Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-28
(Cortinued from First Page


mother meek cypher; he himself, a
the age of fourteen. could smoke an
swear and talk sailor slang glibly, for h
had run anywhere.
Mrs. Carter was troubled and disguise,
to find such a boy ON her hands. Jaso
considered that Providence in His Wisdom
has sent the boy there for his good. an
resolved to pra, for him as for his ow
boys. and set him as good an example a
he tried to set Jack and Dan. and to idea
with him. as he expressed it. with
view to his eternal salvation"
The boys thought Jenison was wonder
ful. He knew so much. he had seen Sc
much, he had so many things he had suci
pocket-knife and such swagger' Blu
when his first oath came out Jack anC
Dan were startled.
.'Look-a-here. said Jack, "don't YOU
let daddy hear no such talk as that he'll
tune you if he does, and no mistake -
"Whe-e-ew responded .Ienison; 81
amt boy; guess I'll swear if want
to. for all of him; he amt SO pious him
self. bet, but what he rip out some
times"
ale don't! he don't never the boy,
exclaimed in unison.
"H'm guess YOU don't hear him the
old fellow keeps shady before folks. but
he used to swear like a Botany bay pirate
I've heard pa say SOL
The bows were shocked into momentary
silence; but recovered themselves soon.
.'And if ever he did he don't now add
ed reasonable Jack. lies awful good
he's professor; he pravs in mectn' and
he don't never scold. nor swear, nor moth
in. Scarce ever he licks a feller; he did
give Dan and me one whalin'. but he
oughter have. that's fact Dan he told
a thunderin' lie and | backed him up. |
tell We! we was sore for one spell, after
he found it OUT
"Well. | know he used to swear on
board ship. I've heard pa tell stories
about him. They called him "Still Jase. y
to he sure. but when he get riled the fur
flew. I'll bet my iack-knife can make
him swear inside of next week
'I'll bet my head You can't" rctorted
Dan.
81 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'
bafore next weeks over"
The boys were so sure that nothing
could make daddy swear, and 50 pleased
with their first bet of any Importance that
they accepted the terms at once. and Jen-
nison began to cudgel his brains for means
of tripping up Jason Carriers tongue.
One day he slyly let down the bars into
field of clover. getting up before light to
do it; the two cows, turned out of the barn
yard to nip at the roadside until Dan or
Jack could drive them to pasture, accept
ed the bait. entered the clover and rioted
in its fragrant spheres, half killing them
selves with greedy feeding. Jack found
them half an hour after his chores were
done, in the condition that results to COWS
from eating green clover. and 'ncle Jason
worked over the poor creatures all day.
without word of impotence. though he
said more than once:
81 wish knew who let them bars down.
I'd kinder like to say word in season to
him."
The pins were taken out of the ox-voke
and never found, egg shells strewed the
NOW, while the family never could have
any eggs for their own use. the nests be-
ing always empty; the great gray cats
tail was singed to baroness and her ears
shipped, but Uncle Jason never swore or
lost his temper; his scythe-snath diSap-
peared, but he borrowed another: the
grind stone was soaped. the hay-cutter
broken, hoes and rakes disappeared when
and reappeared when useless
his razor was lost and hopelesslv dulled
when he found it, and thousand petty
heaped on him in vain: he
only said to his wife:
ut does beat all Phebe, what's got in
ter things this week seems as if never
was so pestered. 1t amt human for
things to happen so, somebody's dom
ont, l sartinly feel to believe but de
clare for it, | can't see into il a mite
Jack and Dan began to triumph; only
one day more of the week was available.
and Jenison was put on his metal, and
plans laid accordingly
They had prayers always before break
fast, and the weather was warm and the
outer door open wide this morning, and
setting out just as his Uncle laid down the
Bible, under pretext of soaring an old hen
away, the boy opened a little side gate in
to the lot where he had previously driven
the old RAM and laying a train Of salt to Il
big lump on the doorstep, retreated speed
lily to the kitchen and knelt down next to
Mr.. Carter where he had left his chair.
Billy had seen the tin pail in tensions
hand, and knew ii meant salt; he followed
the train surely to the door. and having
begun to nibble the lump. heard an ear
nest and 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 Mp a short switch
from under his chair. and held il threaten
ingly over his uncle's back. Billy gave
one great leap across the door. charged
Uncle Jason in the rear and sent him
sprawling.
oh that RAM he roared in a
voice of thunder.
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 OF the sin he had been
betrayed into, such fearful petition for
pardon. such heartfelt contriton for a
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