The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26
Our Winter in the Country.


The schools were to open on the first
Wednesday in September, and by the
middle of August we bagan regretfully
TO realize that it was time to be thinking
of getting back to town.
at is great mistake having the
schools open SO early" said Jonas. "Sep-
TENDER in the city is often the warmest as
we'll as the sickliest month in the year;
yet the children are hurried in from the
mountains and seashore, and crowded into
close, illventilated school-rooms at time
when in the country nature is putting on
it's gayest colors and the air is the most
healthful and invigorating. And, as if it
were not enough to incarcerate them dur
ing school hours, so many lessons are i'm
posed to be studied at home that scarcely
a moment is left to devote to recreation.
AS natural sequence, by the time the
winter fairly sets in, all the good effected
by the summers rusticsting is neutral.
lied, leaving them an easy prey to diph-
liberia, malaria, and host of other evils"
Tom and Ben exchanged significant
chances at the end of. this philippe, and
when Annie, who, being Vasssr grsdu-
ate, feels fine indifference to the lesser
schools, ventured to propose our remain
ing another month in the country, they
enthusiastically seconded the motion.
"But we shall all fall behind in our
classes" protested Bell.
"And fail of promotion" added Beth.
"Oh, but we'll stay at home, and sister
Nan can hear us recite,' said Tom.
"We'd learn a good deal faster than
we learn in school, if she would" said
Ben, looking coaxingly at Annie.
"Pn hear you willingly, if you will
promise to show me proper respect" said
Annie, with laugh.
1t would be hard to enumerate all the
arguments that were urged in favor of our
staying. Even Bell and Beth withdrew
their protest and declared themselves will
ing to take their chances for the next pro.
motion ; and as Jonas tacitly abetted them
in this temporary revolt against the school
authorities, it was useless for me to raise
IN objection. In fact, had no wish to
raise one; if Jonas thought that October
would be early enough for the children to
enter school, that settled the question
for myself, felt in no haste whatever to
return to town.
Only those who have spent an autumn
in the country can fully sympathize in our
enjoyment of those rare September days
days which the summer in all its glory
could never duplicate; days when over
the woods and hills hung shimmering
purple haze, and the blue waters stretched
motionless as mirror under the dreamy
skies. For the next three or four weeks
we literally took "no thought for the
morrow" giving ourselves up physically
and mentally to the delicious idleness
which nothing but the soft Italian dolce
Jar niente can adequately describe.
"To think of being shut up in school
on days like thesel" said Bell, as we
drifted about the bay in the hazy sun
shine, or logged along roads that seemed
cut through quarries of rainbows, the
woods on either hand being like the walls
of the New Jerusalem in the splendor of
their coloring. 1t was an entirely new
having ever before seen the country in
autumn and as we witnessed their de-
light we had the feeling, Jonas and L, that
In keeping them 30 large part of the
year in the city we had in certain way
defrsuded them.
"Only one week more d" sighed Beth
as September drew to close; but thai
very day Jonas received letter from 8
wellknown publishing house asking him
TO take in hand the Translation of "Tht
Life and Letters of the Great German
Scientist, Professor Karl Won Steuklen
berg" 1t was work that would occupy
him some three or four months and bring
him in good round sum.
If we were going to be here all winter
| should not hesitate moment" he said
as he closed the letter but they want i
to be ready for publication by the first o.
March, and in the city there are so man!
interruptions" He took up another let
ter as he spoke, and opened it in preoc
cupied way. II proved to be from hi
brother, who, with his wife and mother
in-law, had been occupying our hous'
during our absence.
"They have all been sick, and he beg
that, if possible, we will let them keel
the house another month, as the old lad
is not yet well enough to be moved"
Jonas is usually very ready to symps
thize with his friends when trouble over
takes them, but in the present instanc
his voice showed no regret.
al only wish they'd take it for tn
winter" he said, as he passed the lette
across the table.
Sand what would become of us, in tina
case 2" / asked, in startled voice.
"We'd stay here, of course" answers
Jonas, cody.
"But the children, Jonas " | Q,
claimed. "Think what setback it woul
be to them, having to be out of school a
winter
mot necessarily set back, my dea