News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-08-20
you 60 for, l wonder, a-workin' the

outside work shall be done when tn
family arrive and begin furnishing inside
which will be on the fifth. I'll be VI
and at work with the light tomorrow
morning if Pm alive and we'll, and if
possibly can will be ready to start will
you at nine o'clock. If l amt though
I'm just as much obliged to you all it.
very good of you to ask me-"
"Oh we asked to please ourselves partly,
said kindly Will Gobright; "and ther
1t tohirks any one up so to go for little larl
after things have looked kind of gloomy
| remember after little sister Kittie died
there didn't seem to be much left to live
for, felt SO badly, till one Afternoon
some fellows made me go sailing, ano
somehow the water and the sky were sc
blue and lovely, 1 thought if Sissy had
gone to a more beautiful world still,
ought to be glad and not go mopina
about. But then you've never moped
any; Phil; you've kept too busy,
reckon"
Mr.. Daniel Wyncoop was rich, child
less, and ailing. Long years before he
had lost his wife, but for nearly a life.
time he had lived in his great house In
the city, with never companion but
his books and his dog. His housekeepet
and servants looked sharply after his
wants, and it was well for them they
did, or the places they managed to keep
would not have been retained as they
were,
Mr.. 'Wyneoop was not an unkindly
man. Dog Tray knew that well; but
the daily friction of life devoted to
business cares, together with rheumatic
pains constantly increasing In severity
as age advanced, were fast making the
OLD merchant an unbeliever in men, and
In the goodness of the world at large.
This year he had determined to leave
the city during the Fourth; TO Escape the
footing of herhs and swapping of fire.
crackers, and general racket of the day.
He arrived at his sisters house in the
country rather late the night of the
third, and retired early, hoping to Secure
a quiet nights rest.
Vain hopei The rheumatism, for one
thing, made him uneasy, and the village
boys of Westbury were not whit be-
hind their little metropolitan brothers in
patriotic tooting-there were only not
quite 30 many of them.
At daybreak Mr.. Wyncoop arose, and,
crossing to the window, peeped through
the blinds to glance at the slowly brigh-
tening eastern sky. Directly opposite
a new house had Just besn completed,
and there ii the early dawn of the July
morning, was boy already at work.
What was he doing2
Boys were sort of trying fascination
to Mr.. Wyncoop, and he was interested
at once, In those long gone years when
his wife had suddenly left him, there
was laid tiny man-child by her side,
and they were buried together; and ever
since Mr.. Wyncoop had dreamed, half
unconsciously at times, of what that
tiny boy might have become to him had
nc lived, and so every boy who entered
his store became a kind of study to the
lonely man; but they had invariably
disappointed him, and he would lose
special interest in watching another, and
sometimes he felt almost glad his son
had not lived when h6 saw how un-
satisfactory boy nature seemed to be.
But here was another of those fascina-
ting objects, and the fact of his stopping
down, measure in hand, at that early
hour of a holiday morning, evidently
intent on some important work, brought
Mr.. Wyncoop tol standstill, and al
most without knowing it he was inter
ested In watching another boy.
Soon the lad arose and went to the
rear of the new house, from whence the
sound of saw showed he had a bench
and tools. He was gone quite q long
time, so long that Mr.. Wyneoop, who
had begun the slow process of dressing,
STOPPING every moment or two to peep
between the blinds, had entirely finished
his toilet before he returned.
By this time the skies were flaming
with rising glory of the summer sun,
and the young workman's movements
were plainly visible
"Ah, see what the youngster is Zip
to now!" said the watcher at the win
dowi ''be's trying to fit in that corner
plank, but can see from here that it
doesn't just fit. He'll most probably
make it do, however, that's the way with
hobble-de-hoy; neither man nor boy;
he's just the age when lad isn't any too
| particular how jobs done if only he
gets through and has his pay. / don't
know, though"
He paused as Phil, after regarding his
work for moment, resolutely removed
the heavy plank and disappeared with it
around the corner of the house.
Mr.. Wyncoop again heard the patient
saving, but it was evident the bey
meant to get things right this time, for
he stopped twice to return and make
careful measurements of the space to be
filed.
But with all his care and caution
there was still something wrong when at
length Phil brought the second heavy
plank, and after considerable pushing
and pounding the board was in its place
1t sunk all of an inch below the level.
Phil put his hands in his pocket and
whistled softly as he surveyed the dis
couraging mistake with puzzled look.
The far-otf ringing of a breakfast bell
startled him; he raised the plank, car
ried it back of the house-then started
off for his breakfast.
81 like that boy" said the merchant
to himself; II like that boy; he was
patient as well as persevering. Twice
he has failed in his efforts; the third
time, according to the old proverb, never
fails. want to watch that job out
wish breakfast was ready"
1t appeared his wish was gratified. for
the bell rang almost Immediately, and a
moment later he joined his 81, ter in the
dlnlng-room. A few adroit observations
drew from her some desired information.
"Oh, yes; that place opposite's most
done, Pm thankful to say, and now
they've set Phil Cushing to work finish
ing up, see."
who's heF asked Mr.. Wyncoop,
carelessly.
'Oh, he's an orphan boy-lost his
mother about amonth ago; but although
he's great awkward boy enough to
look at, Phil's good, trusty fellow, and
gets lots of work"
MIR. Wyncoop informed his sister that
he should probably pass the morning in
his room, and, knowing well his eccen-
trlcities, she resolved neither to demur
nor disturb him, but mentally planned
to call on sick neighbor before din
ner.
Again in his room, Mr.. Wyncoop re-
sumed his watch at the window, Phil
was taking measurements again, more
accurately than ever. Then the singing
of the saw was heard. Phil was about
to measure again when party of BOYS
chhle IrooplnS up, Inelr voices louder
than usual from the hot haste with
which they had come.
"Come, Christopher Columbus George
Washington Cushing" cried Bobby
Lee, "please to drop that plummet, or
whate er you call it, and drop into line
We fellows are ready to march. Went
way round to the house after you, and
found you were up here. Come on now
hurry up"