The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-06-17


avery old fAshioned man indeed. Jndg
isg from the manner in which be governe
Ibis children. be bad. evidently, long sinc
forgotten that be had ever existed 10
sssir OF bcyhood
DeA Martin vas vell.io-do farmer
TIM Inevitable mortgage had long sinc
been paid, and his bank book spoke vol
for hss Industry aud economy.
Mrs Martin vas pale, tired. careworI
woman, old before her time. She hat
made butter and cheese. washed and iron
"a, baked. breved, scscd. mcndsd. and
done al kinds Of housswork. bc~ides o.
len assisting in the fields or at the barr
for many long ysars. with never : day o.
real rest, il We except the Sabbath. which
Vas rigidly observed 10 the old Puritsnics
fashion.
The family consisted Of the deacon and
his Wis and two children. Mary asd
Willie. sgsd IL and IA years. The home
vas an old. low roofed farm house. which
might have been red when the deacon wa,
boy. The floors were bare and unpaint
cd, excepting that Of the parlor. which was
decorated with an old rag carpet.
few religious pictures in square old fash
ioned frames were suspended fat upon
the walls Of the family sitting room. Not
q cultivated flower or shrub we're 10 be
seen about the premises
Father, said Willie. as he come in from
driving the cows to pasture one pleasant
spring morning, wish could go away
tomorrow. Quito number Of the boys
are going on trouting excursion. and
will have lots OF fun. / do wish l could
go.
The deacon frowned savaeely.
Humph. boy, are you crazy? Just look
ct that pertater ield-not planted yet!
II you want to go fishin. take your hook
and go down in lthe medder, some night
after supper aud catch mess Of pouts.
Willie knew II would be useless to ar
que the matter further. but be stole away
TO the barn and cried from disappointment
till be heard his fathers voice calling him
to assist in cutting the potatoes for plant
ing.
It's always so, he mu.tered, he's never
willing should go anywhere, but I shall
be big enough by and by to 20 where I
please. and he cant help himsslf either
The same day Mary carried into the
house few wild flowers, which she neat.
ly arranged in q boquet and called her
attention to them.
See, mother. aren't they pretty? And
just smell-how sweet they are.
o. yes, they are we'll enough, but nev.
or had no time to putter with flowers.
Iwish, continued Mary, that we could
have some pretty flower beds like other
folks. The seeds don't cost much-only
five cents paper for lots Of kinds I do
want SO much. Cant you give me 10
cents mother?
Mrs. Martin sank into chair and rails
ed her hands in astonismen..
Money for flower seeds! she exclaimed.
Well, / wonder what this worlds comm
to, Here I've let you run the fields q
whole bali hour, this morning, to pick
those weeds, and now you have come
home and want money to buy flower seeds.
No; 80 to your father he will settle the
question.
Mary knew, however, that It would be
useless to apply to her father, and so the
subject dropped.
Don't you hate Sundsyp asked Willie.
Of his sister, one lovely Sabbath afternoon.
when they had been forbidden to leave
the house or make any noise or read any
thing. exceptino the Bible or SUNDAY
school library books.
Well. answered Mary thouebtfully.
I don't suppose ve ought 10 hate anv dav
but am Glad when Sunday il over. for
I'd rather work than do nothing Al ali.
We will now psss over a period Of four
Years Dea. Martin Il beOinninu 70 real
ize that he can no longer exercise abso-
lutte authority over the action Of his chill
dren.
Finding no pleasure IN his home. vii.
lie has sought amusement elsewhere, and
formed habits which be sees ct to care
inlly conceal from his parents.
Mary. said he to his sister, ono day |
IS they were in the field together. busily
engaged 10 raking hay, believe shall
run away.
0. Willie, she cried. dropping her rake
in astonishment.
Yes. he continued, can't stand It
any longer I'm tired OF being o perfect
.lava