The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-07

the small boys, one of whom jumped after
him and had very solid fall, while the
other scrambled down the rough end of
the shed, reaching the ground with torn
clothes. Aunt Nancy went into the house
with grave protest against such "goin's
on" but mamma, who had observed that,
in order to appear manly before the
others, neither of her boys cried, as was
their usual habit in small misfortunes,
wisely made up her mind little roughing
with strangers would not hurt them.
"Ducks, is it2" went on Pat, "an'
shwimmin' like any boat Here's more
of 'em-shoo, now Go long in the
wather wild yell"
"Oh, stopl" cried Harry. "Those
are chickens. They can't SWIM"
"Aisy, thin " Pat rescued from drown
ing chick he had driven in, and then
began checking off on his fingers
"Ducks, hins, chuckens-an' would that
be hin, too, the jewel ?" pointing ad-
miringly to pigeon, whose soft plumage
of white and purple caught his eye as it
came tamely among the boys.
"No, that's one of my pigeons" said
Harry, catching and caressing the gentle
little creature.
"Pidgeon. An the fat ladies by the
fpce ?"
"Geese."
"Geese it is. The top of the mornin' to
yez, ladies'" said Pat, making low bow as
the geese waddl-d toward the pond. Its
plinty of your kin I've seen in the mar
kets but they'd taken off their foine
clothes and was hangin' heads down, so
didn't quite recognize yez at first. Ducks,
hins, pigeons-be the howly poker will
We moind the buried wild the big thrain
to er gownl"
Both strangers stared in open-mouthed
wonder at the beautiful thing which sud
denly flew down near them. And then
Jim gave shout of delight; but Pat
fairly held his breath as it spread out be.
fore them its glory of blue and gold many
eyed plumage.
"Och an it's bit of the country
silky she's been gettin' to dhress her.
self in -
Didn't you ever see a peacock be.
fore ?"
GA paycock, is it ?" Pat solemnly
counted off another finger. ga paycock p
He climbed upon the granary, and, seating
himself upon the ridge-pole, rsmained in
close watch of the proud bird, as she
turned this way and that, as if aware of
! his admiration, until dinner-time.
The bright days passed without giving
Mrs. Pritchard reason to regret that hel
hand had been one among the many hold
ing out gift of sweet country sights and
sounds to those into whose lives 80 little
of sweetness enters. Harry had sprained
wrist as the result of fall from some
height to which he had followed Pat, and
neither boy had a whole garment left
Miss Nancy shook her head disapprov
ipgly, but Mrs. Pritchard observed witt
pleasure the instinct of manliness and O.
kindly consideration for guests develop
ing in her boys, and smiled as she mendet
for the four. Jim went among the ami
mails with voice and touch which thu
dumb creatures always recognized as be
longing to lover of their kind, and be
fore many days they came and went at hi
slightest call. Quiet hints and sugges
tions from the mistress of the place hat
been generally faithfully attended to, ant
nothing in the way of willful mischie
had been done. No birds nests had beer
robbed, nor tree nor flowers injured.
al don't quite like the look of tn
weather." said Mrs. Pritchard, one night
just after the noisy quartette had troope'
off to bed.
ats comm up regular old.fashione'
thunderstorm, to my mind,' said Aun
Nancy. "Pm glad them boys is in, ant
not down to the fur end of the pastur
lot, or atop of the barn, or some othe
such place."
Mrs. Pritchard watched the gatherin,
of the clouds long after the sleep whicl
comes to blessed boyhood had gathere,
the four into its soft embrace. As tn
dead lull which often comes before
storm gave place to puffs of wind, AM
the lightning grew more vivid, and tn
noise of the thunder rose in an almos
continuous roar, she went from room +
room, closing windows and blinds. Thi
finished, she went into the back yard +
uuloose a dog which whined and frette
against his chain.
"Poor Watch Lonely out here in tn
storm ?"
He gratefully licked her hand, Just as
binding q ash seemed to wrap her in it
fearful wilderness. Whether it was this
or the deafening report in the same me
ment, which struck her to the earth, sh
never could tell but for few second
she lay stunned and bewildered, the
staggered to her feet with a cry of dis
may.
The porch lay splintered ruin at he
feet. Had the dark winged angel bee
borne under her roof in the grasp OF tn
lightning Her own two were on tn
same floor with her. Ascertaining tina
both were whimpering with fright, sh
called to Aunt Nancy, Jim, Pat and tn
maid, and hearing an answer from eac
one, thankfully sat down to quiet tn
boys.
But sound in the next room alarme
her, and springing up, she opened door
!. A red, angry demon glared at heron