The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-18


plant beans and corn. Eve got some
pat by iii paper bag. | took it one
day. When they grow I'll pick them.
I'll build a house big enough for
us out of boards or something, and we'll
never come back here again-ncver.
"Nevcr! Oh, dear!" and Jane began
to cry. After a while she said softly,
COZ course shall bring the Child'W
ooh, yes said Tom, "and all your
clothes
Then they decided how they were to
escape, where they were to meet. how
Jane was to make bold to ask for an
extra piece that day, pretending the
dog had stolen hers and how Tom was
to hide half his dinner in his cap.
Then, as some summoning bell rang,
they parted-Tom, bright and brisk with
his new ambition; poor little Jane, limp
with fear and remorse, but determined
to follow Tom, whatever his fortunes
might be.
At ten that night Jane, with tear
swollen face, little bundle of calico
frock and red flannel pctticoat under her
arm, and 'the Child claspcd to her
heart, met Tom at the big tree outside
ing to steal in the establishment; so, as
no one ever wanted to get in, it was not
very hard to get out.
Beside 1.-THE child" and the frocl,
Jane had her bread in bit of news
paper, and Tom had made quite a bun
die of possessions. He had his little bag
of corn and beans, fire shovel, shirt,
his old shoes, and a long stick with a
hook at the end, once the handle of an
umbrella. On this he slung all their
joint property, except the doll, and ad-
dressed Jane as follows
Remember, now, you are my wife,
and must do exactly as / say that's
the law and I must be good to you
and do all the hardest work; but YOU
must cook and mend for me, and |
think you'd better begin to call me Hus-
band right away"
"Yes," sobbcd Jane. ooh, isn't it
dark"
"No," said Tom; "bcside, if it is, all
the better. Wen get into the woods
before they catch us. We shall be out
of the town by daylight"
Then they walked on-poor Jane
stumbling often, but Tom held her hand
and did not let her fall At length the
last little white house was passed; then
came the church with its tall spirc and
then long paIing fences about bits of
meadow land. They were in the country,
but not yet in the woods, and both chill
drcn were growing very sleepy and very
tired-so very tired that finally there
was nothing for it but to sit down on
the grass under a haystack, with Toms
head on James knee, and go fast asleep.
Sunrise awakened thern. They ate
their bread ana butter, started on again,
and in a few hours the woods were all
around them.
"Werc safe at last" cried Tom. emo
body can ever find US here. I'll build a
house and plant my corn right away.
DO you know how long it takes corn to
grow? And bcansl"
"No,' ventured Jane, doubtingly-
mot long, | guess.
II guess not" echoed Tom; but !
wish we had some more bread and but,
ter"
By-and-by the two explorers came to a
nice little spot in the woods close to a
pretty brook. 1t was very damp, but
there was a clearing which it was easy to
shovel, and put in his beans and corn in
straight rows. Then, with an old knife
that was his greatest treasure, he cut TN
derbrush and low branches enough to
make queer kind of leafy hat big
enough for both to creep into.
1--WE can cat outdoors We shall only
want home at night and when it rains, -
said Tom.
But Jane felt doubtful. Her little flesh
was black and blue already. and yet the
grass was long in the bayfield,; here it
was sparse and dry. Beside, she wanted
her warm milk and water and her slice
of bread and butter. Tom found some
hucklebcrries hard by, but they did not
help the empty stomachs much, and even
at sunset the corn had not begun to
grow, neither did the beans show their
heads above the earth! Suddenly an
awful thought struck Jane.
/ ''When it grows, Tom she cried,
''we haven't any saucepan to cook it IN. .
"More we haven't" said Tom. Then
hope dawned upon him. 1--WE could
roast the corn said he; 'and | bet
there's an apple tree somewhere"
They wandered about looking for the
tree OF more perTleS OF some SOTt. he
tree did not appear, but at last they
found some berries just one or two at g
time-and the poor children had nothing
else to eat. Hungry Tom could have
devoured his own shoes. Meek Jane
before she lay down ION the hard yer
damp ground. asked just one question
"Do you think the beans will grow to
night, Tom2"
~ told you to say Husband" said
Tom; then added, graciously, eyes, Ma
| suppose they will"
Then Jane put the "child' close t.
her cheek, and slept the sleep of the
weary.
Good Farmer Morton and his plum
wife, coming homeward from visit t.
their married daughter about dark mex
day, let the old mare walk as slowly a
she pleased through the wood path
They had had tea and were in no hurry
Suddenly, amidst the sobbing of tn
little brook the old lady heard loude