St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-26

Now jes' git quiet, an that poorly
quick"
The men glared and took breath
for a moment. Peevy had the floor
Tibet rooster air NINE" he said
with a savage snap of his jaws, IAN
III make er pot-pie out'n the man
at says it amt. Now that settles
it,"
Doubtless that would have settled
it indeed, had not the la W been grimly
interposed by Squire Potts, the old
justice OF the peace, who, being pres
ent, spoke up. and with absolute
authority said
bud. the law air ag'in' We all. So
sbet erp yer mouths an keep out'n
bad trouble about this here rooster"
Peevy wilted, and they all wilted.
To them the law from old Squire
Potts lips was like hot sunshine to
cut sassafras leaves; it dried them to
a condition of rustling uncertainty.
"Then whose rooster air it, shed
like to know" Peevy presently ven.
tured to inquire, rolling down his
sleeves.
This court" said the Squire,
seating himself on the fence where,
but a few moments before, the
rooster had stood. This court sees
on'y one PINT in this here case. The
prop'ty belong ter the highest bidder.
Now, who air the highest bidder
We all air the highest bidder 'cordin'
ter yer own sayin'. Therefore this
court say an decide at the rooster
belong ter We all. Hit air neigh
borhood rooster, 'cordin' ter law
made an pervided in the statoots ov
Georgia"
There was no appeal. Everybody
paid his share for the rooster, coats
were resumed, and friendly relations
as well. Aunt Polly Bicker's estate
being thus finally settled to the salts
faction of her lawful heirs, the rooster
went his way in the woods uncared
for, because, not being the particular
property OF any one person, and yet
the lawful chattel of all, he Jared as
an outcast whom nobody dared mo-
lest. And, in the liberal spirit OF out.
casts in general, he became an ele
ment to be reckoned with in making
up the neighborhood's account.
Ryan Melville received in broker
doses all the doings Of the Double
Waller" up to date; and what time
he was whipping with his elegant
tackle the incompatible bass. pool
of the brook, his unspoied imagina
ton reveled amid sort of luxnrie
permitted only to those who hav
health, wealth. leisure, and the fine
virile taste of lusty youth. SO i
came to pass that on a mornin,
when he had waded and cast, on an,
on, half mile father up the brool
than he had ever before gone, sud
denly vista opened through gree
wood to where, on high hill, stoo
mansion of old Southern DAYS. A
the hills foot springfield bubbleC
with a stone milk house, mossy
rooted and UNCOVERED, hangin
sketchably picturesque above tn
cool flow.
Ryan Melville was not tired, tina
were quite impossible to elastic mu.
Giles and springy thews like his; bu
the vision cast over him a magic il
fluence, impelling him dreamwar(
A sweet perfume smote his nostri
mocking-bird's melodious voi(
from a distant tangle was barrel
audible, falling into his ear as tel
der and soothing suspiration, and a
about the ground was fecked wit
pink, and yellow, and amethyst, ar
sapphire, where the wild howe
thrived. He waded forth from Il
, brook, flung aside his rod and cree
and stretched himself at full lepgt
upon the bank, his head in his har
and his face toward the stately O
house on the hill, whence down Il
steep incline yellowish path mea
, dered to the spring,
t "Takin' it easy, | see, Mr.. Melville
A He looked up very Indifferent
, the voice was that of Peevy, wi
4 had approached at the pace CONNIE
= to mountaineers, in feline silence, IL
d noticed until he spoke. Ia his hal