Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-03-30
Miscellany.


lotluel " -fhtlueE bltDulHh On lue boWeTys
WILL CARLETON.
DEAR BROTHER JoHN,-
I'm very glad you sent that money through
BY Cousin Seth, and not by mail, as requested you
The fam'y's just 50 much ahead 'twere best it never
II Jeroboam Jones had twned his fingers round the
same.
For that young man has principles fit only to abhor,
My sakesl mennium's nowhere when men 50
As to equiyocate themselves into my family tree,
And on its honest branches graft the shoots Of their
design,
And make me think they're good because they're rela
uyes Of mine,
while under those fraternal smiles robbers frown
is hid;
For that's the Inappropriate thing that Jeroboam did
When Cousin Seth the tavern reached whose clerk
u'ershadows me,
He cried, "where is my ong.lost son I've far
to see2"
And So to h that fathers heart with resurrected oy
twisted round with him Bit to try and hnd the boy
And, coming where had the luck that hymn-book for
to win,
opened quietly the door, and both Of us went in.
The superintendent bland was there; he gave little
But welcomed US, apparently, with oyernowng heart
And told us all about the work, and how twas gettin
Aud how much money those who gave unto the cause
had won;
But Cousin Seth, though much impressed by what he
Said he didn't fix the envelopes, aud bleyed he would
not draw.
just then the door opened quick, and with sol
grin
Young Jeroboam Jones appeared and softly sided in
And with him was an older man, who looked enough
To have been rcg1ar stebbins, too, SO far as one
But slapping Seth upon the back, said, "NIy duty's
done,
For this is Jeroboam Jones' your long-ost Oldest SON.
"My Hong-lost Oldest son'l" said he "hes bout a,
much my
As you are the beloved babe Of Central Washington
1t strikes me that my married life very much auss
II I'm responsible for such sueakin' face as thisl
He's blinded you by his supposed relationship to me
He's no one have ever seen, or ever want to see!'
As when fog above a field the sudden breezes tore,
You spied thousand things you did not even mis-
before,
SO all the facts Of this affair." clear as summer skies
Straghtway arranged themselves before my recon
structed eyes.
That these were not veracous men, aud this no sun
Aud naught was what it seemed, except one old bald
headed fooll
held those two deceiyers with unasssted strength
And by the collar shook each to my arms furhes
length;
They gasped and danced aud skipped around withou
word to say
Theyput their heads together in new nd panfulway
zone hundred dollars fifty cents, and not penny less,
said "and will send your hymn-bo ok by express
When Ruly in my discourse breathu place occurred,
The superintendent gave the cash, without singh
word,
Which, with a manner digniGed, coldy repossessed
And, still retaining Jerobo'm that scamp thus ad
dressed:
And you are the bogus friend and relative so fre
To spend his time a-nAku fools Of poor old men liz
me.
"Im supervisor Of the town where hayellyd so long
There amt man in all that part will say I've don
There ant man viii claim but what m ordinary keen
when / n 4 or
And any kipd-e1pressioned man who acts civil part
Can always nnd my soul to home, aud house-room II
my heart.
''Its hard for such a soul as yours to meet so sad
fate,
And there's good in you--at least enough to us
for bait
without some kindness in your heart you couldn'
have hauled in me;
Aud as to how you've used your gifts just pause bi
I've g4mbed, by your calling it a charitable name,
And my self-yaluaton sunk with unaccustomed shame
"rve done what ia have whipped my boys for eve
looking At:
And don't suppose but what own part Of the blam
for that:
though, saw chance to make hve dollars out o on,
Which, with strict Justice all around, is very seldom
done.
But up to that outrageous point, remember, was le
By assumed relationship, and several things yo
said.
"Do you reflect, Young man, upon the fruit your
CROWN to?
There's prison CRATES a-waitiu' now to staud in iron
Of you;
There's grief Of unexpected kinds, aud every sort q
shame
To send you sometime from this world much poorc
than you came.
Your guilty head you hang before US sinners standiI
by:
What angle do you spose twould take mongst angel
In tie sky?
There's hope cen on the death-bed for a squar,
straightforward thief,
But JoaS,N have always come to most particular grief
The Lord has pity, suppose for erriug men and veal
But no good, sasfactry place in which to put sneal
Aud when man wins mems esteem, and thriyes b
their mistakes,
He makes himself bigger fool than all the fools h
makes"
Then my adopted relative seated iu a chair,
With amply necessary help nd several pounds to SPAR
Then seth aud with dignity bid both the scamp
gOOd-day,
Advising them to gain their bread in some dissimila
way;
And We thundered down the stairs, with heavy II
Ill tread,
felt that I'd al last out several rods aheat
-Hlrper's Weekly.