Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-16
Written for the Waterman a journal.
King Iron.



By CONTRIBUTOR.
Cousin Nell was visiting us. We, that is,
mamma, the boys and l, lived on a cosy,
quiet, little farm near the Catskill Noun
tains. BERTHE and viii, the twins, were
nearly twelve, thirteen and Rob six years
of age. just nice family, but papa was
gone; he died few years before, leaving us
this homelike place and an income sufficient
to insure our comfort. The range Of our
pleasures was limited, and most Of our
amusements were found at home, hence the
visit of wide-awake, fun-loving Nell, from
the busy town near by, were anticipated
with much joy and many preparations.
Each day Of the visit had been eagerly
filed with fun and frolic. Nell, merriel
than ever, told us stories full Of life and ex
citement, and daily we tramped away tc
some spot which it seemed to us nature had
arranged purposely to accommodate oul
sports. This Sunday afternoon our store Of
amusements seemed exhausted, so we re
tired to the hay loft for grave consultation
Bert, who was idly stretched upon the
hay, suddenly exclaimed:
al have it just a jolly plan You
know that level place little way up the
mountain, just above the mill ? It's rea
grassy and shady, and there's a cave righ
in the rock as large as our closet, Nell, only
not so high. Just down a little way there's
brook where the boys say you can catch {
plenty CT trout, and the squirrels and wood
chucks are thick up there. If mamma will
let us, we will take old Fan and the spring
wagon, put in big basket of luncheon, al
the things we shall want to use, and spend
all day up there. Three cheers for the
cavel'
"Good," said Will, 1--WE will take along
our fishing tackle and all our box traps. II
we set the traps as soon as we get there, per
haps we shall catch something before night
| wonder if the squirrels up on the noun.
tain have ever eaten any corn, or what dc
they like best for bait You girls will
take along frying-pan, won't you and
fry our fish for dinner, and we shall be sure
and take Ratchet and some matches"
"And III tell you what will be fun" in.
terrupted Bert, who had been reading myth
ology. "Well play that is the cave Of
Polyphemus. You be the giant Polyphemus
and will be Ulysses. When l come into
the cave with my twelve imaginary follow
org vou Hill and aaf q; " IF thar, than 7 On; IN
make you drunk and put out your big eye
with burning pole. l and my six com.
panions will tie ourselves under the bodies
of your sheep and be carried out when you
drive the sheep out"
Gail right" returned Will. "What are
you going to do all day, Rob?
al guess l shall play Rip Van Wrinkle,
Rob replied.
"That will be entertaining" Will re
marked, "to sleep twenty years. You had
better take your wheelbarrow and shovel
and dig well or make WALL
Nell and ! had other plans for the cave
After Polyphemus and Ulysses had gone
fishing, we proposed to show our womanly
skill and arrange perfect little house. We
would take dolly and her crsdle,-just to
make the house look furnished, and the
boxes necessary to carry luncheon and things
in, with cloth thrown over them, would do
for seats and table. We would take rugs
and curtains, and our housewifely tact i'm
mediately suggested dozen things which
would add to the comfort of our rustic house
"We will start as early in the morning as
possible" suggested Bert. "And, girls, be
sure and take plenty to eat or Bill and
shall turn cannibals and eat you"
eyes, yes" re-echoed all, stake plenty to
eat"
"Do you suppose mamma will let us go2'
said |. "We'll go and ask her."
Quickly we scrambled down and hurried
to the house. Mamma was dear little
woman, not by any means stern, still there
was something in her manner that always
made us feel she must be obeyed. She had
a queer way sometimes of teaching us les
son and so impressing it upon our minds
that we never forgot it. She listened to our
request with quiet smile and replied,
"You may go, and take everything you
wish, upon one condition. 1t is this,-that
you shall neither upon your way or while
there have about you carry or use any arti'
Gle that is wholly or partially composed of
| iron"
To this we instantly and joyfully assented
Bert gave three cheers for mamma, and we
gathered in the sitting-room TO delight in
the anticipation and to perfect our plans
Nell proposed that we make list of the
things we wanted to take with us SO We
should forget nothing and she getting paper
and pencil, offered to be our scribe, and
began
"Boys must be served first, they are such
important things. Bert what shall put
down for you ?"
Fishing tackle first, if you please.
Nell's pencil hesitated, and she asked, "Arn't
fish-hooks made of iron ?"
viii INDUCED in sudden exclamation
and continued, "There's half our fun gone
haven't been fishing this summer. I'll tel
you, Bert, we will sit on the bank and Tool
at the fishes. But then of course we can
take the frying pan or the Ratchet, so W,
may as well give that up
"well," said Bert, " then put down DO,
traps"
Again the pencil hesitated. "Arnt you
traps put together with nails ?"
Bert opened his eyes and whistled. vii
gave vent to another forcible word and said
"That's pleasant no fishing, no trapping
See here Bert, you and will spend tn
day making mud pies and rocking the doll
cradle"
"Then," put in |, Eve must take on
luncheon in baskets and either take silve
knives or none at all; and how shall W
know when to come home ? You cauno
take your watch, Win, the spring and tn
screws are made of iron"
Just then we noticed tears. We extende