The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-10

loved children and young people and
should never be 80 tired but he could
see the youthful members of his flock.
But he was getting little too much
of them now, and he wished the whole
seven of them back in their respective
places, giving him a good safe distance
| between them. First, like flash of
lightning, came these ringing SEN
fences: "Why have you not done this
before? Next, "Why can't you do
it now?"
In moment he said, " Well, young
people," and he smiled as he turned
around upon them, " We'll do it,"
"All right" cried Rex, When
the minister says he'll do thing, he'll
do it. Come along, now, all of you"
Whatever am 10 do?" he said to
himself in dismay, communing deeply.
Here have given promise to these
young people to do what l can twenty
eight years after the war to free John
Dunscombe's name from shame. What
ever am to do?"
He went down to the post office as a
matter of form, having nothing to 60
down for, as the morning mail had
| OH Cauf pCCh uCllNCiCu w ulhit ahu ~
was good three hours before the even
ing mail would be in, and as he cas-
ually passed two or three remarks to
the old postmaster sitting in the back
room he fell into two or three ancient
Jokes with him.
"By the way" said Mr.. bingham
botham, "that story of yours makes
me think of the first time you told it,
just after the war closed. You remem-
Der, hey?"
"Well, l don't know" said Parson
Bean. His mind was not so much
upon the story as upon his silent COM
ments.
Why, you see," said Mr.. bingham
botham, crossing his knees, "this is the
way it was: You came in here, and
you had had letter, you know, some
body had sent to you to give Jason
Sparks. You remember Jason? He
was likely fellow enough, warn't hef
Only his hair was little mite too car
rotty. "A good mark for the bullets,
they used to say to tease Jason as he
was going off to the war. Well, you
had had letter from Jason, and no
body knew where he'd gone to. Yor
remember Jason cleared out just aftel
the boys came home? Then you TOLD
this same ere story-this one about thu
, two dogs, and ~
. "Did II" exclaimed the minister
: and he looked 80 startled that Mr.
, Hinghambotham peered over his greer
glasses in surprise at him.
"By the way, did you ever find GU
where Jason Sparks went to?" aske
! | tho miniatar irrplevantlV
d well, if he isn't dead" said MI
r Hinghambotham, why, he is living
r and that might be over in Sandman
8 You know his wife's father lived there
n and when Jason went to the war b
gave up his own home, and his viii
8 went to live with her own folks"
e The minister got his tall length oil
g of the chair into which he had plante
3 himself and reached forward and too
,. the postmaster's rusty penholder.
e Hand us sheet of paper, will yo'
Mr.. Hinghambotham?" he said brief
G And when the letter was finished M
g Hinghambotham, not being able to Sc
e over the parsons shoulder just wh'
l was being written, received it after
was stuck together in its envelope an
(, duly stamped, peered at it on all sid'
e and on account OF the minister's pre-
a ence being unable to hold it up b
1t tween the light and his eyes Ga methC
y which he religiously observed with 6
re other postal matter), he dropped it in
n the box with sigh.
n Now said Parson Bean, turnin
around and facing him, 8" if you CO
y gather anything else about JasC
Sparks-I have not thought of him +
* a score of years, or any one else th
to was in the same company Company
you know, Vermont Guards) you ju
a. let me know as quick as you can G
,e down to the parsonage"
The next day Rex and Natalie had
is queer, solemn-looking missive hand,
IL in by the minister's maid of all wor
le 1t was directed to both of the your
lie people, and inside was very she
ST letter that resolved itself into TO
Id words, "Come over this afternoon.
r, Never was bidding more joyfully
r. cepted, and that afternoon in the pr
BY tors study there was conference
IN three, 30 quiet and secret that not eV
a whisper escaped through the stu'
Ky walls.
err "Now, not a word to any one" 81
ne the minister Hand don't Won look