Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04

| Oi"PS vi lnlorlhttlon, IN word, whlcl
'"uld he carried in his head or his box.
Stood there listening tn him. and. bo,
IS was. noticed the remarkable tact ant
homely kin iness which he showed unde
all his fun. He turned his bright, shrey,
eyes on me presently.
You see, young gentleman, | ctn't fol
low profession or trade, so have to take
up the odds and ends which nobody elst
attends to. to make myself useful.
My uncle told me that Kit bud acquired
| much skill in the cure of simple ailments
anu that with his odds and ends he WA.
In TACT one OF the most useful men in tn,
country.
The storm increased, and Kit remained
all night. He was carried in front of III,
Kitchen ire, the straw Of his bed renewed
anu warm coverlets spread over the coffin
My own chamber was over the kitchen
There were cracks in the log flooring
through which | could look down, ant
through which. too, ruddy flashes of fire
light came up cheerfully.
After the house was all quiet, Patsy, tn,
innocent, came into the kitchen, anC
throwing down blanket on the warn
hearth near to Kit, curled upon it like ;
dog.
The neighborhood of the queer pail
made me restless. Isuppo e, for l coulr
not sleep, | heard the clock in the hal
strike midnight, and then o'clock. Their
mutf1rd sound struck nv ear, very diff
ferent from the noises of the storm. Il
was the drawing back of IL heavy bal
from the outer door.
Probably Dennis, the shepherd, is going
out to look after the lambs, | thought, and
turned over to sleep. But the next mo-
ment l lose uneasily, aud crept to the win
dow, Through the gray storm without
could see that the road and yard were fill
ed with dark figures. stealthily surround
ing the house. | understood all at il glance
The year had been one of great suffer.
lng-aImost of famine-the bands of dos.
perate men had attacked several of the
ftrmhouses in that part of the country
which they had plundered, and then set on
hre. These des sperate men were still a,
large. 1t was asserted that they were
peasants, heretofore decent and honest
men. Whoever they might he, it wa,
certain that, us soon AS caught, they woud
swing for it.
| shook with terror. | knew that nv
uncle had large sum of money in his
chamber Just received for cattle, ano
doubtless these men knew it, too. | saw
that there were enough of them to over
power the men in the house, even if they
were awake and armed.
My room Wits separated by long cor
ridor from my uncle's groped for the
door nv teeth chattering with cold, when
he freight flushing up below showed me-
IL sight that held me motionless.
They were already in the house. The
kitchen was full Of sturdy fellows. al
armed, their frieze coats covered witt
snow and their faces swathed with black
9TH
The kitchen was separated from the
house by long p Usage. They made nc
effort to keep quiet, therefore. but begar
to drag out the provisions, talking loudly
and in their natural vo ces. AS vet they
mad not seen Kit or Patsy. The idiot lay
had raised his head, and his keen, pal,
face turned quickly from one to another N
they spoke.
They murder him! thought. but nv
| lips were glued together with terror. Kit
uflplcs> d> ii detu uItil, WIS COOl an
calm.
Be iabers, said one, we II hev somethin
to ale, before we go fur the ould mans
money didn't know how near starvr,
was afore, but the sight of this mat,
makes me sick
Ye re IA fool, Pat Grady. There's enough
silver in his chest to kape us for year
Huwly Mother, what's this? AS another
flash of freight showed the coffin.
IN here, Michael Crawford, said Kit
quietly. Its you is it that carries on thi
vo"k?
How dare We call me name? blusteret
the ruffian, changing his voice. I'm NJ
| Crawford, he added with Il terrible oath.
know you. And you Pat Grady. An,
you Robert Flynn. There's not one o
You couldn't name, and bring to the gal
| lows 10 morrow.
O'Grady sprang at him with n smother
ed yell, brandishing knife,
Kits face turned IA ghaslly pale. Life,
suppose, was us dear to this poor fragmen
of man as it is to you or me. But hi
eyes never blenched.
Ye'd murdher me, Patrick Grady? M"
The knife shook in the murderer's hand
I'd murdher any informer, said the man
sullenly.
I'm no informer. I'll never open m,
lips, boys. on this nights work if it is tn
last But if you touch a hair of th
squire's head, or go into this house an inch
II hang every man of yees!
He raised his cOrpSe-llke head, in,
shook his skinny hand at them. I've beei
in many u battle, but | never SAW suci
desperate courage rs was shown by thi
cripple in his coffin. The idiot, Patsy
reused by the noise, scrambled to his knees
and stared terrified about him.
The men stood paralyzed. The super
stition which taught them to protec
these two helpless creatul cs was strons
enough to hold them motionless, even il
the face of Kits threats.
Make an end of it! growled Crawford
Puu bullet in his skull.
Not Il man moved Kit, with a terrible
effort, raised himself up in his coffin.
Come and do it yersrlf, Michael Craw
ford! Kill the cripple and the innocent,
We dare There's mightier One watching
We! pointing suddenly to the stormy sky
seen through the open door
The men stared at him and at the driv
ing storm, with visible terror. Michae
began to whine after the fashion of hi
class.
Ye know ye're safe, Kit; an it's not a
informer ye'd be that shep under our roo
an drunk wild uso
III never mention yer names, If yees le
this be the last Nv it. Take that mate Wi
yees, an two of the fitches; I'll make
right wid the squire. He never let hun
gry man 90 from his dure.
Thrue for you. No more he did! For
the Howly Mother, Wen 60 straigh
home.
They left the house and took the gam
with them.
They II rob the next house, said Kit
dropping back exhausted But / did th
best could.
He was right. BY daylight came th'
news that they had attacked the house
IL weilthy gentleman near town. who VIA
prepared for them There was desper
ale tight; the ringlea lers were arrested
tried and hanged. and the band broken up
Then told my uncle how the poor Grip
pie and innocent. whom he had taken il
from charity. had projected him. as n
arms could have done.
The majors story brought forth man
criticisms from the children. But Ton