St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-21
eyes. SIR" replied Fred, sturdily.

"Oh, see," replied the conductor.
well, young man, shall have to
for our sudden and uncere
monious trespassing on your prop
erty. But circumstances over which
we had no control seem to have left
us no choice in the matter, and ]
shall see that the road promptly
settles for all damages"
ooh, that'll be all right, am sure"
replied Fred. "The old barn wasn't
worth much, anyway. But you said
something about getting up dinner
for the passengers, didn't your"
Eyes. Doyo suppose your mother
could provide for such crowd? ?"
well, Pve got thirty fowls and
two roosters," rejoined Fred -"or
rather, did have before two OF 'em
were auctioned off - and l guess
mother could make tolerable sized
stew of the lot, enough to feed hun
dred people or more. If you say so,
I'll have her 60 ahead and do it,"
"By all means, young mani" ex-
claimed the portly gentleman, and
several Others cried: go ahead, boy
Well make it all right with you"
The result was that, three hours
later, Just as the old clock in the
Stamford kitchen was striking two,
a half-famished but merry company
OF about a hundred and twenty
people sat down under the trees to
feast upon the thirty-two Stamford
fowls-for the two purchasers OF the
auctioned hens had contributed them
to the pot" Plates were few,
and knives and forks almost I'M
known, but by using tin kettle
covers, pieces of board, penknives,
and the ten digits which are said to
have antedated forks, everybody
managed to dispose of piece of
fricasseed chicken, boiled potato,
and some crackers from a broken
barrel found in the overturned ex-
press car. There proved to be
enough of the FIRST course tor all, ard
the absence of dessert was more than
atoned for by thespice ofnovelty, the
laughter, merriment and good
feeling.
After the last scrap of food had
disappeared, a jolly little gentleman,
who had been the life OF the whole
party, sliced his hat, dropped five
dollar bill into it, and then started
around the circle, making a collec-
ton. The way the bills futtered
and the heavy pieces OF silver
"plunked" into the hat was a eau.
ton.
"There!" said the gentleman, hand
ing his hat to Fred, after he had been
the rounds. Take that to your
mother, and tell her to be sure to
turn up the inside band before she
sends it back"
There was shout of laughter, fol-
lowed Immediately by the cry
"Hark! The relief trains coming.
Didn't you hear the whistle ?"
Sure enough, a far-away whistle
sounded up the road, and presently
long train of cars came in sight
around a curve.
Mrs. Stamford. Fred and the little
girls stood in front of the cottage,
waving their handkerchief to the
groups of departing passengers, who
gaily returned the salute.
"Be sure to gather up all the wish
bones and wish with them! =" called
back the jolly man who passed the
hat.
God bless them ALL" exclaimed
Mrs. Stamford. flushed and tired,
but happy. think of their paying
two hundred dollars for such dinner
as that!"
at was not altogether the dinner,
mother" said Fred, though that was
good enough for king. 1t was the
kindness of their hearts. I'll never
believe that the world isn't full OF
true Christianity while such things
as this happen-will your"
mo, never!" cried Mrs. Stamford,
as she raised her apron to her eyes.
Then she turned to her son, with a
fearful smile, and said well, Fred
what do you think about auctions
now?"
Fred laughed. They're all right,
mother, away from the railroads,
where nobody but the auctioneer
can knock things down!"-[James
Buckham in Zion's Herald.
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