he raised himself, l felt rather con-
fused, and walked on in silence behind him,
not daring TO take his hand again.
We now left the valley, and began 10 as
cend an open aud mountainous path.
| Wildheim lay on the other side ofthe noun
tain. There was not a cloud in the sky, and
the sun began to shoot forth burning rays,
which by noon became almost intolerable.
There was no prospect of shade for long
time 10 come. Now and then, at rare inter-
uals, solitary fir tree with ill-grown
branches threw its lean shadow across the
| path but there was no spring, no torrent,
no babbling brook-and above all, no bat
| tie stories.
Hans marched on INCREASINGLY; but he
had become mute. Following behind him,
l swallowed clouds OF dust through my
mouth and nostrils, which was not refresh
| ing. Half way up tho hill we passed
| through little hamlet, with cottages made
| of pinewood, extending regularly on both
sides of the road.
await here for me-" said Father Hans as
he turned into blacksmiths forge. saw
| him lay his old horseshoe on the anvil,
and the smith in his leather apron took it
up aud turned it over several times in his
black hand.
at Is not worth much, Father Hans" he
said land If it were not TO oblige an old
frieud-but tell me how much do you want
for it2"
"Neither gold nor silver; some handfuls
| of cherries out of your orchard, and jug
of fresh water will amply pay me-"
In the twinkling of an eye the daughter of
the house disappeared, and came back with
| a basket full of the most delicious looking
cherries that had ever seen. How fresh
and rosy they were! 1t almost queDched
my thirst TO look at them.
"You can bring us back the basket when
you return," said the girl, with a pleasant
smile; whilst Father Hans, with out taking
breath, swallowed two large glassfuls of
limpid water that were pleasure even to
see.
lie now arose TO depart. "He is certain
10 offer me some cherries y said to my
self; and conjured up such vision of re-
freshment at the thought as made my
mouth water. After some minutes Father
Hans put his hand In the basket and drew
forth large bunch of cherries, and began
10 devour them one by one, without appear.
ing even to think of me, although it was
only two hours ago that had moiled and
toiled at his side trying TO keep step with
him. Amer that bunch followed a second
then a third.
"What a selfish man he is, and thought
he was so good" and, saying this 1 made
faces at him behind his back, whilst he re-
| galed himself in front. All at once a cher
| ry slipped from his hand aud rolled TO my
| feet. In a second, 1t was covered with dust
as white as sugar. No matter; picked 1t
up, and wiped 1t with corner of my pock-
ct handkerchief; then, turning 1t round
and round in my fingers 1 asked myself
what was to do with it, for after all, II did
not belong to me. But it would be very
hard to give it back to him. think, how
| ever, that l should have adhered 10 this
course, but just at that moment, Father
Hans turned rouHd and said as II he had
guessed my secret struggle -
Keep 1t for yOuself; all that falls 10 the
ditch belongs TO the soldier"
became as red as my cherry, and car
rled it 10 my lips with as Indifferent an air
as could assume. But, nevertheless, how
delicious 1t wasi After some moments, a
second cherry fell like the first; and at the
end of about every twenty steps, the same
man@uvre was repeated twenty times 1
stopped down TO the dust, and / ended by
being somewhat refreshed. Then the GRIM
son mama ceased TO fall, and Father Hans
turned round toward me with a laughing
face his little gray eyes sparkling under
his heavy bushy eyebrows, and his NOUS
taches, which were also gray, and grew as
bushily as his eyebrows, turning up at the
corners of his mouth, revealing a mischiev-
Gus smile.
"Have you understood, little one3" he
asked, with twinkle in his eye.
| 1 answered nothing, but had no difficult
ty in comprehendlng that he was making
fun of me.
''Look you, my boy; the best lessons are
those which are learnt by practice rather
than by precept and these are the kind
that teach my children aud grand chill
dreu. One soon forgets a Sermon" he add
ed, breaking out into a kind, fatherly
smile, "but am sure that you will never
forget the cherries of to-day, and will for
give your old companion for having pick
ed up practical lesson on the road for your
benefit"
"Yes, indeed, Father Hans" cried
stretching out my two hands toward him,
which he clasped in one of his own; "but
still should very much like you to ex-
plain your lesson to mo. 1 think that 1
quite fully understand 1t, but"
"My lesson" replied he, sis that it is far
better to stoop once and pick up an old
horseshoe that is equal in value 10 basket
of fresh cherries, than it is to stoop twenty
times TO pick up twenty cherries covered
with dust. And now my boy" added he,
handing me the famous basket, "after the
lesson comes the reward. Eat what is there,
and IL you find it good, promise yourself
that you will never refuse TO do a service,