Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-10-07

The next day he stopped at the same
shop. and walked up to the proprietor.
"How's he for intelligence, now?" he
began, as if the conversation had stop.
ped moment before. "Stupid proba-
bly?"
81 don't think he's very sharp in
trade" was the reply; "but he's very
handy boy. He has made good many
convenient knick- -knacks for the neigh
bors- that bookshelf, for instance"
"Why, that's the very thing I want
in boy Well, there's my tram. Good
day, sir"
"He'll be back again. Odd old fell
low," said the merchant, laughing.
The next day he was back, and came
at the same hour.
81 like that boys looks, sir. I've
been watching him. But of course he
has dozen relation-drunken father
ragtag of brothers-who would follow
him 2"
"No. He has only mother, and she
is decent, God-fearing Scotch woman,
a good seamstress, John tells me, but
can get no work. Times are dull here
just now. Pity the country folks will
pour into the cities. Mrs. M'Tavish
has nothing but what the boy earns at
his stand yonder."
The old gentleman made no reply.
But the next day he went up to the
boys stand. John was looking pale
and anxious. Some of his regular GUS
toners had refused to take their maga-
zines-times being SO hard. They would
be dead loss on his hands.
paper? ? Magazines, sir ? he asked.
.'No. A word with you, my lad. My
name is Bohnn. l am the owner of the
Bordale Nursuries, about thirty miles
from here. L want a young man to act
as clerk and salesman on the grounds,
at a salary of forty dollars month,
and woman who will be strict and or
derly, to oversee the girls who pack
flower seeds, at twenty-four dollars
month. l offer the positions to you and
your mother, and l give you until to-
morrow to think it over.
"But you-you-don't know me sir !"
gasped John.
81 know you very we'll. I generally
know what l am about. Tomorrow, be
ready to give your answer. I will take
You four weolrs trial If I am salts
fed, the engagement will be renewed
for year"
All the rest of the day John felt like
one in dream. Everybody had heard
of the Bordale Nurseries, and of good
Isaac Bohnn, their owner. But what
had he done that this earthly paradise
should be opened to him?
you'll come, eh ?" said Mr.. Bohnn,
the next day. Thought you would.
When can you begin work ?''
cat once, sir."
"Good By the way, there's vacant
house on the grounds, which your moth.
er can have, rent free, if she remains
with me. A mere box, but big enough
There's my team. Suppose you come
out, M'Tavish, and look about you
You can come back at night"
John locked up the stand, sent a mes
sage to his mother, and went with Mr.
Bohnn. He had not yet told his moth
er of this change in their affairs.
He was very silent when he cam'
home that evening, but oddly tende
with his mother; and she noticed that h
remained long time on his knees a
prayer that night.
They had only little bread and mill
, for breakfast the next morning. an,
John scarcely tasted it.
"You look as if you could not bea
this much longer, mother" he said
coming up to her, and putting his hand
on her shoulder. "You need good whole
some meals, and the hills and th
, trees, instead of this Hooking OF
) at the piled sacks of chimneys belcf
| ing forth the black smoke of an iro
e foundry.
0 "Don't talk of them, John, lad !"
: "Well, | wont; and he put on b
e hat and went out.
t An hour later he came back.
n "What Is wrong? Why have you lie
the stand ?' asked his mother in alarr
e "We are going to have an outin
mother. Don't say word. l can a
d ford it,"
She had never seen the boy so full
,r excitement. He hurried her into Il
station. and soon they were gliding
le beautiful, rolling hills, and across love
meadows, that were sweet with the cd
It of new-mown hay. At noon, they car
to stretches of rising ground, cover
r. with nurseries of young trees of delica
d green, and with vineyards, and fe
N after field of roses, mignonette, and ;
as kinds of sweet smelling flowers.
d. "Why,/ John, this is fairy land WI
70 is this place ?'
er 1.-THE Bordale Nurseries. We W
get off here, mother. / want to sh