Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-07-13

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out Jack and Danwere startled.
'1.oo,S-a-here," said jack. "dont you
let daadiy hear any such talk as that :
he'll tiue We. ef he does, and 10 mistake.
"Whe-e-ew,' sail Jenison. Il amt u
baby; | guess III swear i'll want to. for
all him nc hain't so pious himself. bet.
] bat via c he rips out sometimes."
"lle don't! he don't never." the boys
esEc iaimed unison.
HIN. | guess you don't hear him; ;
J the old fellow keeps shady before folks,
/ bnt he used to swear like II Botany Bay
pirate. | have heard pa say so.'
The bows were shocked into mOmen-
itary silence but recovered themselves
soon. =
IL don't believe it!' said positive Dan.
"And 81 he ever did. he don't now
added reasonable Jack he's awful good;
he's professor; he prays in meetin' and
TO home. too. and h, don't never scold,
nor swear. nor nothin'. Scarce ever he
ticks a teller; he did give Dan and me
one whaln', but he'd Ouyhter hev. that's
a fact. Dan he told thunt:erin' lie and
backed him up. / tell ye, We was sore
for one spell, arter he found it OUT
We'll. | know he used to swear aboard
ship, I've heard pa tell more stories
about him. They called him Still Jase.,
TO be sure. but when he got mad the fur
/ flew! I'll bet my Jack knite can make
him swear inside of next week."
I'll bet my head you can't" retorted
Dan.
IL don't'know as want your head for
anything. but I'll bet my knife against
that cake of maple sugar you've got in
the closet, that I'll set uncle Jase a
swearin' before next weeks over"
The boys were so sure that nothing
could make d ,ddy swear, and so pleased
with their first bet of any importance.
that they accepted the terms at once.and
Jenison began TO cudgel his brains for
meals of tripping up Jason Carriers
1 tongue.
One day he slyly let down the bars in
to field of clover. getting up before
light to do it; the two cows. turned ont
of the barnyaru TO nip at the road side
until Dan or Jack could drive them to
pasture, accepted the bait. entered the
clover. aud riOted in its fragrant Grim
son spheres. half killing themselves with
greedy feeding. Jack found them half
an hour after chores were done. in the
condition that results to cows from eat
ing green clover, and Uncle Jason work
cd over the poor creature all day without
a word of impatience. though he said
more than once: IL wish knew who let
down them bars, I'd kinder like to say Il
word i'm season to him."
| The pins were taken ont of the OK
, yoke. and never found, gg-shells strewed
the NOW, while the family could never
have any eggs for their own use. the
nests being always empty; the great grey
cats tail was singed to baroness, and her
ears shipped. but Uncle Jase never swore
or lost his temper; his scythe snath dis
appeared. but he borrowed another. the
grindstone was sOaped. the hay-cutter
broken, hoes and rakes disappeared when
wanted, and re-appeai when useless;
his razor was miSlaid and hOpelpssly
dulled when he found il. and thousand
pretty annOvances heaped on him in vain;
he only said to his wife. 1T does beat ali
Phoebe, what has got inter things this
week; seems as if l never was so poster
ed. 1t amt i'm human natur for things
to happen so; somebody's doin' on't.l feel
to believe; but declare fort c;llI,t see
into it mite"
Jack and Dan began to triumph; only
one day more OF the week was available.
and JenisOn WAS put on his mettle, ant
laid his plans accordingly. They had
prayers always before breakfast. and the
weather WAS so warm auI the kitchen so
| no. that Jenison set the outer door open
wide this morning. and stepping out,
| lust us bis ulcle laid down the Bible. ur-
der preteXu OF soaring an old hen AWAY.
the boy opened little side gate into the
lot where he had previously driven the
the old ram, and laying train of salt to
Il big lump on the doorstep. retreated
speedily to the kitchen and knelt down
next Mr.. Carter. where he had left his
chair Billy had seen the tin pan III
tensions hand, and knew it meant salt;
he.tollOwed the trail surely to the door,
and having begun to nIbble the lump
heard an earnest an1 accustomed voice
near by and looked up into the kitchen
door. Jason was praying earnestly, 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 short
switch from under his chair. and held Il
threateningly over his uncle's back.
Billy gave one great leap across the floor.
charged Uncle Jase i'm the rear, and sent
him spraw'ing. 8
Damn that RAM" he roared, in a
VI voice Ol lnunuer.
Jack and Dan sprang up at once drove
Billy out and shut the door, but before
they could speak their father was on his
knees again. pouring out such earnest
humble confession ofthe sin he had been
betrayed into, such fearful petition tor
pardon, such heartfelt contrition for q
lapse that seemed To him dreadful, after
long years OF prayer and struggle. that
hard and bad as Jenison Wires was. he
could not bear it; it was the turning point
of the boys life; he got up from his
knees and confessed the whole thing to
his uncle and asked his forgiveness; and
the other boys cried heartily.
Jason Carter never forgot that day; il
was remembered with humility and
thankfulness both; for years after Jeni
son told him with deep feeling. that he
had learned then and there 10 respect
religion, and that is the first step toward
desiring and obtaining it.
JenisOn never claimed his bet. but
when he went home gave Dan his knife
for remembrance; and years after Dea-
con Jason Carter was dead and gone
his step-son recalled with affection. rev.
erence and amusement mingled. the
only oath they ever heard him speak
and how it was brought about by Jeni-
sons bet,