Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-19
MY First Untruth, and
What Came Of it.

up by them from a child, and was four
teen years old at the time of my telling
this, my first untruth. When l say
"frst untruth," | do not mean you to
infer that | was up to this time perfect
ly truthful in word, act and look, for
(as those who know anything of the de-
ceitfulness of their own hearts will too
sadly confess) this perfect truthfulness
is as rare as it is beautiful; but this was
my first willful, deliberate falsehood,
and, am thankful to say, my last.
Rill Farm was charming old place.
The old farmhouse was built Of red
bricks, stained by time all manner of
warm colors, and its red-tiled roof was
half lost below the rich green and lead
en-colored moses and lichens which COW
cred it. The tall oaks and elms that
clustered round hid it from sight, even
to the high stack of chimneys in the
middle of the roof, till you came through
the garden door, opening into the long,
straight walk, bordered at either side
with rose bushes, hollyhocks, sunfowers,
great patches of heart s-ease, rich-smell-
ing thyme, white pinks and clover. Be-
hind the house was square of farm
buildings, and here | used to spend
most of the day, after l had ridden my
pony in from school. The farm-yard
was such a scene of busy life-dogs,
poultry, horses and COWS. l took an in
terest in all, but my chief interest lay
with my doves. had doves of all COL
ors and kinds, and lately had been Civ
en- some pure white ones, for which |
had fashioned dovecOte very neatly,
as 1 thoughD that they might have
separate home.
Beautiful it is, indeed, Master Har-
ry," said Joe, the stable-boy, when l
showed him my work; "but it wants one
thing"
wants what ?" l asked az4iOusly.
paint tho roof Sir, and it'll stand
The rain"
"You are right, Joe"
Joe was favorite of mine, he was so
kind and willing. He never seemed to
make trouble of anything. and was
liked by all the men on the farm.
Next afternoon 1 set to work to paint
the roof lead color, bringing the paint
from the corner of the granary floor,
where two or three pots of outdoor paint
always stood ready. l Remembered that
l had taken a capital paint brush to the
loft above, some weeks before, and for
gotten it there, so | went up to fetch it.
The loft was quite dark, so instead of
opening, as l ought to have done, one of
the sliding panels, which let in light
and air, l twisted up a wisp of hay and
lit it with match from my pocket.
found my brush, threw down my wisp,
stamped the sparks out, and went to my
painting work below, in an unused sta
BILE.
1t must have been about twelve o'clock
that night, when noise outside my
window awoke me. A strange mingled
sort of noise it was, when l had waken.
ed fully enough to listen; a cracking
Kissing, trampling sort of sound. l rar
to the window and looked into the square
of farm buildings. The yard seemed
full of smoke, and at that instant rec
tongue of fame darted from one of tht
windows, or rather ''opes,," through
which trusses of hay were lifted into thu
loft, where / had found my paint brush
Clang went the bell used for callin!
our men to dinner-clang clang Thel
all the dogs woke and added the nois
of their barking.
l knew instantly whose work the fir
was, and leaned for moment helplessl
against the window frame, with sick
half-giddy sort of feeling l had neve
had before. Men soon came trampin
into the yard, all our laborers, and me
from the village. 1 could see my uncle
Joe Dennis the ploughman, every one
knew all the figures were brought ou
so clearly in that vivid red light.
/ Kissing, roaring, and leaping no
r seemingly swallowed up in volumes {
,, black smoke, now darting out like col
of fiery serpents, the flames won ma'
: terry. All along the north side of til
square the fre-spirit had taken posses
? ion, and looked out luridly from doc
e and window, and chimney-top, as if d.
flying all intrusion.
!, How long L looked [ do not know {
down and try to help 1 dared not. lest
S should be questioned. So there 1 stoc
: miserably watching.
1.-The engine from Worcester !''
heard Joe cry and two minutes aft
J some men trooped into the yard, wit
d helmets on, and pointed leather hose
: the hottest parts of the fire. The streau
}, of water they threw made little bla(
II spots in the red fire for moment, tn
f grew instantly red again when the ho
IS was shifted.
5, "Let those buildings alone" heal
y my uncle shout, land play at each en-
- - to stop the flames from spreading"