The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-30
THE VERMONT SCHOOL.'US.
The Observations of Lightning-rod
Agent.


The Observations of a Lightning-rod
Agent.
In my travels with my lightning rod bug
gy, frequently had occasion to stop, es-
pecially in those densely shaded, circuitous
Vermont mountain roads, and inquire my
way. l rarely found the farm-hous in
haOlted. That is to say, during week days
have passed by farm house after farm
house and have not noticed a single individ-
ual in the yard, at the window, or in the
road near by. There may have been some
one in the rear OF the house, but they always
kept themselves decidedly out of my sight
and hearing. do not say this from any de-
sire to reflect upon the singular absence Of a
desire topurchase lightning rods, nor do lin
this connection, care to go out Of my way to
praise the astuteness of the native "Var-
mounter'-I mention it as fact So it hap
pened that frequently drew up my gorge
ously-painted buggy in front OF the school,
house, or school-'us," as it is more gener-
ally termed. The school am would come
out-generally pretty, fresh faced little
woman of twO-and twenty, or thereabouts
She would always fail to understand me at
first, always say Haow"-always come,
after little, and stand, placing one of her
chubby hands upon the whee-tire, and end
by talking me half to death. l well remem-
Der fresh June day in 1877; / had driven
my jaded horse down the river from Bellows
telligent citizens of little town to the north
west of Brattleboro the importance of my
patent rod. knew l should have to turn off
the main road somewhere, and exactly where
was what wished to determine.
The day was exquisite. The mountains
freshly and richly green. The grand old
river rushed full and strong with its spring
freshness. The air was in itself inspiring. /
had driven at least forty miles already and
had sold but one rod, but l was fresh and
felt as jolly as the little trout-stream which
danced in the sunlight down the Hillside be-
tween the great trees, and under the little
rafting wooden bridge over which drove
/ came to a little red school-'us, with its
woodshed attachment, and pulled up.
OF. school. They endeavored to keep up the
traditional school, boy custom of romping and
shouting as they broke out. They romped
and shouted as if there were sixteen OF them
instead of four. One of the four did not
shout, however; he was tall, handsome fell
low, of, should have said, five and twenty.
He was considerable slicked up" as they
say, having upon his head a fashionable
round hat, carrying jaunty cane and wear
ing pair OF curious knee breeches. He had
very good natured, benevolent smile on
his face, and had, 1 discovered, been dis
tributing coppers to his three companions,
two little sun burnt girls and boy. He
blushed little, this old boy, when looked
at him. Perhaps it was because he thought
1 looked at him knowingly-in fact my face
was on a broad grin. 1 thought it was eX-
tremely probable that this was one of the
school ma'am's many "beaus, as was court
in" her. He looked too genteel for the
schoolmaster himself As he came near me
l could see he was a handsome, strong,
healthy sun-browned fellow, with faint at
tempt at mustache. He was, however, a
little short and curt with me. He said that
there was little demand for lightning rods
dirpctpl q fey rd
as possible toward the road wished to take.
got out and pretended to tumble about the
harness little, for / was very DESTROYS of
seeing the school ma am when she came out.
My waiting seemed to make the young fell
low irritable. ''She is very pretty!" /
laughed to myself, and indeed such was the
case.
Up in the Green Mountain State they boast
of three things; women, horses, and maple
sugar l am no judge at all Of maple-sugar,
fair judge of horses, but if pride myself
upon any thing it is my ability to appreciate
and rightly estimate feminine beauty.
The girl who came out from the school-'us,
and stood for a moment locking its thick
Oaken door, was one Of those bright, charm
ing persons who, if little out of place as a
steady going school-ma'am, yet was decid-
eddy interesting, as L could see. She was
blushing, too, a little, or rather her face pre-
served steady healthful redness. 1t was
evidently love affair, this-out among the
beautiful hills and winding river. As the
girl turned, saw at once that should have
TO rank her high, as very charming, beau
tiful person, with graceful, easy carriage,
a laughing face, with dark hair, dark eyes,
and rosebud mouth. Not what, when |
tended store in Boston, we used to call q
"refined beauty" but beauty nevertheless
healthful, gay, charming.
She rolled up her eyes, and laughed when
she saw me and the painted lightning-rod
buggy.
"Oh," she said, at declare what a mag
niticent conveyancev'
| attributed these words to her "supe-
rior" education. / wished she had used
others. However, said, in reply:
Yes, it is rather magniticent-won'ty you
get in and try it?" 1 had not the least idea
she would accept my invitation.
Certainly" she said, laughing, " If you'll
drive my way"
The young man looked angry enough to
kill me.
"There is seat behind-for you" said,
desiring to molify him little.
"Oh curse your seat behindW he said.
"Then you can walk, guess" laughed
the girl-but she was q little angry, too. She
evidently did not like his swearing.
Thanks % replied the young man. THAT
is what intend to do" Ana he turned on
his heel and walked OF.
The school-ma'am looked little discon-
certed. However, she got in, and before
we had gone very far her joyous, healthful
nature had reasserted Itself: Before we had
gone a mile she began to tell nae good deal
about herself She told me that there was
family from the city stopping over at W,
IS the river. That the young man was
one of them-the son, that he was Harvard
student. That he was very nice, that he was
very fine Latin scholar, and that he was
giving her lessons. She told me that he advis-