Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-30
Run tothe house--run as fast as you

IONS Detore the attention OF a broad
faced, bristly-haired rutiian was suf-
fciently attracted to induce him to
present his moon-like countenance at
one of the stable windows.
Without heed to frantic gestures and
loudly shouted words, l fed back to
the house, and sank nearly fainting on
the sofa, with both hands clasped over
my eyes.
II declare fort. though, that was real
gritty" was Betsy's admirlng COM
ment, as she hurried to bring the CAM
phor and red lavender to my rescue.
Mamma, will he kill us?" whispered
Donald, who was timid child, and
clung close to me.
"Shall l cut off his head with my
tin sword, mammal" bawled Tommy,
the irreprcssible.
"Betsy," cried, rousing myself to
the paramount necessity Of not faint
ing, "place yourself at the window
Watch for passers-by--"
Eyes 'um."
Explain to them our dreadful pre-
dicament," l went on. Summon help
tho instant it appears; and, above all,
keep every door and easement locked
and boltel, lest that fend in human
shape should break loose and attack
us. There's an old rifle up stairs in
the garret, isn't there, Bctsy?' l add
ed, with sudden inspiration.
"Yes, 'Wn.' said Betsy; but it amt
just in frst-rate workin' order, cal
culate."
There isn't either stock nor lock to
it, mamma" chimed in Tommy. 81
loaded it with ashes last week, and put
in pebbles for bullets, and it wouldn't
fire off worth cent.
"but there's the carving-knfe and
the potato-pounler, mamma" suggest
cu Donald.
! looked at the clock. Only eleven,
/ 1t would he six hours, atthe very near
est, before my husband would return
from tho city. Suppose that there
should be no passers-by between that
time and this,
"Betsy," said |, "this won't do. |
believe my hair will turn white with
this terrible agony of suspense"
"Ma'am?" said Betsy, who had the
Shakspearan faculty Of mot marking
wlthal."
EITHER you or must go for help
UTTERED, distinctly,
"lf it wasn't for goin' right past the
barn door, l would't mind" said
Betsy.
"lt's fastened pleaded
"But them there wooden buttons
doesn't amount to anything" said she.
"And only s'pose he jumps out at ne:'
was just about to reproach Betsy
with having no elements Of the heroine
in her composition, when little Donald,
who had posted himself in the garret
window to watch, came tumbling into
The room with Tommy close behind,
Mamma! mamma" they shouted in
chorus; there's somebody coming, and
we guess its Deacon GadsIy on horse,
back, riding back from the train.
stop him" ] gasped-"for mercy's
sake stop him"
"IIe's a-makiu' straight for the barn,
ma am, said Betsy, who had stretched
the skinny length of her neck further
out of the window than | dared to-.
"lle's heard that fellcr hollerin'. Hes
unbarrin' the big doors. Land o lib
erty. there comes the poor crazy cree
tur out with u hop, skip and jump,
/ Wall, if the deacon likes to risk it |
wouldn't
! Il have heard of instances where
some particular individual exercised
unbounded influence over the insane" 4"
said family, and"
At this moment the deacon himself
knocked at the door. ] made haste to
open it.
abe yc all crazy hcre?" said he, with
Il smile on his sunburned countenance.
"lf ye amt, what in the name OF all
creation possessed ye TO shut up my
son Hiram in the barn.
"Your son Hiram / gaspcd Goebly
"Was that your son Hiram? Ii
thought it was an insane man"
"What?" roared the deacon
/ "BetScy said that you shouted ont as
you rode by, Tell your mistress to call
/ the children in--there's an insane man
in the barn."
"Good Jcrusalem," cried the deacon,
slapping his knee, chow folks will get
things twisted round never said no
such thing. What did say was,
There's tame lamb in the barn |
promised one to them boys of yours
ever since they came up here, and this
mcrnin' our Hiram fetched EN- reg
ular little cosset; and there lie is MUNICH
ing clover down there, with Hiram
holdin' on to the rope. And you sup
posed it was crazy man, Ha, ha. no.
ho, ho. That beats all.'
The deacon's ordinations echoed
through my little parlor like distant
thunder. | looked reproachfully at
Betsy as tho cause of all the ranic.
That damsel, however. evinced no
signs of discontinue. 1t was not her
way.
"Wall," said Betsy, slowly, "I always
was little hard O hcarin' ever since |
hal the scarlet fever; and l Spose we're