Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-15
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 49, 1881
but, somehow, she felt herself a prisoner

but, somehow, she felt herself prisoner
there,
Susan hustled here and there, all the time
on the alert, Always with something on her
lips about people growing old and not know.
ing it.. Mrs. Fisher could not complain OF
i'll treatment, for, indeed, she was in fair
way of being made old and helpless from
being all the time told she had become 80
and being too much coddled.
Not so with Mr. Fisher. He was more
clipper than ever Debby declared. He was
all about the farm seeing after stock and
granaries, and down to the village tavern
talking politics, and busy on matters pertain
ing to the interests of the town. John told
him not to "bother," but he did bother about
everything.
"You know, John, won't be put into
feather bed and laid away to die till my
time comes" he would say, all the time
SO CHEEKY and active that no fault could be
| found.
One day he said to John;
"You know that did not give you the
deed Of the Greeley woodlot, and Pm think
ing will make it over to the school fund,
it will be help 10 the town."
"All right" replied the son but |
wouldn't hurry about it-time enough.
"True, John, true. But we ought to do
a little for the town we live in. It's mean
sort of man that does nothing for the pub
lie good"
It CHANGED that several Sundays were too
stormy for the family to go out to meeting,
which was nearly three miles distant, 30
that nothing transpired to draw the atten-
ton of outsiders as to the working of this
contract between the members of the Fisher
family. Neighbors, right-minded neighbors,
have repugance to NEEDLE with the affairs
of each other, and as nothing was said by
either John or Susan about the matter,
there was little chance for public talk.
Now, Mr.. Fisher had chestnut filly of
which he was not only fond but proud. He
had raised her from colt with care aud ten
derness, feeding her out Of his hand, and
never had whip touched her delicate skin.
On the morning to which we refer, MIR.
Fisher made his appearance dressed for
meeting, nicely shaven and neatly brushed,
and looking the pink Of fine, wholesome,
middle-aged farmer.
"Come, john" he said, tackle up the
mare "your mother and will ride to meet.
ing this fine day."
John stood moment in silence, but Susan
passed him with nudge and whispered,
" Nows your time" at which he thrust both
hands deep into his trowsers pockets, and
with weak, sullen smile, replied:
You forget, father, the mare is mine"
"True, John, true; so it is"
At this moment Mrs. Fisher entered,
bringing with her an aroma of new-mown
hay and lavender, and sweet and fresh to
the eye as a ripened autumnal apple. Her
well-preserved black silk dress, and white
plated frill about her comely neck, and her
scoop bonnet with broad edging of lace,
presented buxom and not undignifed
dame of the olden time.
"Come, mother, it's fine day, and you're
the youngest-looking of us all we'll walk
to meeting" saying which, Mr.. Fisher gave
his arm to his wife, and they walked out
she not fully comprehending the state OF
the case.
Mrs. Fisher naturally hesitated when she
observed the chaise ready tackled, and saw
Susan come out in her new smart ribbons
and handed into it by John.
"Never you mind, Debby DEAR" whispered
MIR. Fisher, tenderly, in his wife's ear
=" this little walk you and have taken many
the time" and they went on, the neighbors
giving them genial "good-days," while John
aud Susan dashed by in the nice chaise
with the handsome horse.
Mrs. Fisher stepped her lightest and
looked her loftiest that bright day. She
pressed the arm Of Jonathan kindly, for
sorrowful misgiving made her to fear his
wits were giving way, and she, the true
wife, would not vex or annoy him in his
hour of weakness, let what would come of
it. People stared, as they well might, but
Susan sent back triumphant mods and smiles,
and John laughed with imbecile good ma
ture. Reaching the Westinghouse Susan
took the head of the pew where her mother
in-law had hitherto sat, but John did not
venture upon this impertinence to his sturdy
father, and the disappearing glances Of the
people did not escape even his dull eyes.