News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-11-22

"Aunt. what makes you keep tha
gander. wear after year?" said [, one
evening, as we were sitting on the law
before the door. "Is it because he is {
, kind of watchdog. and keeps trouble
some people away?'
.'No, child, no; do not wish to keeI
most people away, not well-behaved
people, nor to distress nor annoy any
one. The fact is, there is a story about
that gander that do not ike to speak
of to every one-something that makes
me feel tender toward him; so that if he
needs a whipping, would rather DO it.
He knows something that no one else
knows. You have heard me speak OF
Nathaniel, my oldest bOy?'
Eyes"
''That is mis- picture in my room, you
know. [ loved NathanieI-yOu cannot
think how much [ loved Nathaniel. 1t
was on my account that he went away.
"The farm did not produce enough
for us all. One year-that was ten years
ago--we were sued for our taxes.
8" Nathaniel, sad I, I will take
| boarders.'
''Then he looked mp at me and said
| (Oh, how noble and handsome he ap-
peared to me >:
Mother, I viii go to sea-.
8" Where ? asked I, in surprise.
" In a coaster
% You and John can manage the
place he continued. One of the YES
sells sails next week-Unclc Aaron 8; ne
offers to take me
1T seemed best, az
tons to go. a.
have met Skipper Ben-had glyun mo
some goose eggs; l.e had brought them
| from Canada, and said that they We're
wild-goose eggs.
u set them under hens. In four weeks
had three gosImgs, and one OF those
gosIings is that gander.
Skipper Ben came over to see me,
the day before Nathaniel was to sail.
Aaron came with him.
Il said to Aaron:
g What can I give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him think
OF home? Cake, preserves, apples2 L
haven't got much; [ have done ~ l can
for him, poor boy
Brother looked at me cariously, and
said:
g Give him one q those wild geese.
and we will fatteE it on shipboard and
will have it for our Thanksgiving din
ner.
.sWhat brother Aaron said pleased me.
The young gander was a noble bird, the
, handsomest Of the lot; and l had resolved
] 10 keep the geese TO kill for my own use
and give him to Nathaniel.
"The next morniug-it was late ii
Septembcr-I took leave Of Nathaniel
- I tried to be calm and cheerful anC
hopeful. [ watched him as lie wen
@ down the walk with the ganJer strug
Cling under his arms. A stranger woulC
have laughed, but / did not feel lllu
g laughing; although the boys who Wen
. coasting were usually gone but fey
months and came home hardy an
happy.
Il saw him go over the hill. On th
top he stopped and held up the gandel
G He disappeared; yes, my own NathmN
disappeared. / think Of him now as Oh
Ii who disappeared.
November camc-it was tcrrlh
y month on the coast that year. ot"r
A. followed storm; the sea-forin@ Peop
= talked constantly Of wrecks and lossc
= T could not sleep on the nights OF tine
biob winds. used to lie awake Tim
G. ina over all the happy hours had NV
with Nathaniel.
.cTbankspiviun, wool "arao-
"Tt was full Of an Indian-sumn
,riabtncss after the long storms. l
SO nioIts were frosty, bright and calm.
Il could sleep on those calm nights
cone morning, l thought hear
strange sound in the woodland postu
IT was like a wild goose. l listened
was repeated. was lying IN bed.
started up-I thought had been drei
ing.
"On the night before Th0nksGiVm
went to bed early, being very tired.
moon was full; the air was calm
still. I was thinking OF Nathaniel,
T wondered if he would indeed h
fine oander for his Thanksgiving dim
- if if would be cooked as well as ] We
ous. have cooked it, and if he would thin
qsh. me that day.
'9s59 YaS ..I was Just going TO sleep whom
20 ,srf2 f2 denIv heard a sound that made
Z Iira$, sy start mp and hold my breath.
i''' "'HonkI
- 81 thought it was dream followe
' aa5i aHd a nervous shock.
,2Gst S%S g sHo1Ill honll =
thi0s 9os "There it was again, in the yard
f@afs i1aiss was surely awake and in my senses.
Thjaa = Pss 81 heard the geese caekle.
e. "sHonk! honk honk !
ut for 81 got out Of bed and lifted the
lthis5s th5sa tain. It was almost as hight as
,Sar fem ! Instead Of two geese there were II
ldRSlfi tRefii Had ore Of the peighbor5' geese s
nf3Tr2 away?
qGtfs 2g tfs 'I should have thoughtso, and 81
me FasdEo to not have felt disturbed but for the
id'eaa son that none of the neighbors' gees