The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-10-16
H.s. r.--y.
rKrr ErIsspr NA rIsHm's LUn

I
The nsor vas blazing ia the sun. Brieh
sous famed above the pale green graz
ard little pools flashed white RAYS up 4
ihs sky Hobs Tommy stepped ont o
doors, and took long look round. HI
vas ne, impressed by the riot Of cslo'
that spread around him, he looked ovsI
the pulsing hsor Of the sea, and thought
"It will be fine night for the ironting.
Tommy was large man who seemed "a
shake the ground ~ he trod. His facs
was devoid OF speculation. and bis dull
blue eyes looked from under heavy and
unsmisble brows His hair was matted,
and bis mode Of dressing his big limbs
showed that no vas careless Of opinion.
He Was called Hobs Tommy because the
villagers had fancyl for regarding sons
- the personal property Of the father, and
lhus . man called Thomss. Who happsnsd
10 be the son Of man called Jshp. never
received his surname during his whole
life. excepting on the occasion Of bis lap
tism and marriage. He Was known M
Jacks Tom. II he. in his turn, happened
10 have a son whom he chose to name
Reniy. the youth was known as Jacks
Toms Harry. Our iriead Tommy's faith
err had been called Hob. and hence the
name OF the ill.tempered loat who was
gazing with soaden eyes on the nnsullied
sea Tommy watched the green water
breaking over tue brown sand, and far out
At sea he saw the thick haze still brooding
low. he knew the evening would be fine,
and he knew that he would have good
basket for next days market. He put his
hands in his pockets and strolled away
from the unssvsry neighborhood OF the
Fishers Row on to the glistening moor.
His eyes were fixed on the ground, and
into bis dull mind entered no thought
saving calculations absut money and drink
Any stranger who had met him walking
oser the delicate thymo, with his fierce
face bent downward, would have gained q
very bad notion OF the local population.
A sudden jangle of bells filled the air,
and the ringers went to work gayly.
Quaint farmers went along dressed in
creased suits OF clothing; quiet country
women nodded as they passed, but Tom
my needed none Of his neighbors. He was
simply q brutal man whose very presence
seemed an insult to the holy morning. He
walked mechanically on over the mosf,
and let the sound Of the church bells die
away on his ear. Presently he came to q
beautiful slope, which was starred with
pink geraninms. The sun shone warmly
upon it, and lark flashed from amid the
bright flowers with sound OF JOY, and
carried his rejoicing high up into the sky.
Tommy thought, "this is q nice warm
place to lie down on. I'll light ny pipe. +"
And he stretched himself amid the tender
flowers. The glow and the color Of the
life around him and the joyous sparkle Of
the sea seemed at last to make some dim
suggestion to his mind. He said half
aloud, "wouder what I'm here for The
preachin men would say somsthin' about
God. / dent know. only wish it was 7
o'clock and the sun droppin'--he .ss o
lazy man that invented Sunday --auotiier
day I'll away to the fshin' l. the mornin',
and the folks can say just what they like.
I'm not goin' to waste my time and my
bacca lyin' on sandhills." So lie smoked
on until the sun had reached its greatest
height and the Afternoon shadows lay like
dark psnsiss in the hollows.
Now it happened that in the aeighbsr-
ing village it was usual to hold an after
noon service and an evening service in the
Wesleyan chapel. The services followed
close on each other, and there was great
competition among the villagers as to who
should give the preacher his tea, in the in
tstval. Tommy presently found himself
looking sleepily at man who was bent
over the moor to attend the chapel. Ifyou
had met the new conner you would have
been compelled to look back at him. He
was tall and spare. His shoulders were
very broad, and he walked with kind Of
military tread. His face was good to see
the calm aud JOY Of the bright day seemed
to have entered his soul, and his eyes
looked as though lie were thinking OF
things too deep for words. His mouth was
sternly closed, and yet despite its tension
the delicate lines at the corsers seemed to
speak Of humor and tenderness. His hat
vas thrown back little, and showed q
large forehead marked by slight lines,
which spoke not so much OF temper as OF
placid thought He WAS murmuring 10
himself as he walked, and he seemed to be
in communion with multitude OF exqui.
site thoughts. When he reached the bank
where the geraniums grew, his placidity
quickensd into alertness as he SOW the
figure Of Tom stretched upon the grass.
He stepped up TO the losnger, and said in
a low cheery tone,
well, Thomas, my man, and what takes
you out at this time OF day? / suppose
yeu are having a bit OF rest after yester.
day."
am grievcd to say that Thomas an.
swered in the following terms:
Il dont know what business i, is OF
yours what am doing. II you want TO
know what In here for I'll tell you. 4
am thinking how eau cheat the Conserv.
aney men tonight Now think will
wish you good day"
The tall man was not by any means sur.
prised by the uaeourtsous answer He
was used to the homely iusslence Of the
fisherman. So be said,