Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-30


The old gentleman took up one of the
books. John thought he was certainly GO
ing to buy one. What should the treat be?
A bit of fresh meat9 A mince pie? He
decided that steak would be the best.
"Ahl here is book which | have
wanted for long time," said the gentle
man. What is the price of this, my boy7"
Those are one dollar each, sir"
"I'll read it on the cars
He laid down bright trade dollar.
John could almost smell the delicious
steak, and he thought of his mother s thin,
starved face. They had not tasted meat
for days. But glance at the book, as the
gentleman dropped it into his satchel
caused him to say family
stop, sir! did not see which one you
had taken. That is an imperfect copy.
There are four leaves missing in the mid
die.
TOO bad Throwing it down. " The
dollar, please
"Wiil none of the others suitP" said
John.
mo. l have wanted this book for some
time"
You can have it for seventy-five
CENTS" said John, eagerly.
81 don want mutilatedcopy at all. !"
John handed him back the dollar. and
closing his satchel. the man walked on II
few steps, and sat down in an open door
way to wait for his train. lie WAS a rud-
dy, fat old gentleman, with kindly
shrewd blue eye. Having nothing TO d.
he thought the occurrence over lelsurely.
That's AN honest lad," he said to the
prop etor of the shop in which he stood.
lie might have cheated me just now, but
he did not"
WHO? John MTarvishP As honest
as steel. He's been under my eye now Tor
four years, and know him To be us truth.
full a lad as ever was born of Scotch blood
"Um, uni" said the old gentleman
But he put on his spectacles and eyed John
from head to foot.
The next day he stopped at the same
shop and walked up to the proprietor.
Elbows he for intelligence, now?" Ii,
began, AS if the conversation had stopped
IL mou ent before. - Stupid, probably?
| don't think he's very sharp IN trade,
but. he's very handy boy. lie has made
a good many convenient knick. knacks ioi
The neighbors-that bookshelf, for in
stance"
"Why, that's the very thing | want in
II boy. Well, there's my train. Good day
sir"
Hell be back again. Odd old fellow.
said the merchant laughing.
The next day he WAS back and came a
the same hour.
II like that boys looks, sir. I've beer
watching him But of course he has ;
dozen relation-drunken father-ragtag o
brothers who would follow him?'
mo. lie has only mother, and sh'
is decent God -fearing Scotch woman.
good seamstress. John tells me, but cal
yet no work. Times are dull here JUS
now. Pity that the country folks vii
pour into the cities. Mrs. M Tarvish ha
nothing but what the boy earns at hi;
stand yonder."
| The old gentleman made no reply. Blu
the next day he went mp to the boys
stand. John was looking pale and anxious
Some of his regular customers had refused
To take their magazineS--times being 81
hard. They would be dead loss on h.
hands.
Paper Magazine, sirP" he asked.
mo. A word with you, my lad. M,
name is Bohun. am the owner of til
Bordale nurseries, about thirty miles from
here. | want young man to act AS cer
and salesman on the grounds, at a SALARY
of forty dollars month, and a womal
who will be strict and orderly, to Oversee
the girls who pack flower seeds. | otfe
the position to you and your mother, AN
give you until tomorrow to think
over"
But you-you-don't know me sir!
gasped John.
II know you very well. | general
know what am about. Tomorrow, b
ready tSgive your answer. l will tax
YOU four weeks ON trial. If am satisfied
The engagement will be renewed for
year."
All the rest of the day John felt like on
in IA dream. Everybody had heard of tn
: Bordale Nurseries, and of good lsaa
Bohnn, their owner. But what had Ii
done that this earthly paradise should b
opened 10 hlmP
You'll come, eh?" said Mr.. Bohnr
the next day. Thought you would. Whe
will you commence work."
AT once, slr.'
Good! BY the way, there's II vacar
= house on the grounds, which your motho
can have, rent Tree, if she remains wit
me. A mere box, but big enough. There
my team. Suppose you come out M IarN
ISL, and look about youP You lean com
back at night"
y John locked up the stand, sent a me-
sage TO his mother, aud went with Nj
e Bohnn. He had not yet told his molht
j of the change in their affairs.
He Was very silent when he came HON
: that evening, but oddly tender with hi
mother; anu she noticed that he rename
long time ON his knees at prayer III;
night.
- They had only little bread and mil
for breakfast the next morning, and job
scarcely tasted it.
4 You look us if you could not bear til
i! much longer, mother" lie said, comm
up to her, and putting his hands on h,
e shoulder. ~ You need good wholesoul
i meals, and the hills and the trees insiel
! of this!-looking at the piled stacks
e chimneys belchlng forth the black smok
: of an iron foundry.
k Don t talk OF them, John. lad!"
i " Well, WON'T" and he put on his h;
and went out.
f An hour later he came back.
: What is wrongP Why have you lie
e the sLandP" asked his mother in alarm.
e i" We are going to have an outing
e mother. Don't say II word. | can atfor
# it,"
S She had never seen the boy SO full
o excitement. He hurried her into the sts
b lion and soon they were gliding by beaul
tul rolling hills, and across lovely mea,
e ows, that were sweet with the odor of ne
= mown hay. AT noon they came to strelcl
i es OF rising ground, covered with nurse
e les of young trees of delicate green, an
It with vineyards, and field after field {
:. roses, mignonette, and all kinds of swe,
y smelling flowers.
"Why, John, this is fairy land Wha