Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-05-29


ing small stubby imitation of himself
to fly. The shocks of wheat in the bare
field close by had turned rich, fed gold
in the lengthening rays before Stephen
Ryder realized that night was close at
hand.
All at once he heard discordant noise
up the road which he knew Alb Ryder
called singing, and presently the boy
in The distance, his mouth
stretched, his tattered hat stuck on the
back of his tow head, his bare feet
dusty, his homespun cotton trousers rolled
up airily about his knees, his single
suspeuder supporting the structure. His
father laughed little at sight of him,
rather sardonicsilY it must be.cqnfessed.
apd SqBiq6e; slon fmorr.SSwhile, he rose and
strolled off down Tnv road.
When supper was over, however, Alb
was immensely relieved to see that his
father had no idea of continuing his
work. Consequently the usual routine
was to be expected. Generally, when
to the evening meal, the
blacksmith hastily plunged his head in
water, thrust off his leather apron, and
went up to the house without more ado.
He smoked afterward, and lounged about,
enjoying the relaxation after his heavy
work. He did not go down to lock the
shop until bedtime, when he was shut
ting up the house, the stable and the
corn-crib for the night. In the interval
the shop stood deserted and open, and
this custom was the basis of Abs oppor-
tunity. Tonight there seemed to be no
deviation from it.. He ascertained that
his father was smoking his pipe on the
porch. Then he went down the road
and sat on the log near the shop to wait
for the other boys who were to share the
risks and profits of borrowing the ham
mer.
All was still-so still He fancied
that he could hear the tumult Of the tor
rent far away as it dashed over the rocks.
A dog suddenly began to bark in the
black, black valley-then ceased. He
was vaguely overawed with the "big
mountings" for company and the dis
tant stars. He listened eagerly for the
first cracking of brush which told him
that the boys were near at hand.
Then all three crept along cautiously
among the huge boles of the trees, feel.
ing very mysterious and important, and
as if they were getting much the better
of the blacksmith. When they reached
the rude window Alb sat for moment
on the sill, peering into the intense black
ness within.
'It air dark thar, fur true, Ab," said
Jim Gryce, growing faint hearted. "Le''
go back"
"Naw, sir! Nav, sirl" protested Alb
Iesolutely. "I'm on the borryl"
GLOW kin we find that thar little
hammer in sech dark ssplace3" urged
Jim.
"Waal," explained Alb, in his high key
"dad air nightly welded ter his crank.
notions. An he always leaves every too
in the same place cdzactly every night
Bound fur mel he continued, in shril
exultation, as he slapped his lean leg, &c
know whar that thar little hammer air so
ter roost !"
He jumped down from the window in
side the shop, and cut wiry caper.
"I'm a man O. bone an musclem h
Dragged, kin do ennything."
The other boys followed more quietly
But they had only groped little dis
tance when Jim Gryce set up a sharl
yelp of pain.
"Shet yer mouth-ye pop-eyed cata
mount" Alb admonished him. ''DaC
will hear an'-ah-h-hp his own word
ended in a shrek ooh, myp' vocif
Grated the 'man of bone and muscle,
who was certainly, too, a man of extra
ordinary lung-power. "Oh, my! Th
ground is hot-hot ez ironl oh, my
they always tole me that Satan woul
ketch mean oh, my! now he he
done it p
He joined the 'pop-eyed catamount
in lively dance with their bare feet o
the hot iron bars which were scattere
about the ground in evsry direction
These were heated, so that they Nigh
not really scorch the flesh, but woul
touch the feelings, and peehaps the cor
science.
AS the third boys scream rent the al
and told that he, too, had encountered
torrid experience, Alb Ryder became suC
denly aware that there was some one b
side themselves in the shop. He coul
see nothing; he was only vaguely col
scious of an unexpected presence, and
fancied that it was in the corner by tt
barrel of water.
All at once gruff voice broke fort
"I'm on the boryw it remarked, wit
fierce facetiousness. 81 want to borry
boy-no! a man o. bone and muscle-f
bout mint an quarterw
A strong hand seized Alb by his cola
He felt himself swept through the al
soused head foremost into the barrel
water, then thrust into corner whe
he was thankful to find there was ]
more hot iron.
II want to borry another boy!" sal
the gruff voice. And the "pop eye
catamount" was duly ducked.
"Twould pleasure me some ter borl
another !' tho voice declared with gri
humor.
But Ben was mere snip of boy, IL
Youngest and smallest, and only led I'M
mischief by the others. They new
knew that the blacksmith relented witt
his turn came, and that he got me
sprinkle in comparison with their tot
immersion.
Then Stepnen Ryder set out for hon
followed by dripping procession.
'I'll l'arn ye ter 'borry' my tools tho
leavel" he vocifcrated as he went aloni
When they had reached the hou
he faced round sternly on Alb.
"Why don't ye KEN an tell me ez he
the miller say war sneakin, deceivi
, critter, an'-an'- thief"
His wife dropped the dish she W
Washing and it broke unheeded upon t
hearth.
Alb stretched his eyes and mouth
amazement.
cold Rob Peachin never tole me