St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-11-26
the sycamores, with its huge wheel and


When arrived, found the North
Branch and Rocky Fork folks there
ahead of me, and knew there was no
hope of getting home that day; but
was not at all sorry, for my basket was
we'll filled with provisions, and Mr..
Saunders always opened his big barn
for US to sleep in so it was no unpleas-
ant time We had while waiting for our
grist. This time there was an addition
to the number that had been in the
habit of gathering, from time to time,
in the old Saunders barn,-a young fell
low about my own age, probably lit
tie older. His name was Charley AL
len, and his father had bought farm
ever on the Brush Creek road. He was
sociable and friendly, but instructive
~ felt that he had more manners than
the rest of us. The evening was spent,
as usual, in relating coarse jokes and
playing cards. Although l was not
accustomed to such things at home, /
had become so used to it at the mill
that it had long since ceased to shock
me, and, indeed, was fast becoming a
very interested spectator.
well, boys, it is time for us fellers to
go to roost,' said Jim Finley, one of the
greatest roughs on the Rocky Fork, as
he threw down his pack of cards and
began to undress. We all followed his
example, although it was not much I'M
dressing we did to sleep on the hay
NOW; but we were so busy with our
own affairs that we did not notice Char
ley Allen until Jim exclaimed, 'Heydey!
we've got parson here; we hev p
Charley was kneeling by the oats bin,
praying. Jim Finley's jest met with no
response. The silence was only broken
by the drowsy cattle below, and the
twittering swallows overhead. More
than one rough man wiped tear from
his eyes as he went silently to his bed
on the hay. l had always been in the
habit of praying at home, but l never
thought of such a thing at Saunders
Mill. AS laid awake that night in
the old barn, thinking of Charley AL
lens courage, and what an effect it had
upon the men, firmly resolved that in
the future l would do right. l little
thought how soon my courage would be
tested. Just after dinner l got my
grist, and started for home. When l
arrived at Albright's gate, where /
turned off to go home, found the old
squire waiting for me. l saw in a mo-
ment that something had gone wrong
l had always stood in the greatest awe
of the old gentleman because he was
the rich man of the neighborhood, and
now felt my heart beginning to beat
very fast. As soon as came near he
said, Did you go through this gate
yesterday p could easily have denied
it, as it was before daylight when l
went through, and l quite as often
went the other way. Charley Allen
kneeling in the barn came to my mind
like flash, and before I had time to
listen to the tempter said, Yes, sir; l
did,
Are you sure you shut and pinned
the gate p he asked.
This question staggered me. | re-
membered distinctly that [ did not. /
could pull the pin out without getting
off my horse, but | could not put it in
again so l carelessly rode away, and
left it open.
| sI-I-I-
'Out with it tell just what you did y
Il left it Open,' l said, abruptly.
We'll, you let the cattle in, and they
have destroyed all my early potatoes,
'Im very sorry, I'd
Talking won't hell the matter now !;
but, remember, boy, remember that
sorrow don't make potatoes,-sorrow
don't make potatoes
l felt very badly about the matter,
for / was really sorry that the old gen
tleman had lost his potatoes, and then
l expected to be severely reprimanded
at home; but l soon found that they
knew nothing of the matter, and after
several days had passed, began to
rest quite easy. Alas for human hopes
one rainy afternoon | saw the squire
riding down the lane. ran off to the
barn, ashamed to face him, ard afraid
to meet my father. They sat on the
porch and talked for a long time. At
last my curiosity overcame my fear,
and | stole back to the house, and went
into mothers room to see if could hear
what they were talking about. why,
the boy could be spared we'll enough,
but he don't know anything about the
business said my father. There is
one thing he does know said the
squire, 'he knows how to tell the truth.
| He then related the circumstance which
l so much dreaded to have my father
hear. After he had gone, my father
called me to him, and told me that the
squire was going to start a store in the
village, and wanted boy to help, and
that 1 could go if wanted to. l went,
and remained in the village store, until
it blossomed out into a city store; and
people say that l got my start in life
when entered Albright's store, but
will always maintain that got it while
was waiting for the grist."-S. s.
Times.
c. Niolo1o- e.. oo1