Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-08
ZACE'S EXeURSION TRIP.


a BOys story which Fits the Season.
Considering the hard life Zack had 10 lead,
he bore his fortune pretty bravely But now
and then he could not help calling himself the
most unlucky fellow in the country and if
being boy of all work to the meanest man in
the neighborhood gives one the right TO that
title, then he might well lay claim to il. His
employer, Simon Baxter, kept the little varie-
ty shop of the country village in which he
lived; that is to say, Zack kept it, and he
kept Zack, and Zack was pretty tired of the
arrangement for, as if measuring and sell
ing oil, mackerel, stale confectionery and
gaudy calicoes all day was not enough, through
the long winter evenings he must needs be
kept picking out the decayed apples from the
barrels, or smoking hams in the little building
devoted to that purpose.
He used to long for the season TO be over,
when such duties would necessarily be at an
end but when, at last, the warm, lightsome
summer evenings came, he found that they
brought with them their own occupations
There was the damp, mildewed cellar to be
cleared of its winter accumulatons, and the
store to be made ready for the new grains and
roots that were to take the place of those Of
last year and many an evening, when the
heat was so intense that the shop was desert
ed even by the loafers that frequented it, Zack
books or taking account of stock before he
was permitted to crawl upstairs to the little
room over the shop that served as the joint
apartment of himself and master
1t WAS one morning after one of these vigils
that Zack, having snatched a few hours of
sleep toward day break, awoke in very sorry
mood indeed, for the opposite cot on which
his employer nightly reposed was vacated. 1t
was not that sight Of the sharp p-featured
face that usually, at this hour, appeared above
the bed-clothes, was necessary to his happi-
ness, but because there was an understanding
between them whereby the earliest riser
might serve himself first from the contents of
the tin pail which contained the breakfast an
arrangement devised by the shop keeper to
incite Zack to early hours.
On the present occasion, to his great dis
gust, he found only half cracker in that re-
ceptacle. In fact, everything went wrong
with him and when, little later in the day
he was sent to the back part of the building
to fetch some kerosene for customer he put
the little can he had brought with him under
the faucet of great cask and sat down on a
butter tirkin, the better to indulge in good
grumble.
Dear dear What with working and fast
ing, I'm Just worn out" he began. 81 won
der if this sort of life is to last forever?"
What does thee say, lad" cried voice
near at hand
Zack started up with nervous exclama-
tion at being thus surprised, and beheld a
broad -brimmed hat moving about on the 9TH
er side of the meal al-bags, whereby he knew
that Friend Freeman, a Quaker neighbor,
was about to sharpen his axe at the grindstone
there.
Did thee say thee was tired ?" persisted
the man. That is strange ailment for a
l.. 1..N -l..N H..
young? Thee will be rested presently"
No, sir :" contradicted Zack. Let old
Baxter alone for keeping fellow always at
work. wish could run away indeed
do"
Tut, tut; thee is wrong" returned the
Quaker. Don't thee know"
Here the good mans intended reproof was
interrupted by loud voice from the shop:
"Zack, Zack Isn't that little can filled
yet ?"
Coming" shouted Zack, glad by this
summons to escape the chiding which he well
knew he deserved for his foolish wish.
When the Quaker saw him next, an hour
later, Zack stood demurely behind the coun-
ter. What hot place it was on a hot day,
with the nauseous favors that could not but
be very disagreeable, even to chance visitors.
OF these there were not few knot of far
mers stood talking politics at the door the
minister had just stepped in to get the morn
ing paper and there was also person upon
whom the shop-keeper was waiting with OBJ
sequious Difference, whom the Quaker quick
ly recognized as Squire White, the magnate
of the village.
County fair at Portland today" read the
minister. Reduced rates; excursion tickets
only one dollar"
Every one ought to CO." remarked the
Squire.
Just So, chimed in old Baxter, the shop
keeper. Tickets are dirt cheap"
81 am glad to hear thee say So" observed
the Quaker, in his gentle tones, 'for l have
a proposition to make to thee, Simon Baxter.
Why not send Zack to Portland for a breath
of salt air? 1t would not cost thee much, for
he can stay tonight with my brother, who is
living there The lad has served thee well,
and well merits change"
The Squire's glance met the Quaker's and
he took up the subject.
"Well thought of, Friend Freeman" he
cried. 'Do you hear, Zack The train
starts in half an hour, and you can get there
in time for good half day at the fair SO
hurry up, my lad, and be of, for surely, Bax-
ter, you can't refuse the boy so rare a chance"
The shop-keeper thought he could do so
very well, but it did not seem prudent to Of
fend his best customers, so he gave a grudg-
ing consent,
''Thee must not send the lad away without
some money, Simon" continued the Quaker,
mildly.
Old Baxter glanced around and met the
concentrated stare of dozen pairs of eyes.
What he thought we cannot tell but he put
his hand into his pocket, and, slowly dragging
out a leathen purse, laid the fare and two
silver quarter-dollars more in Zack's palm.
Poor Zack looked about in daze. The
minister met his glance with nod of enoour-
agement; the Squire was smiling in his most
genial manner; everybody smiled but the
Quaker, who bought sheet of paper and an
envelope, and wrote note TO his brother in
Portland, which he handed to the delighted
Zack
1t was not long before Zack, comfortably
seated in the train, dashed gaily ON toward
the show the music and the crowd awaiting
him in Portland. 1t was a perfect day for
merry making Zack was quite sure he could
hear the brooks rush and the bobolinks war
BILE above the roar of the engine. There were
only two things that disturbed the youth, and
those were the two silver quarter dollars,
which lay heavily in his pocket. At every
station where the train stopped long enough
for boy TO skip into a refreshment room, he
would take them out aud twist them nervous
ly in his hand, and then resolutely slip them
back into his pocket For each temptation
was finally conquered, because he knew that
one of the quarters would be needed for the