Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-15
BOh's Conscience.

BOb's Conscience.
In a corner in the meadow-side farm, near
the barns and stable-yards, stood an old hay
rick. 1t had long ago fallen into dsuse,
but owing to its antiquity it had been left
standing. The cows and the chickens were
the only ones who enjoyed it now, the for
mer often standing under its cover on warm
summer days, when the sun grew too hot to
stay in the open field, and the cocks used it
as the fttest place to perch before sunrise,
and crow their good morning to the " lay
abeds at home.
There was not much beauty in it, and it
was of no real use, but it often afforded Bob
King some pleasure in playing hide-and-scek
with the other boys, and sliding down its
matched roof.
Bob often thought what a glorious sight
it would be to see such tumble-down thing
burn up
"Myl" he exclaimed one day, confiden-
italy to Tom Long, wouldn't She blaze
| tell you what, Tom, she'd make regular
Fourth of July fire.cracker."
Tom, of course, agreed with Bob, and
wished Bob would carry out his plan, and
not talk so much about it.
Bob felt in his heart il would not be right
to burn up what did not belong to him
something told him he would get into trouble
if he did, but then he could not help think
ing what fun it would be to build fire I'M
der it and watch it burn. Long was always
teasing him about his cowardly behavior
and he hated more than anything else to be
called a coward.
So finally he consented one day to wait
until the LARGE farm hell. which was To call
the men to dinner, rang. and then the two
bows stole ouietly out of the house. and ran
to the stable.yard with all their might, lest
some one might see them and prevent the
destruction Of the old hayrick.
There was mischief brewing in the air
| that dav. and every sound made the bows
start and turn around to see if they were
discovered. But their plans were carried
out without interruption. and in less than
five minutes the old hay crib was all ablaze,
smoking and cracking like the biggest
bonfire.
Unfortunately, the bows had forgotten the
northeast wind that was blowing, and thought
of nothing but their eagerness to run away
before the men reached the SPOT. The barns
were in the greatest danger. and the hen.
roosts had already caught from the burning
straw.
To make matters worse Tom Long, who
really was the cause of the fire, ran home
and left Bob to help himself the best way
he could. Bob could see the dreadful ca
lamity he had wrought by his thoughtless
ness, and vet dared not venture stones
throw from where he was hiding. lie waited
and wished but it was no use the barn wa,
burnt down, and he was afraid to 90 home
and tell his father how it was done.
The shadows began to fall, and nigh
closed in. He knew only too well how
anxious the family would feel at his disap
pearance, and he was also quite faint from
his long fasting "What shall | do z" h
cried. IL never can tell father. and now
remember he forbade me ever PLAYING witt
fire." There he sat, squeezed down in
dark corner full of spiders and cobwebs
suffering tortures because his conscienc
told him how very wrong he had done, un
til finally he heard footsteps, and from tin
words he could catch, he guessed they wer
! looking everywhere for him. Not for any
thing would he show himself. because h