Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-25

There was once a German duke who dis
guised himself, and during the night plac-
ed great stone in the middle of the road,
near his place. i
Next morning sturdy peasant, named
Hans, came that way with his numbering
OK cart. "Oh these lazy people!" said he,
there is big stone right in the middle
of the road, and no one will take the
trouble to put it out of the way" And so
Hans went on his way, scolding about the
laziness of the people. :,
Next came gay soldier along. He had
bright plume waving from his helmet
and sword dangling by his side, and
went singing merrily on his way. Ills
head was held so far back that he didn't
notice the stone, so he stumbled over it.
This stopped his song and he began TO
storm ut the country people, and call them
" Doors and blockheads for leaving huge
rock in the road for II gentleman to fall
over. Then he went on.
Next came n company of merchants,
with pack-horses and goods, on their way
to the fair that was to be held mt the village
near the dukes palace. When they came
to the stone, the road was so narrow that
they had to 90 off in single file on the 9th
Ell side.
One of them named Berthold cried out,
did any one see the like of that big
stone living here all the morning and no
one stopping to take it away"
1t Law there for three weeks; and nobody
tried to remove it. Then the duke sent
around word to all the people on his lands,
to meet ut Il deep cut in the road, called
Dornthou, near where this stone lay, us he
had something to tell them.
The day came and a great crowd gather
ed at Dornthou. Each side of the cut was
thronoed with people overlooking the
road. Old Hans, the farmer was here, and
so was Berthold, the merchant.
J And now winding horn was heard, land
the people all strained their necks and
ewes toward the castle, as II splendid cav
aicade came galloping up TO the Dornthou
The duke rode into the cut, got down from
his horse and with pleasant smile began
to speak to the people thus:
J, INV friends, it was | who put thl!
T. stone here three weeks ago, Every passer
n by has left it just where it was and ha
), scolded his neig hbor for not taking it GU
Il of the way"
When he had spoken these words he
stopped down and lifted up the stone
Directly underneath it was round hollow
;. lined with white pebbles, and in the hollow
- Law a small leather bag. The duke he'll
y, it up that all the people might see wha
=, was written on it. On n piece of pape
fastened to the bag were these words, 40
him who lifts up the stone" He unite,
~ the bag turned it upside down, and on
ID fell beautiful gold ring and twenty large
bright golden coins.
Then everybody wished that they ha
T. moved the stone instead of going aroun
it and only blamed mis- neighbors. The
* all lost prize because they had not Learn
s. ed the lesson or formed the habit of hell
Is fulness. And we shall lose many priz'
IN as we 90 on in life, if we don't form tn
nc habit. That bag of money was the duke
'S promise of reward for helpfulness. BIT
that promise was hidden away under I'll
stone so that no one could see it. God
", promises are not hidden in this wa,
no They are written plainly out in the Bib
"a so that we may all see and understan
ne them.
DR.. Franklin used to say, "What thong
., you have found no treasure, and had
he legacy left you, never mind. Rememb'
he that diligence is the mother of good luc
&c, That
at. Pillow deep while sluggards sleep,
And you will have corn to sell and keep"
Work while it is called to-day, for "
know not how much you may be hinder'
ear tomorrow. One to-day is worth two
morrows; and never leave till to-morro
ur. anything that can be done to-day. 20
Urn SeTCGr.