Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-04-24

Northfield. Massachusetts,, about Gov
ernor HINT and General Hunt, the grand
father aud great-uncle OF HUM, Ile
artist. The following amusing anecaote:
which the old residents are lonu vi
TELLING owes rise to the thOugnt tnat
tina ysra1 artists love for beauty ana
his attraction towards charming ana
STRIKING faces were inherited traits.
..Tna GOVERNOR" aud 1.-THE general
o,ynad large meadows laying for many
m;ioS along the banks of the Connecticut
r;var and in some places these posses
sions stretched far back upon the hills
i'm extensive tracts of wood and pasture
lands. There were then many farms on
the sunny hillsides which have now
grown to timber, the buildings having
long since fallen to decay. On one OF
these West North6eld hill-farms lived
Jack Brangle, an idle, reckless ne'er-dO-
well, who in his youth had fascinated,
run away with and married beautiful
young girl belonging to good family,
and afterward, in due course, led her a
sad and sorry life.
One autumn day Farmer c., who lived
near the NOrthfield 'Hunt land" being
on his way to BrattleborOugh, called on
~the governor" He usually made up an
errand to call when he went that way,
because he liked the flavor and "snap"
of the brandy and sugar which was
always "set on" when there were visitors.
Now, as he sat warming himself before
the library fire, he said:
Il thought it no more than neighbOrly
to stop and tell you, governor, that Jack
Brangle, who lives out on West noun
tain, is cutting your clear walnut tim
Der for firewOOd. / caught him in the
act of telling tree only yesterday.
When 1 spoke to him about it he said it
was not at all likely that you, out of your
abundance. would grudge him what
wood he wanted to burn. And when
suggested that there was plenty Ialready
laying upon the ground, he said that if
a man was to help himself. he must be a
fool not to select the best"
II will see about this" said the gov
ernOr, who had a great fOndness for his
timber, and loved trees almost as if he
believed they had souls. Il will look
after this Jack Brangle." And, indeed,
the very next day the governor mounted
his fleet, easy going horse, and, in the
way of taking his daily exercise in the
saddle, gallOped away to the West noun
tain.
ward. sure of hot rum punch to warm
him I'D for the remainder of his home
ward ride i'm the cool autumn air. While
the good wife was mixing the exhilarat-
ing pOtatiOn, farmer C.. asked as to the
result of his trip.
SWELL" said the governor, thOughtfully
tapping the toe of one of his boots with
his whip, II rode out there angry enough
at the wretch who had dared to cut one
of my healthy, strong, thrifty, growing
trees. 1t is little better than murder,
for it is taking life. dismOunted and
strobe into the old house, and there in
the big kitchen / found Mrs. Brangle
and her seven daughters all busy card
ing, spinning, knitting, and weaving
wool as soft and fine as cashmere. l
never i'm my life saw eight so handsome
females together. | was at first fairly
bewildered with their beauty. | sat down
by the fre.-they had a good fire, although
there were evidences enough of poverty
in the rOOms,-and fell into pleasant
talk with them, soon finding they were
all, even down to the almost baby, who
was tying thrums,' as sweet and bright
as they were handsome. | examined
and admired their work, and bought a
pair of mittenS, two or three pairs of
stockings, and ordered half dozen fine
blankets. The more thought about my
Grand the more Twas convinced that [
was perfectly willing to give a man his
frewOOd who had as handsome wife
and seven as handsome girls as that man
has. They have hard enough struggle
with life, / have no doubt, and l am
thankful that they can enjoy the one
luxury of a good fire. When was COM
ing down the mountain, through my
wOOd-lOt, | met Jack, the sly, handsome
dog, with an ak and a fine stick of my
walnut timber on his shoulder. drew
up and had little chat with him, but
he didn't mention the timber, and ]
didn't, you may be sure.
"YOn needn't say anything to my
brother, the general about this matter
If he should get hold of my sOft-hearted-
ness | should never hear the last of it,
But really, C., / feel under obligations
to Brangle for stealing my timber, and
to you for telling me of it, as it has given
me an opportunity to see that bright
handsome family"
General Hunt was as fond of sheep as
his brother was of trees, and through the
grazing season had large, branded flock:
of them ranging over his hill pasture
One morning, early the following sum
mer. he was down at Mortified, and fel
i'm with farmer c. at HOwe's store
While they were taking glass of bes
Jamaica, at "the generals" expense, c.
said, cOnfidentially:
They do say, general, that Jack Bran
gle is helping himself more hberall
than ever before to your sheep this sum
mer. The stockings and blankets tina
wOmen-fOlks make from the wool brin
a good price, and fat mutton is not ba
eating.
How is that?" asked the old gentle
man, a good deal aroused. 'Inever hear
rumOr of this before, although hav
lost a good many of my fnest-wOOle
sheep. will ride right up to che noun
tain and see what he has to say for him
SELF" And, mounting his horse, h
cantered away.
C. went home, and while deIiberatel
hOeing his garden he watched for tn
great mans return. Late i'm the after
noon he saw the big white horse and il
stalwart rider appear over the brow G
the long hill, and as he approached tn
farmer walked out to his gate with
quart tumbler of rum punch, which ha
been mixed for some time and hangin
in the Oaken bucket of the messy we'll
cool.
"The general gratefully quaffed I'll
cooling beverage, smacked his lips, hant
ed back the glass, and leaning dow
upon the arching neck of his spirite
horse, said:
Look here, c., don't you say word |
my brother about my going out to BraI
giles. If you should should never hes