The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-04-28

lures had raised this evil demon, and
now its hold was tightening, till the
manly fellow who had won her babe
fair to become a miser. So completely
had the desire for gain taken possession
of him that he saw nothing of the danger
to his better nature.
The hands of the clock moved steadily
on, and with dinner to prepare, the
beds to make, the milk to skim, beside
the wailing infant to still, and the yet
greater task of keeping restless little
Madge out of mischief, Mary was tired
enough by noon for bed.
Promptly at the stroke of twelve
Farmer Tom, with three hungry men,
appeared. The cloth was not even laid
for dinner.
"What, late again, Mary?" said her
husband, with slight frown. You
know this time is money to u.s."
With heavy child in her arms, she
was endeavoring to prepare the meal.
Tom seated himself in the door,
"Where is Mamie, that she can't
help little? AT school? Oh, yes, 1
forgot it began to-day"
'FHere, Tom, you must take the baby
if YOU want dinner to-day; and another
| bllluSs lllClC . nO uSC III my tlJlhS w
do any longer without a girl to help
me-"
"A girl, Mary? Why, 1 don't know
where you could possibly get one now.
Mother never had help, that can re-
member. It's pretty expensive living;
then there's the mowing-machine to
pay for, and another horse for haying.
Can't you keep Mamie at home to look
after the children? She might as well
earn her board"
Mary said nothing, shutting her lips
tightly together, as if to keep back any
words, and presently called him to
dinner.
" Can it be that Tom cares so little
for me? l may toll and delve to bring
him in more money" she thought, bit
terly. ooh, my darlings, could not
bear it if it were not for your sakes!"
she cried, straining her little ones to
her heart, the hot rebellious tears fall
ing on their heads.
Farmer Tom was out in the fields,
working like tiger himself to keep up
the tagging spirits of his men.
" never see such man to work an
make everybody else work, too"
grumbled one man to his compan ion,
pausing to wipe his reeking brow. cam
that pooty wife of his slavin' herself to
death because he's too darned stingy
to get her any helpl declare for it, my
Nancy don't work half so hard as. she
does"
The man went on with his hoeing,
but Tom, whom he supposed out of
earshot, had not been so far ahead but
that he had caught the drift of the con-
versation.
Can it be that Mary is working too
hard ?'' he thought, recalling her face
as it looked that noon. Then the face
of the girl he had welded five years
before-why, it was five years that
day - came before him, radiant with
youth and happiness. The contrast
did not please him.
g But all women grow old faster than
men," he said to himself, and then en-
deavored to dismiss the thought.
Somehow it would not stay banished,
work as hard as he might. That night
when he reached home Uncle Warren
who had quarreled with all his sons,
had tale of grievance to relate.
You know how l axed my son, JOS
eph, more'n a month ago for my old
eight-day clock. To-day he came along,
an when told him I'd have it if it took
a sheriff to get it, he says, with long
I drawn sigh, Father, I'd ruther go
home an find my best COW dead than
to give up that clock Well, pooty
soon after he had gone, one of his
neighbors come along an SEE he, Well,
grandpa, you've lost your clock. Joe
boxed it up an took it off som'ers, no.
body knows where Jest to think of
having such mean man for a son, alter
all I've done for him!'
The poor old man whimpered like a
child, forgetful of the fact that from
their early youth he had instilled it
into his children's mind that "gettin'
an savin' was the chief aim of man.
They were living his advice now. their
chief soicitude concerning him being
that he should leave them his money.
The old man perceived this, and he
had quarreled persistently with each
before taking refuge with his nephew
vowing never to leave them cent of
his property.
Tonight Uncle Warren's complain :
ings Jared on TOMS mood. The poor,
loveless, ENJOYABLE old age looked more
forlorn than usual.
what was the use of that lifetime
of saving?" he thought. "Only UNI
happiness"
He glanced at his wife; her cheeks
were pale, and her eyes were red as
with weeping His heart smote him.
" Come here, Madge," he said to his
little girl, who was hanging to hel
mothers skirts.
She held in her hand colored card
which Mamie had brought home from
Sabbath-school. Mechanically he read
the words: " Whatsoever man soweth
that shall he reap" They stung him
What had he been doing? His con,
science, already aroused, would not be
put to sleep again. What was the good
of boarding, if Mary and the children
were not happy now?
Uncle Warren's voice broke in on his
reverie: "That note of Avery's comes
due tomorrow, don't it? Where'll you
, put the five hundred to git a good in
terest?o
, He hardly needed the old mans
words. Whatsoever man soweth y
kept ringing in his ears. Perhaps hi:
A reaping in his old age would be like