The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-02
How the Rust Got Out OF
SimeOn's Knees.
Big, big Simeon |

1t seemed to Patty as if there never
could have been giant greater than
this Simeon Shines, the hired man who
lived with her father, David johnson.
When she heard her sister Polly read in
the Bible about the sons of Anak who
we're giants, Patty said to herself (: "They
must have been Simeon's folks"
She was now sitting at Simeons side.
"Big Blue Eyes," he called her. 1t was
the last of the twilight. Looking out of
the kitchen window she could hardly
make out the forms of the big army of
pines that, ever since she had known any
thing, had been drawn up in lines on the
other side of "Spiteful River" and never
had broken their green ranks yet.
odd you say you were tired, Big Blue
Eyes ?" asked the giant.
"Ever so tired, and l guess must say
my pwayers and 60 to bed"
"Well," said the giant carelessly, 6"
guess nothin' will happen to so good lit
tie girl as you, whether you say your
prayers or not"
"Don't you pway p"
The "giant" coughed and grinned (;
"I-I-sometimes can't bend my knees"
What could the matter be The
"giant" was wonderful with his arms
and legs. Why couldn't he bend his
knees and pray? 1t was great mystery
to Patty.
"What is the weason ?" she softly
asked.
Crust is in 'em," replied the giant"
"I'll pway for you," said Patty; and as
she could pray in any place, she dropped
down upon her knees at once, and silently
sent up her petition, incense from a little
heart, and sure to climb higher than the
stars.
How still it was in the dusky old
kitchen How loud the clock licked
Every snap of the fire was so noisy The
"giant" was uncomfortable. He had not
bent his knees in prayer for years. No
wonder the crust" was in them. 1t
troubles the knees of many people. The
"giant " had been keeping far from God;
but now, as that little form bent near
him, great pre- ence moved toward him.
1t came close to him. The " giant SEN
sibly shrank near to the wall behind him.
The big kitchen had become too small
for him.
81 pwayed for you; and 1 hope the
wust won't twouble you any MORE" must
cally chimed the voice of "Big Blue
Eyes," and she trotted off upstairs.
"Look here, Simeon |"
Some one had abruptly, noisily entered
the kitchen. 1t was Ned johnson.
"What is it ?" asked the "giant."
The river is riseni"
"Spiteful River up to her old tricks ?"
"Just come out and see if she isn't"
1t was too late to see distinctly but
Simeon could make out this one thing,
that, at the foot of the orchard, the river
had thrown off its icy coat and the water
was licking the base of the "Summer
Sweeting "spple-tree.
81 thought last night suthin' was hap
penin'; but l have been off all day and
have jfs1 got back and haven't looked at
the river"
"Well, she has been growing all day."
"She is up to it now, Ned
Yes, and she" kept at it all night. In
the morning the river was still improving
the opportunity given by late rains, and,
gathering all possible recruits in the
shape of stray rain-drops, was hurrying
forward these watery reinforcements to
battle with the ice, trying to check its
advance along the valley near the Johnson
farm. Slowly the ice was giving way,
breaking its white line of defense in one
place, letting the sly enemy through a
crack in another quarter, till it was noised
all through the town, There's freshet on
Spiteful River, and the ice is going out ~
At breakfast, the johnson family often
looked up from the table and eagerly
faced the kitchen window, from which
the progress of the freshet could be seen
The Johnson family Were they all here?
"Where's Patty 2" asked her mother
anxiously.
al saw her when was at the barn, 9
little while ago, and supposed she came
in replied sister Polly.
al saw her goin' down toward the
river" added sister Carrie.
"Goin' down to the river? Mercy =
exclaimed mother johnson, springing W
from the table and running to the win
dow. "And if she isn't out there on &
cake of ice goirg down stream !"
What jumping up from that tabl,
there was What rushing from the room
First, mother johnson flew out of tn,
house, and then father johnson, Ned Polly
Carrie; but Simeon, who could not ris,
from the table as nimbly as the rest, out
ran them all when fairly out of doors
There was Patty on heavy block of ice
kneeling, her timid, pleading face turne'
up to the sky, while the water ON ever,
side was angrily washing the edges of tn
crystal ship, on which she had carelessl,
stepped while it halted by the shore, ant
then treacherously bore her away.
"Oh Do save her !" shrieked mothe
johnson.
"a boat !" cried father johnson, ex
citedly. "a pole A rope IA"
What was the "giant "up to?
Simeon was now out upon the ice
springing by tremendous leaps, from on
floating cake to another. Norust in thos
knees now One more leap, if he coul,
find handy cake of ice, and he woul,
reach Patty. There he stood, lookin
anxiously across blue channel of waite
toward Patty. Would not some cak
come along that he might step upon it
One other cake did come-yes, slowl