The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-02-22

o. yourn to the tin-peddler, and never
remembered how I'd put that there
hundred-dollar coupon bond you gave
me to keep in the pocket, because /
calculated no burglars would take'
pair of ragged old pants Oh, dearl oh,
dear!"
For one minute Eliakm Ellis stood
silent. A hundred dollars was hun
dred dollars to this Woodworking man,
who could only save and scrape by lit
ties.
But he looked at Louisa's pale, woe
begone face, and his great tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows of
the sea.
"Don't fret, Loisy, my gal )" he said,
cheerfully. cit was only an accident.
faint wuth frettn' about. And he
bent down and kissed her forehead-a
rare occurrence in their undemon-
strative household. Wen go to work
and make it up as fast as possible, my
dear"
"Oh, 'Liakim," sobbed the poor
wife. 81 don't deserve you should be
so good to me. Pm cross, scoldin'
creetur, and y
"Tut, tut, tut" good-humoredly in
terrupted her husband. "Guess | amt
goin to hev my wife abused this way"
"And I'm sorry | spoke so short
about them pumpkins" added Louise,
dolefully.
Mr.. Ellis whistled under his breath.
He was almost disposed now to regret
that he had paid out that dollar for the
Widow Hepsy's pumpkins.
he 10
himself, "and it can't be undone.
Loisy'd best TO be left in the dark, l
guess, about it,"
He was elertly kindling the fire,
while Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about
making preparations for the evening
meal, when there was a lively tattoo,
played by very energetic pair of
knuckles, on the door outside.
Come in" shouted he.
And who should make his appearance
but the tin-pedder himself.
Hello, squirrel" said he. Guess
there's been a mistake somewhere. l
amt buyin' up government coupon
bonds. Pm in the tin-trade. found
this ere in your old pockets. So L
allowed it was best to bring it back
right away"
He held out the folded slip of parch-
ment. Eliakim looked oddly at it..
Fetch on Diogenes and his lantern!"
said he. " / calculate here's the honest
man at last!"
"Get outl' said the peddler,
don't want none O. your four-syllabled
fun poked at me. But tell you what
l dew want. Them there pumpkins
tbot 1,o,, yuoc oart;n1 in xpbo, I nv
changed saucepan and two dippers
for them gray pants with your good
lady. I'll give you five cents apiece for
'em.n
"Done!" cried Farmer Ellis, JOY
fully.
"There's to be big dinner up to
Staples HILL" went on the peddler.
" And they're goin' to bake two hun
dred pumpkin-pies, and all the pork
and beans that's to be had. And there's
going to be corner in pumpkins. I've
got my wagon out here, so guess we'll
load up right away"
And thus the huudred-dollar coupon
bond was returned, all safe and sound,
by the tin,peddler, who was as honest
as he was shrewd, and the Widow
Hepsy Halls pumpkins were satisfac-
torily marketed-so much so, indeed,
that Elakim even purchased out of the
profits a snuff-colored merino gown,
which he lief. at the Widows door the
very next time he drove past.
It's pity she can't share more O.
the good luck" said he.
Mrs, Hall found the gown, neatly
wrapped In paper, at her door when
she came home from cranberrying in the
swamp, and she never knew where it
came from. But she made it up and
wore it to her daughter Belindy's in
the city.
But honest Eliakim has not yet told
Louisa, his wife, that he bought Widow
Hepsy's pumpkins and paid dollar
for them in good hard cash.
1t amt best to tell women every
thing!" said he.
-a$b-----