Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-19
Two Sides TO q FrOlIc.


Bert was on one side of the fence, and the
boys on the other. His hand was on the
gate, but he had not quite made up his mind
to open it.
"Oh, come on" said Val Morton. "what
is the use of moping in the house such a
splendid night as this Come on and have
some fun"
al ought to study my Latin" said Bert,
reluctantly, as he remembered the long, dry
lesson.
"Bother the Latin; it's no use, any way.
I'd like to see anybody getting those irregu-
lar verbs out of me-" said Will Moore.
Bert laughed little at the idea Of getting
much but mischief in it, and then he slowly
opened the gate, drew long breath, and
went out 1t was glorious night, with Just
enough frost in the air to make it cool and
crisp.
"Where are you going ?" asked Bert
"Oh, Just around town." said Val, care
lessly, and at that moment they came oppo-
site DR.. Parker's gate, which stood little
way open. In an instant Val lifted it off
the hinges, and laid 1t in the gutter.
"Teach him TO keep his gate shut"
laughed Will, and Bert laughed, too, though
he felt ashamed of himself, for everybody
liked DIR. Parker.
A few blocks further on were some wooden
steps at the edge of the sidewalk. Will
gave Val a nudge, and with one stout tug
the steps were upset.
"That's too mean," said Bert. "Suppose
some one should step off there ?"
"Pooh !" said Val,' it is light as day, and
nobody ever does go down there except old
Bijah, when he is in hurry for his grog.
Serve him right if he pitched over"
Bert knew he was in bad company, but
he was beginning to enjoy the excitement
of the adventure, and when Will proposed
that they should carry off the sign from a
little shop and fasten it to the horns of Mrs.
McPherson's COW, he was ready to lend a
hand himself. Old Whitley, who was
peacefully chewing her cud, was easily
,axed into an alley with handful of tur-
nips pulled from her owners garden and
before she realized that any mischief was
intended, she found herself laundering about
with board on her face. The sign read
Dressmaking and Fine Sewing; all kinds
of Hair Work. Ladies' Hair Dressed in the
latest styles"
The boys laughed so much over this that
they were in danger of being found out
But at last Bert said he must go home, and
that ended the frolic for the night.
In his own room he tried for little while
to fix his mind upon his lesson, but soor
found himself laughing at the thought of the
| figure the COW would cut, and wondering
where they would find her in the morning
so he tossed the book aside, and went to bed
This was one side.
The other side began the next morning
| when, with Berts first waking thoughts
came a consciousness of the unprepared les
son, and a dismal foreboding of failure, tina
brought him to the breakfast-table in any
thing but an amiable mood. His father wa!
not there, and Aunt Margaret explained
that he had been called away to see pa
tent.
cts that smart little Johnny Collins
he's twisted his ankle dreadfully; worse t.
manage than broken bone, your fathe
says, and may lay him up half the winter.
How did it happen ?" asked Bert, al
----siy
"fhat's the worst of it," said Aunt Maj
garet " some mischievous boys, that ough
to be sent to the reform school, upset tn
steps in front of the house."
Bert was wide enough awake now, an,
staring at Aunt Margaret with frightene'
eyes as she went on.
"Bijah was off on one Of his drinking
sprees, and his wife was 30 anxious for fea
he'd lay down somewhere on the track, tina
she sent Johnny out to look him up. Ill
ran out to the gate, boy fashion, and mad
a rush for the steps, never noticing the
we're gone, till he pitched down the banl
with his foot twisted under him. lie mus
have tainted and lain there some time befor
he managed to crawl back, and they didn'
send for your father till morning. 1t doe
seem too hard for that poor woman. john
was her only dependence, and such mic
boy"
Poor Bert was fairly sick with horror a
the unlooked-for result of the mischief, 10
though he had made feeble protest, h
had really sanctioned it by his presence, an
he knew that his father would say he wa
as much responsible as any one.
"I'll never tell him." thought Bert; "i
would not do the least good now, and
would nearly kill him. I've done with thes
boys, though, and with such frolics as the
are up to-"
But it CHANGED that Bert was not to hav
his own way about this matter. That ever
ing when he came home smarting under tn
modification of failure in his lessons, and
sense of remorse and shame at his own foil,
|
the first time in his life Bert really dreade
an interview with his father, and when b
saw upon a chair the hairdresser's sig
which he had helped to fasten upon Mr.
McPherson's COW, he was ready to sink wit
shame. His father talked TO him quietl
telling him that for some time the neighbo
hood had been annoyed by the mischievou
and malicious tricks of a set of boys, unit
some of the residents had determined Thu
they would make public example of then
"If it could have been done sooner
would have saved great deal of sufferin
to an innocent boy, but perhaps some ser
GUS warning was needed for those who
not hesitate to sacrifice their best friends
what they call fun. This morning DIR. Pa
ker called me into his garden, and aft
showing me the mischief done to his choiC
vines and plants by some creature that ha
trampled over them, he told me that
found Mrs. McPherson's COW in the groun,
with that sign tied to her horns. The ga
had been taken from the hinges, and Il
animal had apparently been driven about
do as much damage as possible. 1t seemt
almost incredible that any one would ha'
the boldness to avow such villainy."
Bert sat with his eyOs fixed upon Il
sign, unable to move or speak, but at tn
instant he saw, written in pencil at the u
of the board Compliments OF Bert A
drews."
show mean," he exclaimed angril.
THAT is some of Will Moore's work."
any boy" exclaimed his father, lookir
as il an immense burden had been lift
from him. al shall be the happiest man
town to know that you had no hand in tn
rascally business"
Then Bert's heart fell again. He thong
he had only shared in the fun, but he su
denly realized that his companions had
contrived that he should also bear the d
grace and the blame for the unlooked-f
results.
After all, it was relief to both faith
and son when the whole story was to-
Bert was relieved at having made full &C
fession and feeling himself restored to |
fathers confidence, while his father W
glad of the assurance that his boy had Il
been guilty of malicious mischief.
"Nothing more fortunate could have hs
pened to you than that this very first adv'
ture should bring you into trouble, for
member, my boy, that the acts themselN
would have been just as disgraceful If thin
had not resulted as they did. The law dc
not trouble itself about intentions, but hol
na raaoonaihla for tha mischief which