Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-05
HOW BUTCHER JOHN GREW RICH.
He Happened to Have a Elnnl Calf
Mhich H. VIEW ~ L-n Ni.rii Iimn.


Which He i'iHy"d az the Right Time.
Many year, 10. long. irforc Tie railroads
and telegraph ro'c. and very long before
the civil war when Braiin2, Pa, was only
quaint country town and its one chief
summer resort was the old White House
hanging on The aide Of the Neversnl hill
and overlooking the blue waters Of the
Schuylllill river at it's foot, Butcher Ref
snyder-old Butcher .John-came slowly
vending his own and his horses way
around the curve kno5F as Lovers Leap,
half mile farther down the mountain road,
having in his wagon u solitary black calf
somewhere between 10 months and a year
old. Veal was scarce and John was mad,
for no matter how small he cut the pieces
y could not suppl his customers, among
them some of the first families in
Reading. lie was hungry, too, and what
was worse he was dry. The White House
door was open, and in the office at n table
sat Judge Cly-r, Lawyer Ric-, Lawyer
B-s and DIR. H--r.
Well, he drew rein in trout Of the Old
tavern porch. Il was midnight. The
landlord, who knew his guests WE'LL had
RETIRED leaving the house to darkness and
To them. No one heard the butcher; the
dust was knee deep on that much Travelled
and surveyed the four men, all of whom he
well knew, and who came to this lonely
spot to play cards for money, and ii glitter
ing pile lay on the table, around which
these four gentlemen stood with drawn
pistols, while words hot and heavy were
hurled at each other across the pile Of gold.
It was Judge Cly-r who spoke now:
YOU'RE liar" be Numbered at his OPP
ponont. "You cheated saw you do it,
and before you touch that money may the
devil with horns and hoofs come in and
tear me in as many pieces as there are dol
lars In that pile!'
No sooner said than done. Rcifsnyder,
who mad lifted his calf of the wagon to
give it some wafer now turned to the low
windows, wide open, and with IA few visor-
Gus thrusts and twists Of the tail the black
calf lit in their midst, believing as only a
black calf can. One moment of supreme
CONSERVATION; then, with blauched faces
End calls on the Almighty, tue four gam
Hers made for the door, IcRviug hats,
coats, money and all behind them in ,beir
wild flight to the sewn.
! Said old John: ~ hollered fer 'em to
stop; that it was all fun, but it only made
them run the harder, thinking the devil
was after them sure. l went in and got
. NY Cdll 1Atu SttllB Iic IlOiCS, anu
knowing old Rightmeyer was in bed,
stroked it into my hat and took it along
with me. Did l keep it3 Well, you see
was half afeard of what had done aftel
the turn things took SO went to old Judge
/ Cly-r and tried to straighten it out like. d
80 it wasn't the devil after all?' he
said with a genuine sigh of relief. "No
John, keep that money for your share Of
the fun, but for the dear Lords sake keeE
the story too"
Well he only told few, but somehow
or other it leaked out, and now it is n story
that every Reading boy and girl has hearC
grandpa or grandma relate, and wonder
how old Butcher John came to be rich SC
soon has long ago ceased to be u WONDER
St. Louis Republic.