Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
The Green Mountain Justice.

The snow is Deep" the Justice said;
There's mighty mischief overhead
High talk indeed!'' his wife exclaimed;
What, sir! shall Providence be blamed9''
The Justice. laughing, said: "Oh, no!
only meant the load of snow
Upon the roofs. The barn is weak;
I greatly fear the roof will break.
So hand me up the spade, my dear.
III mount the barn, the roof to clear"
Nos id his wife; the barn is high;
And If on slip, and fall, and die.
How W. my living be secured3
Stephen, your life is not insured;
But tie rope your waist around,
And it will hold you safe and sound"
Twill" said he. Nov for the roof,
All snugly tied and danger-proof!
Excelsior! Excel but no!
The rope is not secured below!''
Said Rachel, climb, the end to throw
Across the top, and will go.
And tie the end around my waist"
We'll, every woman to her taste:
You always would be tightly laced.
Rachel, when you became my bride.
I thought the knot securely tied;
But lest the bond should break in twain
I'll have it fastened once again."
Below the arm-pits tied around.
She takes her station on the ground.
W. While lt on the e, ROOT, beyond the ridge.
But, sad mischance! the loosened snow
Comes sliding down, to plunge below.
And as he tumbles with the slide,
up hacnel goes on COtner side.
just half way down the Justice hung,
Just half way up the woman swung
Good land o Goshen!" shouted she;
"Why, do you see it," answered he.
The couple, dangling in the breeze
Like turkeys, hung outside to freeze,
At their ropes end and wits end, too,
Shout back and forth what best to do.
Ge Sa steP her ana it d o0oy Te
OuOth Rachel: "What pity tits
To joke at such q time as this.
A man, whose wife is being hung,
Should know enough to hold his tongue"
"Now, Rachel, as look below.
see tempting heap of snow;
Suppose. my dear, take my knife
She shouted, "bon'tl 'twouid be my death:
see some pointed stones beneath.
A better way would be to call
With all our might for Phebe Hail."
Gave tongue: 20 Phebe, Phebe, Phe-
Enough to make drover hOarse.
Now Phebe, over at the farm
Was sitting sewing, snug and warm;
But hearing, as she thought, her name,
Sprang up, and to the rescue came,
Beheld the scene, and thus she thought:
:" If now a kitchen chair were brought.
And could reach the lady's foot,
I'd draw her downward by the boot,
Then cut the rope and let him GO;
He cannot miss the pile OF snow"
He sees her moving toward his wife,
Armed with chair and carving-knife.
And ere he is aware, perceiveS
His head ascending to the caves;
And guessing what the two are at,
Screamed from beneath the roof, stop that!
You make me fall too far, by half!''
But Phebe answers, with laugh,
Please tell a body by what right
You've brought your wife to such a plight?
And then, with well directed blows,
She cuts the rope. and down he goes.
The wife united, they walk around,
When 10! no Stephen can be found.
They call in vain, run to and fro.
They look around, above. below;
No trace or token can they see,
And deeper grows the mystery.
Then RacheTs heart within her sank:
But glancing at the snowy bank,
She caught a little glenn of hope
A gentle movement of the rope.
They scrape away o little snow;
What's this? A hatl All! he's below.
Then upward heaves the snowy pile,
And forth he stalks in tragic style,
Unhurt, and with u rouuish smile;
And Rachel sees. with glad surprise,
Inc missing found the fallen rise.