News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-22
kinlperS Ferry.

Sam klmper was master Of the only
ferry that crossed Maple River between
the mouth of that stream and the first
ford above, so his neighbors might have
called lin a monopolist had they ever
known the word and its meaning. Like
many another monopoly, the ferry was
not source Of unlimited profit, for al
though the franchise and necessary APP
purtenances had been held by the Kim
per family for twenty-five years. the
family MANSION was merely Il log hut of
two icons; the one ferTy-bcat was a
fiat-bottomed bateaU, just long and wide
enough to accommodate a pair Of horses
and wagon, and the mOtive-power,
which was always applied to the smaller
end Ct long spiked pole, was Sam
Kimper's own muscle.
Some people who went to church said
the moving pulse Of the machine" was
whisky so bad that it had never even
paid the income tax, and Sam not only
neglected to deny this msinuation, but
rather gloried in it. Everyone who had
tried to persuade Sam to stop drinking
had come to grief. During one of the
great temperance movements that Occa-
sionally become epidemic in Western
States, old Parson Douse, of the Baptist
Church, waded through some shocking
roads to pay Sam a special visit for re-
foTmatory purposes, and he compared
Sam, by way Of compliment. to St.
Christopher, the first ferryman on rec
ord. He was obliged to report on his
return, however, that although he was
accorded every courtesy peculiar to the
Kimper family, he found Sam drinking
harder than ever, and that, far from be-
ing in spirit as well as in act a disciple
Of St Christopher, Sam used language
that never was heard from a saint except
III the course Of Il sermon, and had actu-
ally asked him, Parson Douse, to play
eUcEre just 10 pass the time away.
Sam was summoned from his fircside
aud pipe one cold winter afternoon by a
blast from the tin horn that hung on a
tree on the opposite side of the river.
He arose, swore a little, took a drink OF
whisky from a stone jug and poled his
way across the river. He found awaiting
him light carriage and horse he had
never seen before. 1t stands to reason
that some one was in the carriage, but
it did not occur to SAINT !..,dvin.
least curious on the bLsIiGatulS -
those who rode 81
sparsely settled
more interesting n
with his pushing-poic.
fro on the gunwale Of his bOaS. ne 1''s,IT
scraps Of conversation that reused him
first to languid curiosity and then to a
a high state Of excitement. He heard
woman's voice say
" What will my dear father think ?"
He Will think his daughter a very
spirited girl, and be prouder Of her than
ever, when he receives the notice of our
marriage, - replied a heavy voice, that
was attempting to be tender.
g How soon Will he get it?'' asked
the man.
ooh, within aweek, without fail, " an
swcred the man.
Sam told himself that he did not like
that fellows voice. Then he stole look
at the man, ard was sure he did not like
the face. The girl herecognized at once
as the daughterofDoctor Ryte, who lived
ed at town seven or eight miles down
the stream. Sam began to assume a run
away match was in progress, he also as
suned the affair was none of his business.
for which he was very sorry.
90 Why should poor father be kept in
suspense a whole week ?" asked the
girl.
Why, my dear" said the man,
- Cincinnati is a two-day journey from
here. and -
" CINCINNATI" interrupted the girl;
"ycu said we should be married at the
first town we reached after crossing the
river
So So 1 did, but after thinking more
carefully, I've decided it viii be better
to wait until We reach my home, where
We nay have witnesses that know at
least one Of us.