Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Written for the Vermont Waterman
Calls Birthday Ride.

Calls Birthday Ride.
NJ Lou LAUREL.
OF the first two weeks which Calvin
Fletcher spent at his Uncle Ben Fletcher's
in the country, scarcely day passed in
which he wasn't the victim of some mishap,
or didn't in some way bring himself and his
cousins Dora and little Sophia into disgrace
and all because of his confidence in his abil.
ity to do whatever he saw any one else
doing. He was right nice boy in the main,
but this one fault caused him deal of
trouble.
1t was the very next day after his arrival
that he stood watching Sam-the factotum
of the family-wbile milking the cows.
Two pals were filed, and Sam had gone TO
the house to empty them, when Cal said to
himself al can milk as well as anybody I;
it's just fun, know. So, bossy 500"
he said, initiating Sam and at the same
time he stepped up to the little brown heifer,
that was eating meal from tub, and seat
ing himself on the milkipg-stool, he put up
his hands to milk, and the next he knew he
was lying all sprawled out in the barn-yard
with an uncomfortable feeling in his side,
while at the barn-yard gate stood the return
ing Sam, convulsed with laughter. Cal
never attempted to milk after that, but
nearly every day he did something about as
foolish, and often the result was much more
har f,,1 bad ba fa;I 81 30.
by his experiences until he took the birth
day ride of which propose to tell you.
Three and one-half miles from Mr.. Fletch.
ers there are medicinal springs. They are
situated in very wild and romantic place
at the entrance of " the gulf" There is a
good hotel with the usual attractions of such
a place, and altogether it has become quite
famous as a place of resort and thither
Mrs Fletcher had planned to take the chill
dren on Gals birthday. The afternoon was
unusually fine and everything seemed pro-
pitious until, just as they were getting into
the buggy, Mrs. jerks came to visit Mrs.
Fletcher. She was an old lady and had come
a long way, and of course it would never do to
go and leave her. OF course, too, the children
were wofully disappointed at this turn of
affairs, and finally Mrs. Fletcher consented,
after much earnest pleading and many fair
promises to drive carefully, to let the three
children 60 by themselves-only they were
not to stop at the hotel, but drive down and
right back.
The children had been by themselves
"across the meadows and home by the
mill" but in that case there was no turn
ing round" However, Cal felt perfectly ca.
pable of turning round, and anyhow"
said Mrs. Fletcher, there will be plenty Of
people at the hotel who will give them as
sistance if need be-" And SO they drove off
in high feather. 1t was an exceedingly
pleasant road to drive under any circum-
stances, and you may well imagine what it
was to this trio of Juveniles. Cal was driver,
but he shared the glory with Dora, and even
little Sophie drove up the hills. Dora told
Cal of the gulf, beyond the springs, where
she had gathered " lovely ferns !" of the hills
on both sides, d" steep as the roof of house,
with just room enough between for road
aud such a cunning little brook" wherein
'ported "speckled trout oh, lots of EN-, y
and then there was a big rock with ever so
many dates and names painted on it. "Papa
cut his name there when he was little boy y
interrupted Sophie, "and it's there now, and
- 4 y. "a
fred Calls ambition to immortalze his name
by placing it upon the wonderful rock, and
created SO strong desire 10 see the place,
that he proposed to drive down through the
gulf. "Oh no We couldn't have time, it's
ever so far" said Dora.
"Well, then, we won't go only to the
rock" replied Cal.
"But don't believe we could turn round
there" objected Dora.
"Pshaw yes could all you have to do
is to pull the rein little and that cramps
the buggy, aud then you come right round
as easy as wink-l've seen uncle do it a
thousand times" asserted Cal, with great
confidence.
"Mamms didn't expect we'd go any fur
Their than the hotel" feebly demonstrated
Dora.
"All she thought about was the turning
round, and she didn't know what great
horseman I am" remarked Cal, compla.
Gently, and on he drove. None Of them en-
oyed the ride much. Even Cal began to
feel conscience .smitten and when they
reached the rock he remembered his knife
was in his every-day-pants pocket" and
so he had to forego the pleasure of seeing
his name engraven on the rock, after all
They were all agreed in thinking the next
best thing for them to do was to turn home
wards. Cal "pulled the rein little" and
"cramped" good deal; then he "got up,
and then he backed" and then started for
ward again, but all to no purpose. Old Bill
was still headed from home, and Cal de
clared /" no live man could turn round where
the road was so plaguy narrow" and so they
journeyed on. They were all getting little
worried, and rumbliug of distant thunder
didn't serve to quiet them. Dora "wisheo
they hadn't come, Sophia echoed the wisf
aloud, and Cal did the same mentally. Pres
emily the road widened sufficiently for Ca
to try his skill at turning round again. Th'
girls very wisely got out Of the buggy thii
| time, and then there was series of backing
and cramping and starting up, till finally h
succeeded in turning.not round, but over
Luckily, Cal came out unhurt, but thil
was broken, and II old Bill had not been tn,
very best beast in the world it would hav,
been much worse with them. But what
plight they were in, to be sure Nearly two
miles from any house and thunder Shove
coming on
They couldn't unfasten the horse from tn,
buggy, and after troubled consultation
Dora started for the hotel to get help, as sh,
chose that rather than to stay by old Bill
She had gone but few rods, however, wheI
Cal called "Ssy, Dora, hold on; believ
| hear wagon coming and to their grea
joy the wagon soon came in sight, with tw'
men in it. 1t was indeed merciful provi
dence, and in very short time the bugg,
was set right side up, the thill spliced "a
gether with part of the halter, and thes
three children were really homeward bound
They stopped at the hotel during the shower
Il q =