Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-07-23

no obligations TO you no longer aho
I'll make jelly ofhim In three shakes
Of sheepS tall
At these words Berthilda trembled
more than ever. "The fountains that
were In her head oyeraowed and ran
cut ofher eyes adowu her cheeks"
"Ol OF or she sobbed, twas
ever poor woman In such trouble
10! OF or
"Choose I" cried Hoskins "and
darned III amt 40 mad | don't keer
much which way you choose I'd
rather like 10 be ut liberty TO 80 Tor
old Flint and mash him-by jingo, !
had y
"Why don't ! die I" soebed Ber'
thilda. but, o, Silas, I can't leave
uncle Flint like that, l wouldn't be
decent
"Then here goes T. said Hosk'ns'
tuking oil his cuffs,
AT this moment a long, lathe'like
figure strobe past them and began to
hammer at the door.
The servant opened 1t, aud Peter
Perkins voice inquired for Mr.. Flint
Mr.. Flint at once appeared in the
entry.
"Well. what do You want here r
was his salutation.
"wal, Mr., Flint said Peter FER.
kins, "seeing you was so 'b''gln and
neighborly about that gray mare i
kinder reckoned I'd jest step in and
lead her over tonight. You see l get
in my hay to-morer, aud there's a ram
comm up along the end OF the week.
or I ain, no prophet"
80 do you mean to steal her p
sa,d old Flint. "Pve seen impudence
before, but this caps ALL
"Kinder guess YOU have forgotten
who 7 am 7" said Peter Perkins.--
"Dou't you remember n wntin' me
,h;s morning | am Mr.. Peter Per-
kins, Mr.. Flint
81 know you we'll enough" said
Flint "D'ye think l m in my dotage
You're the man that killed my brown
horse last summer, and asked for my
pray mare to do the same by this
And l told you what thought Of you
in my note. You must have been
drinking, Mr.. Perkins ! You must
be drunk, sir, to ask me for my gray
mare after what l wrote you this
morning |"
! 81 drinking l never touch any
thing but tea. Pm Son OF Temper
apce, sir !" shouted Mr.. Perkins, SO
that his voice reached the ears OF the
unhappy couple at the gate. u
drunk :"
) "rhen if you're sober, you can't
read,' said Mr.. Flint.
"You wrote me note telling me tc
come over, and saying there was moth
Ing in the way of my having the gray
mare" said M. Perkins.
"Thst's untrue, sir !" SAID Mr.. Flint
you're a lying, sir y said Mr. Per-
, kins. "Hanged if III stand it r.
Aud now Miss Berthilda saw he1
uncle meuaced by a bouy fist and flew
} up the path, with Hoskins after her.
"You abomlnable rascal /" cried Mr.
Flint.
"Tells me Pm drunk and liar, sir,
cried Perkins to Hoskins. "Askee
him neighbor.like to lend me his gray
mare, and he wrote he would, ant
now he calls me all the names he car
y lay his tongue to-"
81 don't doubt 1t, SIR! said MIR
Hoskins. "He's insulted me, sir
Told me worked my poor late ADJ
gal Aram,nty to death and starved
> her, aud was thief aud ateard OF HIM
!, Writ that to ME, sir Hang him J"
"That's false p said old Flint.
Snow, am liar, am l 7" crlet
Hoskins.
, "You are bo:h insane !" cried MIR
f Flint.
"You never writ that TO me 2" criet
Hnskins.
! mo doubt it's true, but l didn't !
"He is crazy" said Hoskins.
, "Mad as a March hare said Per
q kins.
!, "You are couple of lunatics. III
8 be protected against you. Here
q help {! Some one go tor the constable !!
4 "a lunatic |" said Mr.. Perkins -
D "Why, there's tue letter you writ me
If you were a young man, I'd not stol
t to argy but you are old enough Il
!. be my father"
. t,rVL 49,, oooyh.r l;oc aoid Flint -