Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-03-14

"I advise you to put a good piece o
road between you and Tige !" closed
the door, softly sliding the bolt.
Then going to the room where grand
ma lay crouched upon the bed, scarcely
daring to stir, he called through the
key-hole:
"They're gone. You can come out
now."
"The dogs I" gasped faint voice.
"There amt any u he answered,
softly. "Open the door, and I'll tell
you"
The bolt was cautiously withdrawn,
and the old lady's face appeared, white
and terrified.
"Come and sit down." said the boy,
tenderly. 81 am sorry 1 frightened
You 80. I was afraid it would, but I
could not help it."
81 won't stir step," said grandma,
stoutly. "What do you mean by all
this? You can't fool me l heard the
dogs, and the men, too.
Allow, pleasant laugh sounded through
the room.
"Twas only me, grandmal 1 saw
those men meant mischief, and knew
something must be done pretty quick;
30 made believe there was somebody
up there"
"But the dogsl' cried the old lady,
bewildered. "Where are the dogs ?"
made 'em bark-listen!'
And then came from tn g throat of the
little ventriloquist such a torrent of
growls, whines and yelps, interspersed
with " Down, Tigel" and "Be still,
Fritzl" that the door was swung open,
and grandma leaned against the wall,
exclaiming:
"Well, never in all my lifel If you
don't beat all the boys ever did see!
and there 'sposed you was connivin'
with them critters, and I was 80 scarf 1
was just as weak as a rag"
Awhile after this fright at the farm
house, old Billy, with his load of three,
was plodding peacefully over the brow
of the little hill a quarter cf mile from
home, when sudS~nIy Mrs. Changers
voice ~ffd with terror, rang out sharply
on SEAt The still air;
"The house is afirel" she screamed.
"And grandma!-ohI Solomon, if grand
mas killed, I'll never forgive myself,
neverl Why did we leave that boy3 Oh,
run the horse, Solomon; run the horsel"
Nonsense" said the easy-going
farmer. Nevertheless, he whipped up
old Billy, and anxiously scanned the
corner Of the roof visible behind the
trees where the smoke was curling up,
gray and thick.
A dozen or more well-directed pals
of water had done their work, however;
and only wet, smoked timbers and q
blackened pile Of rubbish met the farm
er's eye when he sprang from his
wagon and alighted at the side of the
breathless little worker.
The sight Of the house end barn un-
harmed and grandma standing in the
doorway alive and well, put all fears to
fight in an instant. But there was a
story to relate, and the boy stood modest
ly by while grandma dwelt upon the ex-
citing events of the past hour. The
tramps, it was supposed, were the incen-
diaries; but happily the fire had been
discovered in time to prevent any dam
age.
The returning loads Of church goers,
eager to know the cause OF the unusual
stir, stopped at the farmgate; and the
lad suddenly found himself the hero of
the hour.
81 told 'em all the bad qualities of
Tige and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogsl"
exclaimed the boy, unmindful until the
words were spoken that his hearers had
never heard Of "Uncle George" before.
Then, with bright blush, he dropped
behind one of the men, and for a time
let the talk go on unheeded.
81 do believe that boys saved my life,
Lowly. Depend ont the Lord sent him p
and grandma concluding her story with
long-drawn breath, sat down on the
doorstep, and was Immediately engaged
in an eager talk with old Mrs. Atkins.
1t was many hours before quiet settled
down upon,the inmates of the little farm
house: but before they settled for the
night Farmer Granger and his wife
learned ell that was needful to know OF
Jasper Goodrich's former life.
"The only reason haven't told you,' y
said the boy, in reply to the farmers
question, sis because was afraid you'd
send mo back. It might as well come
out thought haze run away, but !
neverll go back to Uncle George's-In
die first p
1t was a short story. Until he was
seven years old he knew only happy
life. Then his fathers health failing
and O sea voyage being decided upon,
his father and mother sailed for France,
leaving him in the care of the village
minister and his wife. In six months
came the news of his fathers death, and
some weeks later his mother, too, died,
and was buried in foreign land. The
boy remained with his friends few
months only, for on the minister's re-
moval to another town he was taken
possession of by half-brother of his
fathers, a rascally, unprincipled man,
who had no love or kind feeling for his
young nephew. Here he was shame
fully treated till he could endure it nc
longer, and at last, after six years o.
abuse and torment, he determined to
seek home among strangers.
"I wanted to stay" the boy con
cluded, "but didn't dare to tell you
for fear you would send me back
"Never, my boyl" interrupted the
farmer, earnestly. "You can stay with
us till you find better home, and vel
do all we can for you"
"Well," said Mrs. Granger, as she
lay down that night. "the idea of my
distrusting that boyl declare, i
, makes me feel mean to think of it,.
Early the next morning the iarme,
J harnessed old Billy, and, dressed in hi
Sunday best, took the east road owe
the mountain" He returned late il
the afternoon.
The announcement made at the tea
table was startling to at least ont
} hearer.
UI have seen vour uncle, Jasper "