Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-22

| A'A'' "hi luO dlCb, tEC-
CRIME junior. and Miss Grace Paret sat at
breakfast in their pleasant dining room
overlooking the garden, tine avenue, the
base ball ground, and straight across the
river to the steeples and high chmneys that
loomed through the mist hanging over the
great busy metropolis. 1t had been Mrs.
Paret's boast that she had the finest view
from her front window of any house in
Riverview, and that not one unseemly blot
rested upou the landscape. SO that it be-
came sore thing to her when her husband
leased big lot in the direction of the wa.
ter 10 man by the name of Perkins, who
got lot of old boards together and reared
Il kind of workshop there. from which he
emerged at various times in his shirt
sleeves, and again in leather apron and
queer cap; if the weather was inclement,
perhaps he wore II woolen jacket, and ut
this season of the year his pantaloons
were generally thrust into his boots. The
man, as Mrs. Paret justly observed evi-
IDENTITY belonged to the working class, and
she had no objection to Mr. Plret's hiring
him TO superintend the various repairs
necessary that spring in their household,
but she did strongly object to the peculiar
manner of the man; it was not SO much
that he had dared to use his own iudg-
ment about the wall paper. but he had
actually appealed to Grace to her daugh-
ter, to support him in his choice, and
Grace, in her thoughtess way, had stood
there in the hall talking with this man
Perkins-talking, smiling, blushing. Why,
Grace, could not have shown more atten-
ton to the grand duke himself than she
had to this paper-hanger.
The impudence. the unparalleled i'm
pertiuence, said Mrs Paret, of Il paper.
hanger, an ordinary paper hanger, daring
To intrude his choice of material and act
ualiy us ng pale gray ground instead of
the shade | ordered!
But, mamma, said Grace, you said YOUR
self that it was the prettiest, after it was
on the wall.
That has nothing to do with it, said Mrs
Paret, waving her hand, majestically dis
posing of her daughters plea-nothing
whatever to do with it. 1t is tie principle
of the thing, Grace; the idea of an ordi-
nary paper hanger
mamma, said Grace. You must allow
yourself that he's II little extraordinary
he's kind of Admirable Crichton. am
sure | never saw such skill in my lie in
hanging The curtains, and hung they would
never have been if our people had been
left to manage them. He just climbed the
lad, er, Peregrine, added Grace, turning
to her brother, and look the great clumsy
things in his arms, gave a twist or two
here, tack or two there, push up and
push down, and the whole thing was
lovely!
Hum, said Peregrine junior, tugging at
the few wisps of hair he called mus
tache --hum--a--yeS--no doubt; but
there such IL thing as fellows being too
confoundedly brisk, you know. Fellows
good enough, no dub, in his way-capi-
tai mechanic, all that sort of thing; but
hang it, you know, fellow must keep in
his own groove. Watkins says to me yes
lerday, "See fellow over there saving
board?' v And says, yes" And says
Watkins, Fellow wants to joiu our boat
club" mop" says |. Fact" says
Watkins. Cease of bIackball," says /.
And it was; club couldn't stand that sort
of thing, you know-kiIl it quicker'n
lightning.
That's the reason you lose every race,
said Grace. Mr.. Perkins is u better oars
man than any one in the club.
Possible. drawled Peregrne. Plenty
clubs glad to get him, no donbt, but we
decline the honor. If precedent is stab
lished that sort, no knowing whatl be the
Consequence.
Peregrine is right, said Mrs. Paret.
A place for everybody, and everybody |
in his place, is the motto; and one thing is |
verv certain, that ramshackle old barn |
over there is running our property. l told
you, Mr.. Paret, what would be the result
when you leased him the land.
Mr.. Paret said nothing; his half shut !
but keen eyes had ut first rested upon the
face of his daughter, and an expression of
eager anxiety, which was very rare with
him, had now given way to the usual grim
composure of his features. He was very
quiet man, and would sit for whole even
ing with his head up against the wall,
never once hazarding Il remark of his own.
but contentng himself apparently with
the conversation that went on about him.
His extreme reticence had gained for him
a certain reverence when lie did happen
to speak. A more vOluble man might be
allowed to run on unnoticed or might be
contradicted or differed WITH but Mr..
Paret's words, like everything rare. were
held in consideration.
On this pleasant morning on which /
speak he said nothing. For brief mo-
ment keen glance, almost haggard in
anxiety had rested on the sweet face OF
his daughter; but he did not reply 10 his
wife. Two or three days later on, he how
ever, made remark which caused consid-
cradle confusion in the little circle about
him.
This time it was the evening meal, and
the subject was again Mr.. Perkins. Spring
had come, the bitterness of the frost had
melted in the ardor of the sun, and the
consequence was-mud The peculiar
yellow clay that formed the upper strata
in the geological classification of River
view became very noticeable that night in
the Paret household. The heavy boots of
Mr.. Paret were clogged with II, the gait
ers of Peregrins junior were fecked here
.Lo.a ood the pattv hiOh hpale1 '