The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-08


there was when we begun" said Con
with merry chuckle. ''Now, boys,
isn't this big help to the old gintle-
man? He'd niver get away with 'em
alone, sure"
There was no sound, except the
voices of the frogs in the marsh under
the hill, while the work went briskly
on. 1t was when The boys were near
ready TO leave that they heard voice
in the direction of the deacon's DOM
icile.
"I don't know, but I'll walk oui and
iee.n
Vets ould Mrs. Cannon herselfl"
sm nded Cons excited whisper. "Go
fo, the gap, me boys, and don't spill
ydnr cherries over. Go nowW
They were all only too ready to obey.
Away they skurried, with long leaps,
ike frightened rabbits, through the
orchard grass TO the break in the wall.
But they did not get beyond it. Up
rose the deacon from the other side,- as
cool so Jerry Parker afterwards said
e asa frozen cucmber.
"Good evening, boys" said he. lie
took of his hat as he spoke, and by the
light of the moon the boys could see
that he was making desperate effort
TO keep his face straight. "Now, Pm
-IIdld on there! Stop"
FG Con and Ike Harris had started
TO mn. They stopped, however.
Thee was nothing else to do, VIXEN the
deacon spoke in that way, and they
knev it.
Lets see," said the deacon, reach.
ing toward Ned Rogers basket, which
was for thwilh handed over to him with
great alacrity, "let's see how many
you've eot.'
lie examined every boys load in
turn, carefully and in silence, and al
the boys looked into each others faces
without speaking. Oh, if the moon
would but go under a cloud.
When the deacon had finished his
inspection, he spoke again, kindly, and
with pleasant smile.
"Now boys, Pm much obliged to ye.
I've laid out to go to town with load
O. truck to-marrow, an was wonder
in how I'd get my cherries picked.
Pm recly obliged to ye, and I'll be
more so yen carry 'em TO The house
for me-"
Not boy felt like disobeying. Not
one but silently picked up his burden
Of cherries and marched along before
the deacon TO the house and into the
porch.
"Sct 'em right down here" directed
- s''~--- ~----.-,~., ~h~n~r",ir Gam III
see to 'em fore long. Now, boys ye'vt
worked considerable hard, an you
want some supper. Come in, an have
some cherry pie an cheese"
Every boys face said he would rather
die, and there was q sound of mur
INJURED negatives.
eyes, you WILL" said the deacon
"you'vc worked well, an deserve you
supper. Right into the kitchen, now
right in! Mother E awaiting for ye."
So she was kind, motherly Mrs
Cannon. And there was q tabl
loaded with goodies for them, too
sandwiches, and plum-cake, and cherr,
pi., and cherry tarts, and cherries
cherries everywhere.
"Good evening" said Mrs. Gamm OH
bcaming upon the boys.
"Tako some chairs" ordered tn,
deacon, behind them; "and set righ
up, and have some cherry pic and sech.
The boyr wondercd whether the,
were awake or dreaming, as they file,
shame facedly past Mrs. Cannon, hat
in hands, and took seats at the well
spread table.
"Now, help yourselves" said tn
dcacon's wife And each boy, in hi
heart wondered, If she knew, an
hoped she didn't. But they helpe,
themselves readily enough; and a
length, between the dcacon's funn
stories, and the delicious cherry pic
they came as near enjoying themselve
as was possible under the circum
stances.
"You amt eat scarcely anything,
said the deacon, when the boys finishe
their meal. "Have some cherries? N
cherries? IIo! no! ho!"
"Now, father!" expostulated hi
wife, mildly; and then the boys kne'
sho knew
81 don't s'pose I'd ought to-" sal
the deacon; and he walked to the hea
of the table, and stood there lookin
down at his guests with queer littl
smile. 81 amt much of speechificr
he said, "but l want 10 ask you on
question. Which would ye rather b
when ye get ready to take your fathers
places, honest men or rogues?'
Every boy caught his breath. Th
old eight-day clock in the corner ticke
painfully loud.
"The man'll be nigh about the sam
as the boy" went on the deac OF
"Now which'll ye be, boys, rogue
honest menp"
, "Hon- honest men," cried Co
, O'Brien.
r Later OH he aaid he couldn't help i
A with the deacon looking at him, an
4 the deacon's wife wiping her glasses
that anxious way; but he meant it, q
the same. And they all followed Ii
lI..l - 49,. o.,o, l;l n.va.x, lOxr