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

But for some reason. Stephen words
hai irri;Aied him that morning. and As be
law there in The cnol shade, they came 10
him again: Nick. you are making a
great mistake, With al your boosted lib
erty. YOU don't get rs much happiness out
of life as / do" Humph. Il remained TO
be seen VITO WAS making the mistake.
Perhaps. some day. Steve Caldwell would
wish be had enjoyed life more when be
was Young! YET. after all, Steve WAS
good fellow. He liked bis company besi
Of any boz in the neighbEhOod But the
ides Of fellow seventeen years old not
going anywhere because his parents
wouldn't let him, Bot then, Of course. thAt
WASH his real reason. 1t was his curious
notions Of right and wrong. Still, be ap-
peared to have god time.
Nick. YOU are making 4 great mis-
take Queer. how those words kept CON-
ing into his mind, Was il possible they
might be true:
Nick Law there and unused. looking of
iowsrd The distant hills. As he looked, be
thought be saw Stephen Caldwell. and
several other ehurch-going boys, walking
along = road ihA; be had never noticed be-
fore. Ii seemed 10 lead up = bill, and As
The boys walked along. they talked merri-
", and appeared TO Be having a very
pleasant time, although there were places
IN the road thSt were pretty hard 10 climb.
Then Nick found himself walking in the
same direction; but fortunately for him.
it se-med. his rustd was down an easy
4 l. l., Il nil A.
flowers: the sun shone brightly; and Nick
walked esarelessly and happily along: H.
looked up TO the other road, where Steph-
en- and his companions were walking.
You're a set of fools be shouted.
eoniemmuously. " The idea Of climbing
that hill, when you can so easily walk
down this road"
Others that have travelled this roSd, ="
they shouted back. say that By and ny
We get Oh top of the hill, aud then it is all
easy travelling
60 on" muuered Nick to himself,
" / shall never GO up hill when | can go
down just IS we'll. " and be walked rapid
ly on.
He was soon out Of hearing of his
friends on the other road, bat they were
in sight for a long time; and the last
glimpse he caught of them, they were
sIerks far. far above him.
But meantime his own road was chang
ing fast. He had noticed it for some di>-
tAnce ptst but hal Supposed lie would
>oon get By it. To his dismay lie found
the descent grew sleeper and sleeper; The
flowers had All disappeared; only stray
shrub now stood hy The wayside; and be
began 10 find patches OF lie in the road.
Spn be slipped and fell. He picked him.
self up. and turred lejectedly 10 retr.re
/ bis steps, nut = z anee Al the steep piacrs
I he had desc, nde,i 50 easily, discouraged
him. and after lamenting his i'll fortune,
( be went on. But the air grew colder, and
( the ice patches grew larger ami more fire.
quent He fell at every one he came TO
Often be turned and es>syed 10 90 hack.
( but found il impossible 10 ascend the slip
perry sleeps, and was compelled to proceed
At length lung. s.eep hill, covered
with ice, lay before him. Desp,iringly
he sank down upon il, and was hurried At
fearful rate TO the bottom.
As he lay there gasping with exhaustion
AMI terror, y fearful being appeared before
him.
Who are you:" asked Nick shudder-
ing.
Il am the end of this road" was the
reply. in hollow tones. They call ME
Misery"
Misery" exclaimed the unfortunate
Nick. supposed this road led TO Hap
pinrSs,
Us. 4 great many have supposed 50:
but they, like you. have male 3 great
mistake. But am wasting tim-' Come, ."
Snd the awful being stretched out is long,
hony arms to embrace the trembling vic
Tim Of his own fonlishne>s.
Nick shrirked in terror. and made
desperate effyrI TO escape; but il WAS OF no
use. He felt lis hot breath on his cheek,
and its long arms cla>ped him tighter
and tighter until bis pain anil terror
were 50 great that he awoke, and
found the sun shining strongly on his face.
He drew long hres,th OF relief TO find
it WIS nothing but dream. He had never
had such one before; he certainly did
no, desire her such, He rolled over
into the shade again. and thought it all
over. He SAW MS past life AS be hsd never
seen it before. Every action psraded be-
fore him in all its significance, ami be saw
plainly the influence it h1i ia dragging
him along he downward rod.
His feelings for the next half hour. only
those can understand who have at some
period OF their lives hsd The unwelcome
truth forced upon them that their previous
lives hive ben conducted on an entrly
wrong prinriple, Shame and remorse
ios,k possession of his mind.
The church bell rang on; for the after
Noon service. Ubayin- >lllen impulse.
he FASTENED home across the fields riie
minister was just reading his text, when
Nlck quietly entered the church. and to K
sell near the doUr. Every word WAS
signjfc,n, TO him: "R,-Dice. o young
man. 10 Thy YOU h, and let Thy heart cheer
thre in the dav> of thy youth; and walk in
the WAYS OF thine heart And in the sight
OF thine eyes; bit know thon. thai for all
these things God will bring thee. into
Judgment"
The s-rmnn that followed was as spp7o-
PIRATE 10 Nick's Case, as WIS the text.
Nick listened ait-niively. and when b.
b-nedic.iun was pronounced, he found his
way to Ste phen CsliSel's side unmindful
of the wondering looks of those WIN hal
seldom. if ever. seen him in sach place /;
and grasping his md. said esrn+>lly.-
Steve. hiuc made grrAi mistake. |
sm going to lry and rec,ify it. Help me "
-Z.oas Herald.