Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-02
M isfellamenns.
Cannybles.
BY FANNY nopasoN BURNETT.


will give you Robinson Crusoe."
In less than six months sho was called up
on to redeem her promise.
This occurred few weeks after Craddock
had been established at the lodge at the Hav-
iland gates. The day Anice gave Jud his
well-earned reward she had a package to
send to Mrs. Craddock, and when the boy
came for the book she employed him as
messenger to the Park.
Jud accepted the mission readily. With
Nib at his heels and Robinson Crusoe under
his arm, three miles were trivial matter.
He trudged off, whistling with keen delight.
As he vent he could fortify himself with an
occasional glance at the hero and his man
Friday. What would he not have sacrificed
at the prospect of being cast with Nib upon
a desert island2
"0wd Sammy" sat near the chimney cor
nor, smoking his pipe, and making severe
mental comments upon the conduct OF par
lament, then in session, OF whose erratic pro-
ceedings he was reading an account in
small but highly seasoned newspaper. Sam
my shook his head ominously over the pep
perry reports, but feeling it as well to reserve
his opinions for a select audience at The
Crown, allowed Mrs. Craddock to perform
her household tasks unmolested.
Hearing Jud at the door, he turned his
head.
ats yo', is it ?" he said. "Tha con COON
in. What's browten 2"
"Summat fur tn missis fro tn rectory,"
Jud answered, producing his parcel "Miss
Ance sent me wi it."
"Tak' it to tn ovid lass, then" said Sam
my. TAX it to her. Thalt find her in the
back kitchen"
Having done as he was hidden, Jud came
back again to the front room. Mrs. Grad.
dock had Hospitality provided him with n
huge sandwich Of bread aud cheese, and Nib
followed him with expectant eyes.
"Sit thee down, lad, > said Sammy conde-
scendingly. "St thee down tha'st getten a
walk both afore and behind thee. What
bookst getten under thy arm?"
Jud regarded the volume with evident
pride and exultation.
"It's Robyson Crusoe, that theer u.s." he
answered.
Sammy shook his head obviously.
"Dunnot know as liver heard on him.
He's moan Scripter, is he"
"No," said Jud repeling the insinuation
stoutly; "he is ma"
"Hond him over, an let's ha' look at
him."
Jud advanced.
cheers picters in it," he commented
eagerly. "Theer's one at tn front. That
theer un," pointing to the frontispiece, "that
theirs him."
Sammy gave it sharp glance, then an
other, and then held the book at arms length
regarding Robinson's goat.skin habiiment:
over the rims of his spectacles.
"Well, I'm domd," he exclaimed, "l'H
domd if would ma loike to see that chap i
Riggan What's tn felly getten on 7"
"He's dressed i goat.skins. lie wur cas-
upon desert island, an had ma owt else Il
wear"
II thowt he must ha' been reduced i cir
cumstances, or he'd nivver ha' turnt out
that rig less he thowt more O. comfort thai
appearances. What wur he doin' a-castn
hissen on desert slaud2 Wur he rect
+ the upper stOry2"
"Ile wur shipwrecked," triumphantly
9Th sea drilted him to tn shore, and b
built hissen a hut, an'getten' goats an birds
J an'-an' aw soarts-an'-it's the graidelies
book tina liver seed Miss Anice gave it me.
elias she read it herseu2'
"Aye, it wur her as telt me most on it,.
Sammy turned the volume over, and look
ed at the back Of, at the edges Of the leaves
at the gilt-lettered title.
81 would IA be surprised" he observe
with oracular Amiability. 81 would ma !
surprised-if that's tn case-as theer's SUI
! mat in it,"
! "That as I've towed thee is nowt to Il
rest on it," answered Jud in enthusiasm
4 "Theers mon ca Friday, an lots O. fe
4 lys as eats each other-cannybles they c
= EN-"
"Look tina here" interposed Craddoek, h
{ curiosity and interest getting the better
!, him. "Sit thee down and read bit. That
" something as nivVer heard on-cannybl
an the lOike. Pick thee place, an lei
. hear summat about tn cannybles il tina b
: ma tn tonne to do no more"
10 Jud needed no second invitation. ShariI
the general opinion that "Owd Sammy" vi
n a man of mark, he could not help feeliI
. that Crusoe was complimented by his attic
! ton. He picked out his place, as his hoa
~ er had advised him, and plunged into I
e details of the cannibal feast with pride al
X determination. Though his elocution m
have been Of style peculiar to boyhoC
and pronunciation occasionally startling
fl its originality, still Sammy gathered the g
$, of the story. lie pulled at bis pipe so
At riOusly that the foreign gentleman s turban
N head was emptied with amazing rapidit
Id and it was necessary to refill it two or thr
er times he rubbed his corduroy knees vi
lie both hands; occasionally he slapped one
nm them in the intensity Of his interest, a
be when Jud stopped he could only expr
a. himself in his usual emphatic formula
na "Well, | am domd An tina says as
nd chaps name wur Robyson ?"
nv "Aye RobysOn Orusoe."
Il "Well, nun say as I'D ha' loike to
as knowed him. did know a mon by I
name O. RObyson onct, put 1t could ma
been him, fur he wur na mich O. a chap.
he'd been cast o. desert island he would