Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-16
Little jim Blackburn
BY F. E. HAMILTON.


MT argy with me. AS fer the boy, that's
another matter I'll admit it's made
change in him beyund me 'sperience.
He's jest run over new, an all the wick
eds left OUT said old man Blackburn,
in conclusion. "l've give ye him, an
that's enough. Don't look fer too much
lest ye lose what ye have. No offense
intended, Parson. Ye know my blunt
tongue. But it's nigh onto sundown,
an must git back to the gates afore
dark. There's power O. water in the
dam. after the rains. an it's no child's
work to close the sluice sometimes. I tell
ye. Good night, Parson. bear ye no
ill.will. Good night" And the old
man hobbled away up the narrow hill
path toward the woods, beyond which
lay his little cottage, close to the gate
ways of the great Chonaguen dams.
The last long rays of the red March
sun shivered among the bare branches
of the beech and maple trees, or hid
themselves in the dark thickets of hem
lock and pine which covered the hilltop.
The snow lay in soggy ridges here and
there or gathered in treacherous banks
among the hollows of the wood. The
ground was wet and muddy and the
pathway steep and stony, SO that when
Jim Blackburn stood at last upon the
mighty upper dam, the larger of the
two, the water was black with the shad-
ows of the coming night.
But only few rods beyond the gate
way, upon little knoll, was the old
mans home, and the CHEEKY light that
shone from its narrow window drove the
weary look from his face, as with strong
hands he turned the great levers and
shut the supply gates for the night.
"How she roars !' he said to himself,
standing. hat in hand, after his duty
was done. "There is power O water
in the upper tonight, after the thaw;
an I've half mind to let it run into
Number Two until morning. l kin shut
the lower gates, and that would ease the
strain on both walls. Still there kin be
no need O. it. Surely, the water can't
bulge this" And he struck the thick
masonry confidently. "Cricky | could
mt do that tho +; could L? Fer Overseer
Ames told me the lower gate was to be
took out an fixed in the mornin', and
he wanted the water down. No, | can't
do that. Wall, she'll hold, l guess. ;"
And, with last approving stamp of his
foot, the old watchman left the wall,
climbed the little hill, and entered his
cottage.
"Hi Jim. my boyl'' he cried, in
happy tones, as he closed the door be-
hind him. at smells good. That's
prime tea We got down to Ebenezer s,
an yer the best son | ever had to draw
It'll"
That's so, Father p replied child s
voice. "An' the only one you ever had
too, amt L? I'm mighty glad you've
come, fer the tea is jest stepped enough,
the toast is done to a brown, an I'm
hungrier n black bear. Let's sit right
down. Here's your chair" And the
child drew the great rocker to the table.
"Did ye see Mr.. Stone, Father. an Miss
Burt; an did ye tell 'em what I told
yep
"Yes, Jim; saw 'em BOTH" replied
the father, as he poured the fragrant tea
into his little cracked cup. 1.-The min
ister's been talkin' to me good deal
about you, Jim; an he lowed he'd git
you a place in the mills in the spring.
An what do you think he axed me ?
Me, old Jim Blackburn. Why, child,
he rally axed me to come to meetin'
Ne! as hain't been inside meetin'.
house door since yer mother died He
axed me 'Twar reg'lar joke, Jim; a
} reg'lar joke p And the old man laughed
grimly as he munched his toast.
"Oh Father, did he? An will ye
go 2" And the boys face lit up with q
great joy. "Will ye go with me-? Oh
Father | never knew how splendid
twas in there afore went. Why, sir
, you railly'd think yer in Heavenl Ger
.. tain when Miss Burt's a. -talkin' to ye
Ye will 60, Father, long with me 2
E And the child's eyes were full of plead
s ing. ''Long with me, ye know
Please 2"
The old man ate for some moments il
r silence, his brow slowly drawing into
> frown. At last he spoke. "Jim. d
d you mind what told ye in the fall
e when Miss Burt found ye steelin' th
Jedge's apples, and saved ye from tn
lickin' ye deserved, that his hired ma
q war a-goin' to give ye, an axed yer t
!: 60 to her Sabbath-school? Do ye re
member ?" And he glowered at the bo
G across the little table with level eyes.
? "Yes, Father, | do remember. Y
told me might 60 to meetin' with Mis-
e Burt jest so long as | minded what J
:. told me all the week, an ye didn't cate
st me in lie, or running away, or steal
u in. Wasn't that it 2"