St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-06-24
Old Folk Lore.
|.

CHAPTER l.
Mr.. Jonathan Fisher was a well to
do farmer living on II Peninsula jutting
out into CascO Bay i'll the state of
Maine. He had always been consider
ed a man of cOnsummate shrewdnesS,
but honest withal, who could see fur
ther into a milestone than most of the
neighbors, and it became Il surprise to
them when he began to talk of making
over his estate to his son John, with
the condition that said John should
support himself and wife to the end of
their days In this he was bitterly OPP
posed by his wife Debby, who had seen
the property accumulating under the
joint eyes of husband and wife, and,
being no less discreet and judicious
than Jonathan himself, could see no
reason for any change; the more be-
cause they were not old, and had II
prospect of many years before them.
"Marcy on us, Jonathan, you amt an
old man nor an old woman, to be laid
upon the shelf with nothing to do"
II know that, Debby. That old fell
low that we read about in books, who
lived hundred and fifty years, was
not younger at our time of life than we
are; you remember the reason he gave
for his CHEEKY age?"
ayes, yes, Jonathan, oil without and
honey within, which has not been our
way of life, the goodness knows"
''NOw, there you are mt fault, wife.
To be sure, we may not have literally
anointcd the flesh nor lived upon hon
eS, but the internal meaning of the
saying we have observed. We have
had the oil of gladncss, the oil of kind
ness for all in the circle of our intlu-
ence, and our hearts have been as sweet
and as wholesome us honey and ho
chuckcd her under the chin with the
air of an old fellow who has said good
thing.
~ give you warning, Jonathan dear
you are going to bring trouble upon us
Don't YOU remember old Lear i'll the
play, how he gave all to his two dar-
tiers, and what came of it 7"
eyes, yes, wife, but that was in the
time of heathcndom, not in these Chris
tian days, when we are bound to honor
our parents and deal JUSTLY"
''NonscnSci YOu know what JOIN
is and know what Susan is ; 'twont
he long before you and | will he crowd
ed ont of house and home," and she
| left the room to escape Sarah, who n
this moment entered.
She went right up to Mr.. Fisher and
laying her hand on his shoulder, said
"POor father | am sure yOu vii
he happier when You are rid of all tli
care. | should think mother would SCI
how much better it would be for you
both"
Jonathan looked at her face with al
expression that might have been veal
and might have been cunning. Ill
drew his daughter low down into tn
chair vacated by his wife, and Leaned
his own head against his high-backc'
chair, while he twirlcd his two thumb
thoughtfully.
"You need not think to blame you
mOther-inlaw, Susan, i'll any way f.
me-"
She laid down her head and sniffcd
little, and then said:
"'She is mighty mad because yoI
want to do something for us. | hope
shall consult Johns feelings better"
''The house and all in it is hers, Su
san: all the linen and blankets made
wove and spun by her own hands. Sh
has been like the woman of the Bib,
diligent with her hands and now she
naturally unwilling to see it all go OF
of them"
"But she is growing old, very ole
and infirm, both in mind and bod,
} and needs to he nursed and taken cal
of, instead of having all the care o
her shoulders"
: "There showed out the cloven foot
cried Debby, from the doorway. .
am no more intiIm i'll body than yo
, are, and us to mind, you hadn't niue
( to begin with" Susan sighed heavil.
, ''You see how it is, father, peop
I never know when they are losing the
faculties"
a eyes, Susan. The story of the ol
E bishop who was removed for the e.
i cellence of his homilies, and who b
:, sought his friend to tell him when the
i was any falling off i'll these, is just
:, the point, wife,
i Susan fingered open -mouthed an
: open-eyed, while Debby muttered:
e "Well, what did he do ?"
Il ''In process of time the good bishO
e had stroke of apoplcxy from whic
, he barely escaped with his life, b
\ with mind hopelessly shattered. u
It on resuming his religious office,
l. prepared his sermon, and, as was h
Is habit, read it to his friend. Nov
Y said the latter to himself, the time h
e come for me to redeem the promi
II made, that | would tell him like tn
r, friend when | perceived his faculti,
E. on the decline'r
= "That is the office of a true frien
|. however painful" smirked Susan. il
IA terrupting Mr.. Fisher.
l. "Well, what came of 81 sobb
z Debby.
'e "The homily was so poor, so inc
IT herent, and so weak, that 'twould
TT fatal to the reputation of the bishop
d, preach it; so, after some delay a
l. many hens and hahs of voice, he to
ne his friend just how it was"
p ''No doubt he was grateful at bei
told the truth, however painful to hea