The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-18
,JOe's Chill,

JUt'S Oniits
Sometimes when Joe comes home from
school he is wild Indian, sometimes he
is Rocky Mountain grizzly, sometimes he
is an honest miner. One night he bounded
into the yard with yell and rushed into
the house more like a "norther than
anything else. The doors tore open as
though of themselves, but wouldn't shut !;
the chairs fell down and one or two
tables and work baskets went over. His
older sister said, GO Joe !" and put her
fingers in her ears, and the cat ran under
the sofa. Only the baby liked it. He
crowed and squealed, trying to make as
much noise in his way as Joe himself.
"I'm on the debate I'm on the debate !
Which is more useful, the horse or the
COW, that is the question we have got to
discuss, and we chose sides and l chose
the horse. The horse reckon did
choose the horse I'd give more for pony
to-day, if it wasn't bigger than a rat, than
would for all the old COWS this side of
sunsise. I'm to find out all | can about
horses, about shoeing them and what they
do with their hair and how many teeth
they have and everything like that"
said Joe.
GAIL kinds of horses? Saw-horses and
clothes-horses and the horse marine?
asked Jim.
| Joe did not answer. He was already
reading from Johnson's cyclopedia: "Its
perception is quick, its memory retentive
and it is capable of much affection. II
is surpassed in docility by no animal
except the dog and perhaps the elephant
| Tto fash 10 oftor mead for fOod -
After this Joe did not say much to his
family, but was running after the black
smith and stable-men, or reading book;
on natural history. So at last came the
evening for debate. Everybody was
ready, father, mother, Jim and Susan anc
Cora, but where was Joe?
"Josey Joseyl" called his mother
"Come, where are you? We are al
ready"
"Where is Joe? 1 haven't seen him.
said Susan.
"Probably he is off somewhere by him
self speaking over his piece" answered
the mother, fondly. Then his fathe
called, and upon that Joe replied. Here
l am" said he, from behind the kitchen
stove, where he sat curled up in drear,
looking bunch. 81 don't believe l cal
go; 1 don't feel well; feel like In
going to have chill"
go Joe !" cried Cora, "when you've go
your side all ready 80 beautiful. That i
dreadful. Mayn't say it for you? Can
/, mother ?"
Joe shivered and held his hands GU
toward the fire, but did not answer.
"Start along children, you and mother
| o1rax - Io Gal T.
he continued when the door had close,
after them, 81 wouldn't give up to il
! When | was a boy there were no lyceum
or debating clubs where lived, and moth
ing to draw me out to speak. And now
when l am man, can't do it. I'd Civ
all the horses have, and cows too, if T.
learned to talk in public when l wa
young. Nobody minds ii, if boy doe
break down and stammer some; bu
+ he can never begin 80 easily when h
, is man. Come, my son, put on your hs
f and 60 with me-"
! Joe turned red and he turned whit
! but he put on his hat, and pulling it we
down over his eyes followed his fathe
7 AT every step he thought he could ne
: take another forward, but somethin
:. seemed to be pulling him along. tn
r school-house appeared also to be comm
q to meet him, and they were there befol
he had quite made up his mind to tuI
a back. He entered the long, low hal
wishing that it was nothing worse tina
a being shot or hung that was before hin
!. He was quite over his chill now, or ell,
a the fever had set in, and his heart bel
e 80 hard he wondered the next boy didn
| DIT 90,
y thing went right on. The three wi
g were to decide the question were chose
{ and seated on the platform beside IL
a president and the debate opened. The
q Joe's turn came. AS he walked forwal
r the boards of the floor appeared to ri
# before him, so he was net sure where |
should step, and Immediately the roo
q seemed full of eyes. They were g
e friendly eyes, however, and what if il
>. did forget all the fine turns ehe had ma,
v beforehand And what if his sentenc
= did get 80 tangled that he had to ST,
q suddenly and begin over again. Ever
"a body smiled on instead of at him, and q
n plauded when he had finished, lust
, though he had done as we'll as he mea
20 to. They all took it 80 as a matter
n course, that in few days he had almost fc
a gotten his little blunders and MOI tifc
"a tions, and when the next debate came
II was not half so frightened.
If Some of our most popular lecture
r. have said that they never face an au
> ence without feeling of dread. So it
il not strange, if Joe has not yet thrown
r. all shyness about speaking. But he does
r. give up to it, and his father has nea
r. decided to let him study law.
q. For I'd like business that will q
OF me chance to spout, says Joe.--Fran
20 Lee, in Congregationdlis
ne