Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-04
jamie Eastman.


No one would have thought of calling him
handsome. Even his mother, to whom he
was the apple of her eye, would have told
you that there was nothing handsome about
her boy and yet very likely she would add,
in her next breath, that you might "go fur
ther aud find homelier, for the likes O.
Jamie's eyes were hard to beat"
Now as he stands by the old well, ready to
lay hold of the bucket which Jake, the farm
hand, draws all dripping TO the surface, we
are reminded of Whittier's Barefoot Boy"
and think the poet might have drawn his
picture from Just such model as Jamie,
only he is not barefoot and his pantaloons
are not turned up, but tucked into pair Of
boots that might be thought world too large
for him, il one did not notice the hands were
large, too. Then, too, Jamie was not a small
boy, but large one who did not care to be
called any longer boy, but a man; and yet
the sun, shedding forth his last rays before
dropping out of sight behind the western
hills made ruddy face as innocent of beard
as a baby's.
But Jamie felt that he had a right to be
looked up to and treated as man. not so
much on account of hisyears as the amount
of work he was able to turn off for certainly,
take it early and late, spring-time and har-
vest, no one-not even the sturdy Jake-did
more than he. And certain it is, too, that
no man ever took more pride in his work. or
was better satisfied with its kind, than was
Jamie up to the time our story opens.
He could cradle as wide swath, could
rake and bind as fast aud as well, as any
harvest hand among them all. If there was
a vicious colt to be trained into subjection,
or kicking COW to be dealt with, it was al
ways Jamie who, better than any other,
could conquer and subdue. Tall and strong
beyond his years, with a vigorous constitu-
tiou and a spirit of industry that looked upon
all work as pastime, he could toll from morn
ing till night, aud feel not bit the worst
for it; and now, as he dips his hand in tht
water that fills the great trough near the
WE'LL to cool his brow, he scarcely feels less
fresh than when, at sunrise, he shouldered
his rake aud went whstling to the harvest
field.
Supper's ready! Come, Jamie you
must be as hungry as wolf, after the hard
lays work you've gone through with to-day
according to what father says !" called his
mother from the kitchen door. jamie gave
the water on his hands flirt, and obeyed
| the summons at once.
Hungry enough, mother, that's so but
as for the work, doubt if it's more than
do every day, and not much harder, either
But where the dickens is Ola Not about
the house, know, unless the cats got hel
| tongue"
Mrs Eastman explained; her daughter
rah over to see her friend, Alice Budlong
who had sent for her. and added, "You'l
be looked for to bring her home but ii yot
don't want to go, you needn't. She won
be afraid after the moon rises"
why, yes; don't know but I'd as lie
| go as not"
" But you see, Jamie boy, there's compan,
there; Alice's cousin from Peterborough
and girl she brought with her--a strange
to them all"
jamie looked up wonderingly. "What o
that 7" he said. You don't think In
afraid, do you? They won't eat me,
reckon"
think by their looks, especially the strang
girl. had good look at them when the
went by, and thought you mightn't like u
go but you can fix up a little, and ! dar
say there's no better where they come iron
than us hard workers."
Jamie looked around at the faces gathere
about the supper table with quiet smile
He went, and Just as he was, too, save tina
he put on collar and touched his mass o
red brown hair with comb. lie made
passabe bow to each of the young ladies, a
Alice presented them, seated himself nea
the door, and busted himself in trying t
find place for his hands, which he at las
did by thrusting them deep into his trouser
pockets. Why it was he did not know; bu
jamie did not feel so much at his ease as h
had expected he should, He tried to tai
and appear sensible during his stay of ha
an hour, but somehow he was conscious c
appearing quite the reverse.
He was glad enough when at length OIL
put on her hat to go home, though he hardl
spoke word to her, all the way there an
seemed at first not to hear her when sh
asked him how he liked Minnie Budlon,
and if he didn't think Miss Hyatt wa
dreadful stuck-up."
No-yes!" he replied to this " but ain
, she handsome 2" He never veutured a
opinion of her after that, though he saw h,
often, and Ola, girl fashion, was alwaN
running on about her.
The Budlongs and Eastmans were net
neighbors, aud had always been war
friends, so it was but natural that the youl
people should be good deal together. II
Budlong's visitors had been with them Sc
! eral weeks when Mr.. Eastnan--never
! close observer-opened his eyes to the fa
. that there had come a change over Jamie,
, =" II twas the winter season, with r
q vival meeting going on, should say Il
boyd got religion, for he seems amazi
I chirpy, and goes about as il he was treadi
/ on air Whatever It's he's mighty mu
! about il and how he does just more thi
: pitch into the work lie always was ma
4 ter hand at a job, but now he beats ever
A thing"
! Mrs. Eastman was beginning to puzz
- over the question as well as her husbau
She uttered the wonder aloud one day, VIII,
alone in the great square kitchen, which W
: dining-room and family sittng-room, as we
an tell you, mother" said Ola, dro
' ping her hands into the beans she was sh'
y lug; Jamie's in love"
! Mrs. Eastman turned sharp upon h
daughter. The idea was too absurd to be e
tertainad for moment. Don't be such
goose, Ola and come, haven't you got Il
, beans for the succDtash ready yet ? Dinner
!, = be late, and that'll put the men out wi
u their afternoons work"
y But Ola made up her mind TO speak OF
Z A" It's so, mother. I've known il for weel
He's in love with Joe Hyatt"
"Nonsense, child he's not the kind
fall in love before he is fairly out of his she
! frock and don't you talk bit of that
n your father, or he'll say that's all girl CT
! ever talk about"
y But tell you, mother it's fact. Ali
/, knows it as well as |, and so, think, do
8 Minnie"
= Mrs. Eastman was so suddenly convinc,
J by her daughters words and manner that 81
: dropped into convenient chair, quite ovt
come. "The silly, silly boy /" she sa
presently aud he lacking three good yea
h of being of age, and ten chances to one
: father'll see his way clear 10 help him
h much of start when he is, He'd have
! fetch his wife here, and them don't