Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-25
aMisfellanu.
The NeWS-ROOm at NOrthfOrd.
EY Mrs. ANNIE A. PRESTON.

W llstl llstNO YOU NhNlNf w
4 book Jack Amidon lent me, papa"
and the lad, with his brown, curly head
resting in his hands, and his elbows with
4 book between them, on the centre-tablc,
went on with his reading.
You seem very much interested. |
should like to look at that book moment,
my son." said Mr.. Bennett, presently,
looking up again from his newspaper.
The youth, with just a shade OF impa-
tiencc gathering on his fair, wide brow,
rather reluctantly passed the highly illu-
minated covered pamphlet over to his
father.
81 can take it only for one hour this
evening, papa he said anxiously after Il
few minutes, in which Mr.. Bennett had
slowly turned over the rough and badly
printed leaves of the letter press, and
looked critically ut the execrabe wood
cuts. Jack wants me to read the begin
ming of the continued story" went on
Walter, after another moments silence :;
he said after | once began it should lay
awake nights wondering how it was COM
ing out. It's awfully exciting, know.
Mr.. Hyde, the news agent, lent the book
to Jack, and he says if he can get dozen
SuDSclIDClS ut Will oCuu lOl lLtlll CNCil
month; and Jack says that every body
that has read the story has put his name
down. We take the books at ten cents
apiece each month. you know"
Walter was getting quite impatient by
this time, and kept tapping his feet on the
carpet and drumming on the table with
his fingers until his pleasant, sweet-faced
little mother begged him to be quiet.
" Hal there is Jack now," cried Walter,
pcevishly, us the bell tinklcd ut the side
door entrance, land l have only read one
Of the two chapters"
Come in, Jack, come right in" said
Mr.. Bennett pleasantly, going to the door
and ushering in II bright faced well-drcsscd
boy. Z" am glad to sec you, Jack. We
are going TO have some pop corn by and
by. You must help Walter about it; boys
always have II lively time popping corn,
because the corn has such n lively time,
suppose. | have just been looking over
this book" the gentleman said, resuming
his seat ut the table, land | must admit
that am myself good deal excited over
the adventures of I" The Haunted lIunts-
man of the Mighty Missouri; or, The
Bold Boy Avenger OF the Southwest.
The next time | go west, | think should
like to follow the Missouri river up into
Washington Terrtoryn it must have Il
nice time of it getting across the Rocky
mountains"
Walter looked in u puzzled way at his
father, but said quickly, g never knew
before that the Missouri went away up
through there 50 far" Jack laughed, and
observed, Il noticed that blunder, sir,
and thought it might misead some boy.
OF course the story is all made up, but
IFS very exciting. and the last part Of the
last chapter in this first book fairly makes
your hair stand on end"
There is some exciting grammar,
too" said Mr.. Bennett :" was getting
very much wrought up as you rang, trying
to hunt up the anteccdents of several pro-
nouns. Have you been long in the habit
of induleing in this kind of literature,
Jack?'
:" No, sir" said Jack, honestly, with an
abashed air that made Mr.. Bennett quite
sorry that he had asked the question.
" We have always had II nice magazine OF
two and my mother used to have n rolig-
iuus paper with some very nice stories for
boys and girls, SO that we became very
fond of reading But this year my father
said the times were so hard we must econ
onizc in some things, so he didn't renew
any of our subscriptions. Sometimes he
buys an evening daily for himself, and
mother says we read it all to rags. My
sister and have II weekly allowance for
paper, ink and pencils, and such things.
and we save all we can of it and put it
together TO buy reading matter. But there
is never enough for the magazine we used
To take, and we never see it ut the news
office, and mother says she never can lind
at the news stands in the city any weekly
boys and girls paper that she likes. But
Mr. Hyde told us about these cheap books
and the boys papers he keeps on hand
where you get more reading for youl
money-long continued Indian stories,
and stories about life in London and New
York. My sisters believe them every
word, but | don't, though like to read
them and we boys lend our books and pa
prs to each other, 50 | have read II good
many, sir
" How do you find SO much time for
reading when you are in school?'
"Well, sir, II number Of us have left of
our grammar and United States History
this term. Mr.. Hyde says thoy are
branches that one acquires by genera
reading better than by study. lie reads a
good deal, and is always pleasant and
willing to tell us what are the most eXcil
ing and amusing stories.
MIR. Bennet rolled up the thin book he
still held in his hand, and putting it in his
pocket, said, with II comical air that made
all his listeners laugh heartily, " shoult
like to borrow this book for an hour, Jack
| don't think it will make the least differ
cncc with you, Walter, for the space of III
hour, ut least, whether or not that hi hlN
imaginative Haunted lluntsman, astrdt
that high-headed horse, overtakes tha
bewllderingly beautiful Indian maldcl
who is 50 marvelously overcoming time
and space through the enchanted valley
ON the back of her milk-white reindeer
in Missouri. Now, my boys" he contin
ued seriously, there is no reading 81
rood as history for youthful mind crav
inr deeds of heroism and self-sacrllce
NV library is at your service. After yol
have finished the lives Of Washington AM
his generals the history of our revolution
ary war and the war of the rebellon-i
you want something to make your 'hai
Stanu on emu uHIil 9ou aiC Iultc odtc
with horrible scenes, you can take up m
Medieval history yonder. After you ar
through with that, come to me and | vii
set YOU upon new track"
Mr.. Bcnnet now turned to his desk
took sheet Of his legal cap paper, an
writing u few lines, folded it and put tha
into his pocket also. Then rising, he sale
go for the corn and pepper, Walter, an
see to it that you and John have II heapin
painful of the popped corn by the tim
/ get back; and sis, she must loo
out for IL dish of those rosy Norther
spies," and putting on his overcoat and Ia
the gentleman went down the street.
He returned by the time the light
tempting collation. was ready, and as h
stood by the fire warming his hands, b
pulled that sheet of paper from his pocket
unfoded it and handed it to his wife, th
boys noticing as he did so that it was file
with long row Of names.
"A good hours work, my lads; goo
hours work." he said rubbing his hands