The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-01-19

Eighty years ago on Christmas eve said
-. RI NJ. rr.aa.A tIits .rspd.

fathers hair tnrnsd as grs. ~ pAascf'
n~.s eleven o'clock r. NJ The Criss-
man House was closed aud the lights
we're turDed out. but some Of the boys
were lingering by the genial rev base.
burner stove, where they bad beep eI'
changing experiences during the evening,
The stove vas radiant lis beams fell on
the form Of the dog Caesar or the floor.
They lit the ioyial face Of the county clerk
a. the early sunbeams Hume the tin
rooster on the hotel barn. and kissed the
nose Of the sheriff until lis reflected light
surrounded him with halo Of glory.
They glowed on the decsnters back OF the
bar with soft intensity that emphasized
the labels, and they even climbed 10 the
'.No Trust" sign, aud clothed il with so
kindly a CLEAN that it appeared no longer
a stern reality, aud carried terror 10 no one
no, even TO the foreman of the printing
Office. reclining on the coal box, back IN
the shadows.
Eighty years ago. mnsed the sheriff.
E.i.g.h.ty-y-e.a.r.s- The epoet says
old age comes on apace, but II seems to
me as il he was bowling along this way on
gallop. Age may he crown OF glory,
but notice that youth hangs up the most
yenson.
Well. said tho county clerk did age
pounce down on Uncle Peleg Unerhill's
grandfather all in one night and turn him
gray? What business had he to be Uncle
Pelegs grandfather, or anybody eise's
grandfather anyhow, unless he was gray
when he started on the grandfather bust.
ness?
But hold on Hold on, said the sheriff.
haven't told YOU about it yet. Uncle
Polegs grandfather was only twenty-five
years old when
Stop! said the ex-poundmaster, as he
got up and began to button his overcoat
Stop, sheriff: that'll do! I've heard You
tall about catfish climbing trees and pick.
srell burrowing through ten.acre lots to
get from one pond to another, and have
never for moment doubted your truthful.
ness, I've told those stories to my child
rem, aud when they have pulled down
their under eyelds and asked me If saw
ANYTHING green, I've reproached them for
the implied doubt, telling them that You
had seen those things, and they were con-
seanently true But, sheriff, in present
ing me with man twenty-five years old
as grandfather, you are asking too much
OF me at any time Of life. 1t won't soak
IN. ] now begin to doubt even the climb
ing catfish, and my faith in the burrowing
pickerel is wavering. Sheriff, it is sad
thing when one friend loses confidence in
another Good night, boys l go home
sadder, but wiser man.
Poundmaster, said the sheriff, I'm touch.
ed. Then, thinking the movement might
be misconstrued among the loys, he re-
moved it quickly, and laid it on his chest.
How sharper than serpent's tooth it is to
be called liar by a man yon darsu't hit!
he said, bitterly, But stay. Uncle Pc
legs grandfather wasn't his grandfather
then. You see---
But you said ho was his grandfather,
urged the poundmaster. Do you take 1t
back then, and admit you were lying to
us.
Yon see, said the sheriff, not committing
himself You see, he got to be Uncle Pc
legs grandfather, because he was Uncle
Peleg' grandfather finally See2
The poundmaster shook his head sadly.
and sat down again.
Then that spoils the whole blame story,
said the county clerk. You said Peleg's
grandfathars hair turned gray in a single
night. Now, that would be something
worth listening to. II the gentleman's
hair turning gray all at once, that goes to
say that his hair WASH gray before. unless
it was dyed and lie lost his hat in shower.
Now, a grandfather without gray hair was
Just an immense thing TO commence
Christmas story with, But it turns out
that there wasn't any grandfather, where
are you going to get your gray hair9 The
next time you intend to get your fine work
in on grandfather story, sheriff, don't
try to play - year older off ou us for the
old man.
Try it the other way sheriff. suggested
the ex.distriet attorney. Can't you make
| il come out right by telling how your
grandfather's Uncle Peleg Underhill's s hair
turned gray III a single night9 Mebbe
that 'll'fI it.
But my grandfather didn't have any
Uncle Peleg Underhill said the pound
master, vko dislikes dispute. Begin
the story, Once upon time, etc. It'll
straighten out as you 90.
Yes, said the district attorney; and II
you cculd work in couple 0 ghosts right
near the start, and kill some one 10 dark,
deep hollow, we'd like it.
The foreman Of the printing Office came
out from hfHouR lnc sHaoo"s NJ" t""h
seat in the glow Of the base burner. he
said il was too cold on the coal box.
But there amt any ghosts 10 this story
said the sheriff, and no one gets murdered.
The foreman Of the printing Office went
back TO the shadows. He said 1t was too
hot 10y the base burner.
, l have an impression, continued the
sheriff, that there is the suspicion Of m in
clinatioa an thc'part Of the circle 'hi'
evening TO infer that do not intend te
lay this story out with the aid Of straight
edge. Gentlemen, am deeply hurt
With what good reason let my witness bs
a simple statement of the facts IN the cas-
Of Uncle PeIegs grandfather. Poeti'