Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-29


In the back room he fell into two or three
ancient jokes with him.
BY the way" said Mr. Hinghambotham,
THAT story of yours makes me think Of
the first time you told it, just after tina
war closed. You remember, hey?"
'Well, don't know, " said parson Bean
His mind was not so much upon the story
as upon his silent comments.
"Why, you see," said Mr.. bingham,
bothAm, crossing his knees, "this is tina
way it was: You came in here, and you
had had a letter, you know, somebody had
sent to you to give Jason Sparks. You
remember Jason? He was likely fellow
enough, warn't her Only his hair was
little mite too oarrotty. "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 n letter from JASON
and nobody knew where he'd gone to-
You remember Jason cleared out just after
the boys come homer Then you told this
same ere story-this one about the two
dogs, and'-
"Did II" exclaimed the minister and he
looked SO startled that Mr.. Hinghamboth-
am peered over his green glasses in sur
prise at him.
"By the way, did you ever find out
where Jason Sparks went top asked tho
minister irrelevantly.
well If he isn't dead 4" said Mr.. Hing
hambotham, "why, he is living and that
might be over in Sandman. You know
his wife's father lived there, and when
Jason went to the war he gave up his own
home and his wife went to live with her
own folks"
The minister got his tall length out of
the chair into which he had planted him
self and reached forward and took tho
postmaster's rusty penholder.
"Hand us sheet of paper, will you,
Mr.. HinghambothamP' he said briefly.
And when the letter was finished Mr..
Hinghambotham, not being able to SEQ
over the parsons shoulder just what was
being written, received it after it was
stuck together in its envelope and duly
stamped peered at it ON all sides and on
account Of the minister's presence being
unable to hold it up between the light and
his eyes Ga method which he religiously
observed with all other postal matter), no
dropped 1t into the box with sigh.
Now" said Pastor Bean, turning
around and facing him, "if you can gather
anything else about Jason Sparks-I have
not thought Of him for a score of years, or
any one else that was in the same company
Company @, you know, of Vermont
guards) you just let me know as quick
as you can get down to the parsonage
The next day Rex and Natalie had
queer, solemn looking missive handed in
by the minister's maid of all work 1t
was directed to both of the young people,
and inside was very short letter that re
solved itself into four words, Come over
this afternoon.
Never was bidding more joyfully &C
cepted, and that afternoon in the pastors
study there was conference of three, So
quiet and secret that not even a whisper
escaped through the study walls.
Nov, not word to any one, " said the
minister, land don't you look as though
you had anything that you could tell II
you wanted to-"
1t was the night before Decoration day,
and it was prayer meeting night, the serv-
ice being held in the old SOstry. There
were not many there, to be sure. Perhaps
they were saving their energies for the
next day. But there were enough to be
astonished when Pastor Bean said at the
end of the service:
"There is an act of justice to be done
here in Brier Hill tonight SO startling that
it will require a large hall, that all the
hearers may be seated. Every one who
wishes to go can adjourn after this meet
ing to the town hall. This is all l shall
say now"
1t was not necessary for him to say any
more, and the few at prayer meeting could
scarcely wait with decent patience until
the minister said "Amenl" and ad journed
the meeting.
Then there was a scampering over to the
town hall, those at the end of the procession
fearing that they would be unable to get
seats, and all lost In wonder and amaze at
the whole thing.
Nobody knew what they were assembled
for; whether the bank in the country town
had burst, or whether the minister was
going to resign and thought the church
would be too small for the audience that
would naturally be interested In the news,
or whether dozen and one other things
were about to burst upon them with one
fell swoop.
The tumult of all this whispering and
excitement suddenly ceased as Parson
Bean entered the side door, the selectmen
close at his heels, and then there were seen
to emerge from the two doors of the COM
mittee room, back of the platform, a small
crowd of people, each looking as if he had
something interesting to communicate.
The parson stepped right to the front Of
the platform and said, LET us prayp'
Down went every head, although some
times eyes peeked out between the fingers
of the hands held decorously before their
faces. 1t is safe to say that very few per-
sons know what the parson prayed. Ev-
cry one was watching the group on the
platform.
But after the prayer was ended the
heads were up again, and 1t was the proper
thing to stare in straightforward way as
Parson Bean drew forward tall, angular
old man, bent and withered, who seemed
to have great difficulty to walk even few
steps to the front of the platform.
Friends and fellow citizens, " said the
minister in deep tones, I'VE have with us
a resident of another town who has emerg-
ed from the seclusion that has enveloped
him to do simple act of justice to one of
our townspeople. This Is Jason Sparks.
Perhaps some of you know him."
Two or three people in the audience
started, craned their neoks and stared long
and hard at the old man on the platform,
but the rest looked on carelessly, not
knowing in the least who Jason Sparks
was.
"Now, then, Mr.. Sparks" said Pastor
Bean, "tell us what you know about the
battle of Bull Run-the little episode in
which you and your oomrade, John Duns-
combe, took part"
At the mention of John Dunscombe ev-
cry man was alert with Indignation, and
the women also had curious look OF scorn
on their faces, so deep had been the feeling
of anger at the one citizen of Brier Hill
who had been discredit to them in the