Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-20
The Silver Tankard.

BY them we're commended;
Think they're Just splendid.
Don't your -Independent.
The Silver Tankard.
On slope of land opening itself to the
south, in now thickly-settled town in the
state Of Maine, some hundred and more
years ago, stood farmhouse TO which the
epithet comfortable might be applied.
The house stood at the very verge of the
settlement, SO that from it no other cottage
could be seen the nearest neighbor was
distant about six miles. Daniel Gordon,
the owner and occupant of the premises we
have described, had chosen this valley in
the wilderness, wide, rich tract Of land,
not only as his own home but prospectively
as the home of his children and his chill
dren's children. He was willing to be far
off from men, that his children might have
room to settle around him. He was looked
upon as the rich man of that district
II was on bright and beautiful morning
in the month of June. 1t was Sunday /;
and though early, the two sons of Daniel
Gordon and the hired man had gone TO
meeting on foot, to the Landing, little viii
lage on the banks of the river, ten miles dis
tant. Daniel himself was standing at the
door, with the horse and chaise, ready and
waiting for his good wife, who had been
somewhat detained. At that instant a
neighbor of six miles distant rode up on
horseback, and beckoned to him.
"Good morning, neighbor Gordon" said
he. 81 have come out of my way in going
to meeting to tell you that Tom Smith
that daring thief-and two others, have
been seen providing about in these parts and
that you had better look out lest you have a
visit. l have got nothing in my house to
bring them there, but they may be after
your silver tankard, neighbor, and the silver
spoons. / have often told you that these
things were not fit for these new parts.
Tom is bold fellow, but | suppose the
fewer he meets when he goes to steal the
better. | don't think 1t safe for you all to
be off to meeting to-day; but | am in a
hurry, neighbor, so goodbye"
This communication placed Daniel in an
unpleasant dilemma. 1t had been settled
that no one was to be left at home but his
daughter Mehitabel, beautiful little girl
about nine years old. Shall stay or go ?
was the question. Daniel was a Puritan
but then he was father, and little Kitty
was the light and joy of his eyes,
But these Puritans were stern and un.
hincbing will not even take Kitty with
me. She is in Gods hands, and we will
go to worship him who never forsakes those
who put their trust in him. As the little
girl aud her mother stepped to the chaise,
the father said to the child " If any strangers
come, Hitty, treat them we'll. We can
spare of our abundance to the poor. What
is silver and gold, when we think of Gods
holy word ?" With these words on his lips
he drove off.
Little Kitty, as the daughter of Puritan,
was strictly brought up to observe the Lords
day. She knew that she ought to return
to the house, but nature, for this once at
least, got the better of her training. "No
HARM" thought she, to see the brood of
chickens" She passed almost an hour out
of the house, because she did not feel alone
when she was out among the birds, and
was gathering here and there a little wild
flower. But at last she went in, took her
Bible and seated herself at the window.
As she was there seated, she saw three
men coming up toward the house, and she
was glad to see them for she felt lonely,
and there was a dreary, long day before her.
Father" thought she, "meant something,
when he told me to be kind to strangers.
suppose he expected them. wonder what
keeps them all from meeting2 Never mind (;
they shall see that can do something, if
am little Kitty" So putting down the
Bible, she ran to meet them, happy, conhd-
ing, and even glad that they had come.
Without waiting for them to speak, she
called to them to come in with her, and
said, O. am alone; if mother was here she
would do more for you, but | will do what
can"
c,.;+L o,J IL, t,.,o oo,.,o,;o,, o,@o.ol
Now, it was neither breakfasttime nor din
ner-time, but about halfway between both
yet little Hitty's head was full of the direction
Spare of our abundance" and almost be-
fore they were fairly in the house, she asked
if she should give them something to eat.
Smith replied: "Yes, will thank you, my
child, for we are all hungry
"Shall give you cold victuals, or will
you wait till can cook some meat ?"
ave can't watt" was the reply "give
us what you have ready, as soon as you can"
az am glad you do not want me to cook
for you-but would do it if you did-be-
cause father would rather not have much
cooking on Sundays"
Then away she tripped about, making
preparations for their repast. Smith him
self helped her out with the table. She
spread upon it a clean white cloth, and
placed upon it the silver spoons and the sill
yer tankard, as was the custom in those
days, with a large quantity of wheaton
bread and a dish of cold meat. / don't
know why the silver spoons were put on
perhaps little Kitty thought they made the
table look prettier, After all this was done
she turned to Smith, and with a courtesy
told him that dinner was ready.
The child had been 80 busy in arranging
her table, and so thoughtful OF housewifery,
that she took little or no notice of the APP
pearance or manners of her guests. She
did the work as cheerily and as freely, and
was as unembarrassed as if she had been
surrounded by her father and mother and
brothers. One of the thieves sat down dog
gedly, with his hands on his knees, and his
face almost TO his hands, looking all the
time on the floor. Another, a younger and
better-looking man, stood COMPOUNDED and
irresolute, as If he had not been well broken
into his trade; and often would go back to
the window and look out, keeping his back
10 the child. Smith, on the other hand,
looked unconcerned, as if he had forgotten
his purpose. He never once took his atten-
ton off the child, following her with his
eyes as che hustled about in arranging the
dinner-table; and there was even half
smile on his face. They all moved to the
table, Smiths chair at the head, one of his
companions on each side, and the child at
the foot, standing there to help her guests
and to be ready to go for further supplies.
The men ate as hungry men, almost in
silence, drinking occasionally from the sill
yer tankard. When they had done, Smith
started up suddenly and said, Come, let's
60"
"What |" exclaimed the old robber, a. go
with empty hands when the silver is here ?"
He seized the tankard.
"Put that down." shouted Smith; I'm
shoot the man who takes single thing from
this house."
Poor Kitty at once swoke TO a sense of
the character of her guests, and with terror
in her face, yet with childlike frankness,
she ran to Smith, took hold OF his hand, and
looked into his face, as if she felt sure that
he would take care OF her.
The old thief, looking up to his young
companion, and finding that he was ready
TO give up the job, and seeing that Smith
was resolute, put down the tankard, growl-
ing like dog which has had bone taken
from him. "Fool catch me in your com.
pany again." and with such an expression
| left the house, followed by the other. Smith
put his hand on the head of the child aud
said, Don't be afraid; stay quiet in the
house; nobody shall hurt YOU"
Thus ended the visit Of the thieves.
Thus God preserved the property of those
II i