Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-01

new you, Jlmf interrupted MI. Ioui
der at this juncture.
"Yes-n-no, can't say tibet 1 hev,"
slowly replied the lad wincing before
his fathers straightforward glance.
"You think your lot hard, then, my
boy9" continued his father, with a
kindlier look in his eyes.
"Well, yes, father, hev thought
SO, but i
"You hev too much work, you say2
Thets your troubled" Then, as if
talking to himself, Mr.. Poulder con
tinued: Probably I've been a little
hard on you, Jim. There has been
lots of work to be done on the farm,
an I've only thought of gettin' it
through with didn't think of you.
hev not been very good father to
you in tibet respect, probably, an I'm
glad tibet you've opened my eyes.
Poor fellow he has worked hard an
faithfully, an now he'll hev his re-
ward"
Jim moved uneasily against the tree,
and wished that his father had been a
little more angry with him, and
wouldn't talk so kindly about him.
Somehow the turn of affairs did not
quite suit him, and he wished that
it had been different. He felt that his
father had not quite understood his
meaning; he really in his heart wanted
his father to laugh at him, or get angry
with him, and order him to his work
with a threat. Matters did not seem
to improve when Mr.. Poulder con-
tinued:
"Well, Jim, you needn't finish this
job can do it as well as you, and
will leave the other clearin' until to-
morrow. You can go on fishin'."
But, father"-
"Never mind; thets all right. I can
do it without help. You can hev a
half holiday"
The dumfounded lad remained in
the same position until he saw his
father swing the AK over his head,
and begin cutting up the trees into
proper lengths for cord wood. Then,
abashed by his own boldness, and
feeling a certain exultatiop of success
in the encounter, he turned away
from the clearing, and went back to
the brook From his position on the
grassy bank he could not see his
father, but he could hear the steady
The fish were as plentiful as usual
that afternoon, and several good bites
were made on the bait, but the young
fisherman did not enjoy his sport half
SO well as on other occasions. He
trolled his line about listlessly, and
paid more attention to the distant
woodchoppers heavy, ringing blows
than to the swapping of the speckled
trout. Every unusual sound seemed
! to startle him from his reverie, and
he glanced hastily around toward the
clearing.
The afternoon slowly waned, and
Jim Poulders memorable half holiday
ran itself out For three hours he re-
manned seated on the bank of the small
brook, watching the bright leaves on
the trees and the trouts in the brook,
and listening attentively to the sounds
that came from his fathers AK.
About shutdown he walked slowly
homeward and stopped at the barn to
feed the animals But some one had
already performed his nightly duty,
and the animals were taken care of for
the night. Then he went to do few
little chores around the house. and
found that these too had been done by
his father.
"Well, he means to give me hall
holiday in earnest" Jim muttered, as
he stood just outside of the door before
entering for his supper. Il wonder
what he'll say bout it to the supper
table S'pose I'll hev to make up fun
it ter-morrow."
He gave the stick with which his
favorite dog was playing violent
jerk, and ordered the canine to charge
in no gentle tones. Then, as il
ashamed at his show of anger, he
patted the animal on the head, anC
told him to follow him into the house
If the overworked boy expected tC
hear some reference to the days work
or to his half holiday, he was disap
talked of other things that We're quit,
foreign to the subject which was up
permost in Jim's mind. All that even
ing they tried to make things brigh
and comfortable for him, but he fel
moody and ashamed, and at an early
hour he hurried off to bed.
The following morning was brigh
and clear one, and the sun was shinin.
warmly into the lads sleeping room
before he opened his eyes. Then h
started up with jump, and made al
exclamation of surprise as he locke,
out of doors. 1t was fully 8 o'clock
and his rising hour had always beef
8, while breakfast was invariabl,
served at half-past 6.
Gracious sakesl what's the matte
anyhow" he muttered aloud, as h
hurriedly dressed himself. Il didn'
hear any one call me-"
Then, as remembrances of past morn
ings when he had slept ON after bein
called rushed through his mind, h
, tried to think whether he had repeate
such an otfense. But, no, he could nc
: remember having heard his mother O
father call him that morning. Fl
: walked down into the breakfast room
] little sheepishly, expecting to be re
: proved severely for his laziness. Blu
no one was in the room; his mothe
t was busily engaged In her work Out
side, and his breakfast was standin
-. H. @o1>1o f,,r b;,, IL 90