St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-10-29

get the buckwbeat and waffle cakes
One might indite whole dissertations
about the good things that used to be
reserved especially for the pastor and
the school master in the New England
towns of ye olden time. l know not
how it is in this A. D. 1880, but do
we'll remember that in the winter of
1889, there were no better victuals or
better cooked than was brought on to
the Griggsville, VT, tables. 1t was SIM
ply impossible to surpass it. And then,
such cheer! Such romping boys and
bright eyed, rosy-cheeked girls
Families that could not afford to Sem
tertain" as they would like to their be-
loved school master, were helped out
by their more favored, kind and
thoughtful neighbors. I never slighted
such people, (no gentleman would),
although some half dozen of the "fore-
handed" families offered to bear the
whole burden of "boarding around"
There were many little laughable in
cidents which are still fresh in my
memory, and as all pedagogues have
had similar experiences, it is not worth
the while to repeat them here. eau
not forget little four years old "John-
ny d." the cooper's son, who was quite
pet of mine. He came to my desk one
day during school hours, and seemed
anxious to relieve his mind, though ap-
parently afraid to do so. To encourage
him, held my head down to him, when
be said in lisping whisper: "School-
master, think you're coming to our
house to board next week." 1 asked
him what made him think so. He re-
piled, "Cause 1 heard ma tell pa she
wanted the school master next week,
and that he must get some more -four,
buy new cheese, and send to Boston
for keg of oysters !"
will close this already lengthy pa
per with one humorous, sentimental
"experience." At Griggsville there re-
sided but one family by the time hon
ored name of Griggs, but much degen-
Grated from the "first settler" The
head of this family was a mechanic of
Incorporate habits, who worked in
neighboring town and came home on
Saturday nights. He was the father of
Miss Mehitable, the young embryo
school-mistress already referred to.
His wife was one of the gushing kind,
though most excellent cook. Il have
noticed that this kind generally make
good housekeepers.) The youngest
child was a baby boy, some three
months old, who had not been christen-
ed. That the good mother was just
little soft the sequel will show. One
morning on noticing my fondness fol
babies, she said: "Your name is Peter
Plunkett; don't like the name of Pc
ter for he denied, you know; but 1 do
like the name of Plunkett, or Plunke,
for that is what Mehitable calls you.
She says you are lineal descendant OF
the celebrated French Duo de Plunke,
who as French Huguenot, was driv-
en- out of France by the edict of Nan
tes.' Our friend, Mr.. Lazarus Scroggs,
who attempted to keep the Griggsville
school two years ago, named after him
self the boy baby had at that time,
but who died afterwards, of the Group,
but I could not stand the name of Laz-
arus, so we called him Scroggie, and
Mr.. Scroggs gave baby a five dollar
gold piece! Now this little hubby ,Uub-
by chubby would feel so fine when be
came to grow up with the names OF
Plunke Scroggie Griggie." "But your
baby will not see the five dollar gold
piece this time" 1 replied, "and then I
am of the opinion that the other baby
died from being overweighted with his
name; and if my name is added thereto
this child will not live so long as the
other one did," "I've made up my
mind to call him Plunke anyhow, :,
said Mrs. G., "and then Mehitable
} would be we'll pleased, for she thinks
your name is just killing sweet" said
"That is what just told you, only it is
not sweet, but both distingue and kill
ing admit" About this time 1 began
to feel little silly. However, 1 fat,
tered the mother by telling her that
her baby-boy was both handsome ant
resembled his tather-two white lies.
1t was my last night at her hospitablt
house when 1 showed the sentimental
; white feather. 1t occurred in this way
. and came near annihilating me. A
; the tea table noticed that Miss Me
f hitable was dressed unusually fine
And at that supper table if possible
! the mother was more gushing than ev
er. Her waffies and maple syrup wer
3 quite delicious. Early in the evenin,
f Miss G. suggested checkers. Th
: mother seemed very nervous and fussy
D and soon became involved in a roy
! with her two or three half grown chill
3 dren who objected to going to bed a
e hour or two earlier than usual. Afte
g stubborn contest the children yielded
e Then the mothers face grew radiant
a but something in her unusual manne
: kept my eyes riveted on her. FRS
It she brought in one armful of wood al
: ter another until she had the woodbo
e "heaping full" Then she reached fc
the turkey wing and busted off th
If stove hearth, all about the woodbo.