The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
Temperance.
A Romance Of the Granite State-..A
Strange Narrative.

Down to the second which lesser space
Embracing, so much more of grief contains
Provoking bitter means. There Mnos stands
Grinning with CHASTITY feature; he. of all
who enter, strict examining the crimes
Gives sentence, and dismsses them beneath
-Ddnte's Inferno Cdnto ", IL.
The judgments of the Lord true and righteous
altogether-Psdlm rir.
Old Krumm was a bad man. His
early years were spent in manner
that foreshadowed the career of later
life. He was full of mean and wicked
ways even in childhood. In his boy
hood and youth, his great ambition was
to trade with other boys for their jack
knives, or other objects that might be
of value. He had an aunt who lived
in Boston from whom he received occa-
sionally a package of toys. He man
aged, by lying and cheating, to swap
off a part of his toys for seven or eight
knives. After time the boys realized
that they had been cheated. They per-
ceived that the toys were cheap or
worthless, ready to fall to pieces. The
school-teacher, hearing so many COM
plants, called young Krumm to an ac-
count. He pleaded that he showed
the boys the articles before he traded,
and that a trade is trddei The
teacher not only gave some good advice
to this jack-knife trader, but also gave
him some twenty well-laid-on strokes
with birch rod four feet long. This
made him both dance and cry out, but
did not cure him of his evil propensi-
ties. 1t was early shown that he had
an immoderate desire to acquire money
and property. AS the years carried
him up to mature life, his love of
money grew stronger and stronger.
He was determined to lay hold of
wealth, if possible. This had been his
dream in early life, and to this one pur-
pose he bent the energies of ripper years.
He engaged in selling cider, because it
cost him but little, and he found those
whose appetite craved it, who would
pay great price for it.
There are many striking condolences
in human affairs. Certainly it was a
striking coincidence that about the time
George Forest was turning his atten-
ton to religion, and his affairs began
to assume brighter aspect, that Old
Krumm entered upon disastrous ca
reer which soon terminated in death.
About this time aglib-talking man came
to Krumm with new project to make
money very fast. He told such aplausible
story, and withal made the case appear
80 proper, that he easily drew Krumm
into the net of his deception. The re-
suit was, that, forgetting all thoughts
OF caution, he loaned this tine-appear-
ing man fifty dollars. The man only
wished the loan of this trifing sum OF
money until he should have money ar
rive, which he assured his victim would
be in short time. But Old Krumm
never saw that man again. He lost the
fifty dollars outright. This loss proved
great shock to him. He soon became
partially insane. He refused to eat
food as formerly, saying, GO We must all
be prudent and economical, or we shall
soon come to want" He spent much
of his time going up and down long
hill, near his residence, picking up small
stones, or kicking them out of the road
and, at the same time muttering OF
chuckling to himself something about
gold mine, that no one else could
find.
The summer months passed and his
hay had all been secured in his barn by
the industry of his two sons. One after
noon dark cloud arose from the south
west. Soon vivid lightning was flash
ing around, and heavy peals of thunder
followed each other in rapid succession
Suddenly bright flash, and peal Of
thunder more deafening than any be
fore was heard The inmates of the
house rushed out and beheld their build
ing all on fire! Old Krumm screamed
and hOwled and jumped up and down
Then he tried to rush into the flames
but was held back by his sons. The
flames spread with such rapidity thai
the neighbors could render no assist
ance. Soon all the buildings of thi
wealthy man lay in a smoldering mas
of ruins. Not one left standing, save {
corn-barn that stood quite a distanc,
from the other buildings. Notes, bonds
and bank bills, had all been burnt W
with the house. Nothing in the house
had been saved except quilt that Mrs
Krumm had seized hold of just as sh,
left the house. The family gathered
into the old courthouse for shelter, re-
fusing to go to the neighbors. Krumn
was storming and crying out during
that long, dark night. At day-break h,
went out and viewed the ruins of hi
late home. He then went to the pas
ture where his young colts and horse
were. He suddenly leaped upon tn
back of very spirited young horse
The animal began to run and NANTES
fright. He ran with great speed, AM
tho inoana man hold IN bunoiuo, Al