Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-19

and some in the sheds of gOOd-natured
neighbors. After caring for their oxen the
drivers sat around an open fire IN the bar
room. and all but three or four made mei-
ry with the landlords liquor-for the tenn
perance reform had hardly as yet been
thought of.
"You and will do well to let this stuff
alone, said Parson Stowell to Ephraim
as the mug went round.
Yes, sir: our scores will be lighter in
the morning and our oxen can have the
difference in corn farther along"
That's a wise answer for boy. Come.
men, added the parson, raising his voice
till the rafterS rmg, ''it's bedtime and
good Christians need not be ashamed to
praise God before committing themselves to
his nightly watch"
There was seemly hush while he read
a portion of the fifteenth chapter of Luke,
beginning. And he said a certain man
had two sons, and offered a short prayer
and then all climbed to their beds in the
chambers above.
Next day they pressed along briskly on
hard, well-trodden road, passing Woodstock
before noon and put up for the night at
Windsor on the bank of the Connecticut.
On the third day, travelling on the firm
ice of the river for a few miles southwark,
they turned to the left through Claremont,
\. H., along the Concord road. The
weather had grown rapidly warmer since
the start and the road was bare in spots
making it hard work for the oxen.
On the fourth day the weather changed
again, and a furious storm set in. which
made their progress slow. The oxen haul
ing the leading sled would soon tire of
breasting the powdery snow and then the
next team took its turn the tired ones 20
ing to the rear to enjoy the track beaten by
all the rest Ephraim felt all man when
his turn came to guide his oxen by whip
and voice at the head of the little caravan.
Thus delayed by the heavy snow it was
Saturday noon before they passed Concord,
and that night they put up at Hookset for
a welcome reStful Sunday. Mr.. Stowell.
who was well known all along the route.
preached in the little church, and the driv-
ers, dressed in their hOmespun. their COON
skin caps, and buckskin gloves and mecca
sins, formed picturesque addition to the
little congregation.
On Monday morning, just one week from
home, they set ont down the Merrimac.
again on the ice. 1t was during this day 5
journey that Ephraim nearly came to grief,
when Buck. his nigh OK. fell through an
air hole into the chilly water and hung by
his neck in the yoke, his body swept under
the ice by the current. His struggles were
soon quoted and lac lay with closed eyes
and protruding tongue, apparently breath
ing his last. while Ephraim stood by help
less and not knowing what to do But
when he thought all was over with Door
Buck, Deacon Sewall came running up
with stout plank which he had pulled out
nf lal lxt-itI Ia, ., L.
the strong men soon pried poor Buck out
and set him shivering upon his feet.
"NOw, then, youngster, said Mr. Stow
ELL you gallOp them steers for the nearest
barn as fast as you can, and don't worry
about this. The devil himself might have
dug that pitfall, for good Christian
couldn't have seen it if he had had four
times your years.
1t was early on the second Friday when.
the spires of the distant city having since
dawn been before their eyes. they passed
Charlestown Neck and entered the great
city.
The east wind was blowing and it seemed
to Ephraim terribly cold. colder than he
had ever known it to be in the Green
Mountains When the Boston school bows
came out for recess they found great sport
in snOwballing the V ermonters and passing
uncomplimentary remarks upon their I'M
couth garb.
Ephraim hardly noticed this however.
there was so much to ill his attention. The
streets, the stores, the fine houses. the
churches, the men in their beaver hats and
long red or blue mandarin coats. the wom-
en- in quilted hoods and voluminous cloaks.
formed the figures in an ever new panorama
from the delights of which he was recalled
by the query, ''Well, bub, what have YOU
to sell?' Then he realized that he had
reached the market at last.
Bartering proved a work of time and pa
thence. Ready money was scarce in those
days, and the seller wished 10 get as much
OF IL as possible, while the merchant
sought To pay for as much as possible in
trade 1t was constant struggle of wits
in which the sharpest We're not always those
of the city man.
1t was all new to Ephraim and he ex-
changed pork for tea, maple sugar for gun
powder and homespun yarn for cotton
thread and buttons with keen zest He
was pleased when the hardware man praised
the hang of his axe helves and remem-
bered atterward with dismay his fathers
caution against fiattery when he remem-
bered what tiny key of nails he had ac-
cepted for the whole lot Altogether. how
ever he could not feel that he had done i'll
when he went at night to the hotel where
the party was to stay while in Boston
On Saturday the bartering was contin-
ued. No merchant wished to take all of
any ones miscellaneous load, and Ephraim
had some trouble in disposing of all his
wares. After all else had gone, he found
still on his hands piece of hOmespun with
which his mother had entrusted him.
There was no sale for it at the stores, they
told him, but he would not carry it home
again, and so he offered it from house TO
house until after many refusals a sweet old
lady with clustering white curls and a lace
cap took the whole piece and paid a good
price for it too.
With part of the money Ephraim
bought for his mothers summer wear an
enormous "calash'' or bonnet" the size
and shape of a coal scuttle.
On Sunday Ephraim went to the Federal
street church and heard DR.. Claiming
preach a sermon full of fire and force. He
was entranced by the charm of the speak
er.
On Monday he waited till near nightfall
for his companions to finish their business
While waiting he visited Bunker Hill and
the Old South church, that he might have
something to tell his playmates when he
reached home
Toward night the teams set out on their
return. The journey home was much like
a repetition of the downward one. The
sleds were lighter laden, but the roads were
deeper drifted with snow and they were