St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-09
se(rtfrn Story.
croRy OF VERMONT GRIT.

|W -alnIInS INV
1,%n"ntains, and blocked the
tant from view. The town in the
horlzoTI law in a crystal setting, and
valley laIbouse on the hillside was
the la almost to the gables in drifts.
IuIl'u uosture below, strewn with
Inc powders, between which, IN
huge ne DDt the cows sulkily wandered,
s%urlD, "ow a glittering field OF dia-
was Sasds, suggestive of untold wealth.
in ~ ,he dazzling sunbeams.
N I"' ,all raw.boned youth stood
a a va" leaning over the yard
with eyes that saw not. travel
Il Eo,'' aver the farm boundaries. "A
E npn lad," said his small world,
hut a lcvel-headed one' not IKE MS
l". .Setho cried his brother from the
,orrb, 'vou better come n Inc
,.iI is lust going to be read :,
VI" strange expression crossed
4 c.'b,. face. He lifted his eyes 70
+hp sky, his npS lHONSu 7I'S"'| 10
waving to bespared this bltterhour;
p.5e6 he turned and went in,
Mr. Burnett, Seth'sfather, had few
worldly possessions to leave; andthe
m mo.t valuable OF these, the farm, was
hnavilv mortgaged. Thus the will
"ras soon read; but there came a
.trsnye kew even in hard Uncle John's
Sn;cp at the concluding words, di-
rected to the boys and girls, who
had loved their father with the de-
"o,;on that his noble character de-
served: II leave to my beloved chill
dren a heritage of poverty. May
i he to them a higher gift than a
mine Of wealth. May they use it to
the best advantage, so that, when 1t
comes their turn to give up their
worldly possessions, they may go to
their God, the God OF their fathers
with clean hearts,
always a TOOL" muttered Uncle
Iohn. shifting suspiciously, as he
threw down the will.
Seth rose to his feet, a new digni-
ty in his bearing, his deep eyes shin
inc. his face set firm as a rock.
FEATHER" he said, as if the father
stood in their midst, II accept the
heritage with loving gratitude. |
syeak for US ALL" He looked around
at his seven sturdy brothers and two
sisters. All rose and held up their
hands.
"Friends,' he went on, turning to
the guests, I'VE know why father
died poor, with a mortgage on his
farm. 1t was because he loved hon
or and honesty before worldly gain.
There was money he had in trust,
that the bank lost for him; and he
paid it back out of his w little
property, so that no one but himself
was the loser. He needn't to, for
'twan't his fault"
POOL" muttered the uncle, open
ing his round eyes at Seth'S story.
so" continued Seth, 1--WE accept
proudly our heritage OF poverty and
hardship. We will deal with it, and
battle with it, 20 help us God, with
clean hands; eh, boys?'
contemptuous laugh from Uncle
John set their cheeks ahame.
Have YOU got five cents to YOUR
name
1--WE got what's BETTER" said
Seth with admirable temper, hold
Ing up his ten fingers, and pointing
back at the staIwart boys for whom
he was spokesman. I'VE can work"
Now you listen to sense"
SAID Uncle John, sneering, give up
all thought of keeping up the farm.
The mortgage will be foreclosed be-
tore YOU We arnt your keep"
Before the boy could answer, their
grabbed old neighbor rose to his
ieet' Wall, " said he, guess the
mortgage amt no business of yourn,
since be the one that holds it. The
ooy will have a chance to wrestle
lor his rooitree;" and, turning his
pack on the outstretched hands Of
the grateful widow and her family,
ne made his way to the yard, and
disappeared from view.
Then came a buzz of conversation.
and Seth found himself the centre of
disappearing remarks. The rela-
ives gave HIM advice freely, but not
one cordial, kind word; friends ad-
VlSed him for his own good, each>af-
Ter his own standard; and at length
these funeral guests made their fare
wells, and solemnly departed.
Seth, with set teeth, stood out in
the yard, assisting in the disposal of
rugs and buggies, and at length shut
Tue gate on the last stranger, and
STOOD for a moment drawing long
oreaths that shook him like sobs.
Been too much for We, | guess"
sad a rough, though not unkindly,
voice They don't mean nothin'
py It, but it's a pity a family can't
nav their funeral all to themselves"
They talk as if money was the
only Standard said the boy, his
tone revealing that the remarks on
ms fathers lack of worldly wisdom
mad cut deep.
wall, we can't do without it, so
'or as l can see,' was the brief reply.
oetn, sore at heart, turned on him