Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-10
VOL. XXXV.

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after he found it OUT
"Well, know he used to swear aboard
ship, We heard pa tell more stories about
him! They called him Still Jase, to BE-
sure, but when he got riled, the fur flew
III bet my jack-knlfe l Can make him
swear inside of next week."
Ill bet my head you can't" retorted
Dan.
II don't know as want your head for
anything, but I'll bet my knife against
that cake O. maple sugar you've got in the
closet, that I'll set Uncle Jase swearin
before next weeks over"
The boys were sure that nothing could
make Daddy swear, and so pleased with
their first bet of any Importance that they
accepted the terms at once and Jenison
began to cudgel his brain for means of
tripping up Jason Carter's tongue.
One day he slyly let down the bars into
a field of clover, getting up before light 10
10 it; the two COWS, turned out of the
barnyard to nip at the roadside until Dan
ur Jack could drive them TO pasture, ac-
crpted the bait, entered the clover, and
ruted in its fragrant crimson spheres, half
killing themselves with greedy feeding.
Jack found them half an hour af er chores
were done, in the condition that results to
COWS from eating green clover, and Uncle
Jason worked over the poor creatures
without word Of impatience, though he
said more than once: II wish | knew
" no let down them bars; I'd kinder like
o Say word in season TO him."
The pins were taken out of the oX-yoke,
md new + found; egg shell strewed the
N hill. thu fan pilv n,.ulh ha
my for their own use, the nests being
tlways emf tied; the great gray cats tail
was singed to baroness, and her ears nip
ped, but Uncle Jase never swoie or lost
mis- temper; his scylhe snath disar peared,
nut he borrowed auother; the grindstone
MAS 50 ped. the hay cutter broken. hoes
ind rakes disappeared when wanted, and
re-appeared when useless; his razor wills
nisluld and hopelessly dulled when he
found it, and II Thousand petty annoyances
neaped ON him in vain; he only said TO his
wife: " 1t does beat all, Phoebe, what's
got inter things this week; seems us il |
never was so peslerrd. 1t amt in hnman
nalur for things to happen 50; somel ody's
, doin' on t, feel to believe; but declare
10 ;, can't see into't mite"
jack and Dan began to triumph; only
one day more of the week WAS available.
and Jerison was put on his meitle, and
laid plans accordingly. They had prayers
always before breakfast, and the weather
was 80 warm and the kitchen SO hot that
Jenison seL the outer door open wide this
uorning, and stepping out, just as his
uncle lald down the Bible, under pretext
of soaring I'm old hen away, the boy open
ed IL little side gate into the lot where he
had previously driven the old ram, and
| laying IL train of salt to big lump on the
doorstep, rell ealed speedily 10 the kitchen
and knelt down next Mr.. Carter, where
lie had left his chair. Billy had seen the
lin pan in Jenison's hand, and knew ii
meant salt; he followed ,he trail surely u
the door, and having begun to nbble the
lump heal d an earnest and accustomed
voice near by and looked up into the
kitchen door. jason was praying ear
neslly, and the rest had their eyes closed
and heads bent; all but Jenison, who was
watching Billy from under his arm. As
he SAW The ram look in, he picked up a
short switch from under his chair, and
held it lhreateningIy over his uncles back.
Billy gave one great leap across the floor,
| charged Uncle Jase in the rear. and sent
him sprawling.
damn that ramm he roared, in Il
voice of thunder.
/ Jack and Dan sprung up at once, drove
Billy out, and Shut the door, but before
they could speak their father was on hi
knees, at prayer again, pouring out sucl
earnest humble confession of the sin ht
had been betrayed into, such fearful peti
tion Tor pardon, such he;u t-felt contriLlor
for lapse that seemed TO him dreadful
after long years of prayer and struggle
that haru and bad as Jenison Wires vas
he could not bear it, it WAS the turning
point Of The boy 5 life; he got up from hi
knees and confessed the whole thing to hi
uncle, and asked his forgiveness; and tl,'
other boys cried heartily.
Jason Carter never forgot that day;
was remembered with humility ant
thankfulness both; for years after Jenisol
told him, with deep feeling, that he Learned
then and there to respect religion, and tha
is the first step toward desiring and OBJ
tanning it.
Jenlsun never claimed his bet, but whe
he went home gave Dan his knife for
remembrance; and years after Deaco
Jason Carter was dead and gone, his steE
sons recalled with affection, reverence an
amusement mingled, the only oath the
ever heard him speak, and how it wa
brought about by Jenison bet.-Sahd1
AJteThOON.