Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-15
The Longest Day of the Year.

| don't know what the almanac man said
about it, but Dan said it was the longest,
and Dan was certainly the one who under
stood the matter best.
It began pretty much like other days,
only that there was heavy fog, and Dan.
knew that it was bad weather for haying,
and tip-top for fishing. He made up his
mind to go fishing. Perhaps if his mind
had not been already made up, he would not
have minded it so much when his father
said at the breakfast table:
owe must get the scythes in good order,
SOS to take fair start at the lower meadow
tomorrow. Don't let me have to waste
time hunting after you, Daniel, when I'm
ready to go at IT,"
Daniels appetite was gone at once. How
he hated to turn that heavy creaking old
grindstone and how sure his father was TO
find dozen things TO do first, and keep him
waiting all the morning He went around
by the sink drain, and dug his bait he ex-
amined his fishing-pole; he put up his
lunch he even tried a worm on the hook
and then he wandered dsconsolately around,
wishing grindstones had never been invented.
He went to the end of the garden, and
leaned sulkily over the low stone wall, eat
ing the hali-ripe harvest apples, and throw
ing the cores spitefully away. Down the
road few rods lay the mill-pond, and in
the middle of the road near by stood Des-
con SINNERS horse and chaise
Old Whitley had his nose down, and one
leg crooked in meditative fashion. The
deacon was over in the field, making bar
gain with Solomon Murray for some young
cattle. What fun it would be TO start the
old horse up, and set him trotting home
Dan could almost hit him with an apple
core He tried two or three, Just TO see and
then he picked a smooth round stone from
the wall, aud sent it singing throuhg the air.
Old Whitley brought up his nose with
jerk Strengthened his fore-leg, and started
off on a brisk trot, the chaise-top fitting and
pitching back and forth.
Dan laughed-at least the laugh began to
grow, when he caught one glimpse of a
frightened little face at the chaise-window,
and knew that Nanny Dane, the deacon's
little lame grandchild, was in the chaise.
1t was only glimpse, and then the bank
of gray fog swallowed Whitley and the
chaise and it seemed to Dan that they had
gone straight into the mil.pond.
daniel Daniel Come on now, aud be
spry about it ~ called his father, as he
moved toward the grindstone; and Dan
obeyed, though he felt as if his feet had all
at once turned to lead.
Round and round and round; his tough
little hands were blistered on the handle,
but he did not know it his mouth and
throat were as dry as the stone, but he did
not think of it. Crrr-crrr.crrr," rang the
rough, wearisome noise, until his ears are so
deatened he did not even hear it. For he
was perfectly sure he had killed little Nanny
Dane. What would people say2 What
would they do to him? II ang him, of course ;
and Dan felt in his heart that he deserved it.
"There," said his father at last, al
reckon that'll do, Daniel. You've been
faithful and stiddy at your work, and now
you may go fishing"
Dan never knew how he got to Long Pond,
or how he passed the slow hours of that dis
NAL day. The misery seemed intoerable,
and before evening he had made up his mind
that he could bear it no longer. He would
go home and tell his father, he would tell
every body. They might hang him, they
might do anything they pleased.
Tramping desperately home with his
empty basket in his hand, he heard the
sound of wheels behind him, dragging slowly
through the deep sand Perhaps that was
the sheriff coming arrest him. Dams heart
beat harder, but he did not look around.
The wheels came nearer; they stopped, and
some one said:
"Hullo, Daniel been fishin'2 Fisher
mans luck, hey Well, jump in here, and
I'll give We lift"
Before Dan know it he was over the wheel
and sitting beside Deacon Skinner in the
old chaise, with Whitley switching his tail
right and left as he plodded along.
"Git up, Whitley" urged the deacon !;
"it's getting along toward chore-time.
Whitley amt so spry as he used to be, but
he's amazin smart This morning | left
little Nanny in the shay while was max
ing dicker with Solomon Murray, and a
keerless thing it was to do, but I'd as soon
expect the meetin house to run away as
Whitley. | reckon something must have
scarf him; but he just trotted off home as
, stiddy as if I'd been driving, and waited at
the door for mother to come and get amy
befo he went to the barn."
"Oh, Deacon Skinner" burst out Dan,
ait was me- scarf Whitley"
"Did ye now, sonny? Well, there wuzn't
any harm DONE and know ye didn't mean
to-"
al did, did" said Dan, sobbng violently
from the long strain of excitement. al
didn't know Nanny was in the chaise and
threw a stone at him."
"Well, well" said the deacon, rubbing
his stubby chin, and looking curiously at
Dan Beats all what freaks boys will
take, but know We won't do it again"
al never will" said Dan solemnly. This
has been the awfulest longest day that ever
was in the world. -Hdrper's Young People.