The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-01-07
raE SELLING OF BAlAam.

hNI beGh tD8 f0fiu W tbH h"'s 49,
81 the s.seser oil . ihres-yssr-oid be
C.lsmity SEEMED sbou, 10 follow b
sseses fuuer Bs,ey. uDsssre OF b
nes sobisvtnrpt. bss deciied 10 hs'
hsr Tor bis dinner ihst rery day. l
proceeded TO Iv 10 catch her, srd by u
limr she fsv irio B,lssn's msbesr be y,
,horoushiy nsi.
B.lssm, N. uule, liked The black hs'
She hsd roasted on bic b,ck ever sint
she hsd been able 10 reost and be lite
10 fsel The prick OF her little. eliasin
'oss. ss che fussea sboot. settling herse
Tor The nisbi, snd talked TO him 10 slesp
elucss vLile be muochei bis hoy. Wbe
che fss squ,wkios iu,o bi. m,osef o.
his uoblsr Instincts rebelles :, nsb' Q
her dilemma.
Mr. B,tey Vas short snd tat Cons
qaeutlf be bad TO bsisncs bim.elf scros
the ejae OF the mspeer 10 order 10 rescl
ths hen, whose ebony siSes isnned cloud
of dn / sud feathers sbout bis bead. Be
au conld not endnrs IL. He s,retcbe,
bis neck slowly tosnd Mr. Bitey's bead
wbicb hung over into the manser.
Mr.. B,,ey's hair had 30 smbi,ious w.,
Of etosipR straight up. Rslssm's teett
closed firmly over smsll toft. sni b'
oolled. With q backward jerk sud bob o.
ii. bead. MIR. B,iey sprspe back. blind
I'd With the p.iu. B,lssm stood quite stil
sulleuiy q ppine bis und.r lip His gsz'
rested ou he ground, sud only the worn
log OF bi, long esrs bespoke sppreheu
sion; TIE fatal little wisp OF hair, shos
log sliebtiy between bis teeth rs bis undeI
lip fell, told the story.
Mr.. B,,ey clencbed bis fists and swell
"a dangerously for seversl seconds. Then
concentrating the hre OF bic eyes foil upon
me n ole, be hissed: "Tbs,'s the list III
take oct Of youl" He might bsve said that
wss the isst B,lssm would tske ont Of
him. Torniue, be left the barn, End
strobe over TO the field where Abs wss st
work.
Abe vas IN old plantation dnky. who
owped q small plot near Mr.. B,teys
isrm. By way OF adding to bis little 10
come, he did occasional odd JOBS for the
neishboripe farmers.
As Abe sirais h,ened up and re ted one
arm on bis hoe. MIR B,tey said. Abe. yon
ssptsd to buy B,l.su the other dsy. III
sell the blsme mule for five dollars.
Why, sshl Whsps the boy do2 he
sets pow'lul s,o' by dat mule. don' hef
The mules no sccount. and don't think
bss safe for ths boy. answered Batey,
The grin on Abe's face widened.
spec he's saiab To- de boy dan TO- yo',
sab. be said.
Do you want himP asked Mr.. Bstey. II
you don'i, III sell bin TO some one else.
We'll. cab, Id be proud to own dat
mule. He's pow'iul bsp' come TO q mule,
sab. Add . u ule's culled mans best
hin, 'esppin' bis nanny A mule tskes
q sort O. pussensl inttres In q msp. Mis-
,sh b aey. 9 sort o. pussensl interes.
Yes. answered Mr. B4tey, he knew 1t
Rs, true,
ia like TO boy him. sab.
All ii sht. answered Mr., Bstey. You
can take him tonight dout wsnt h'm
round sny longer. eating bis head of -
and mine. too, he added.
When Dir. Batey entered bis kitchen be
vas still angry, ind told bis vile what be
tai done.
Why, william B,,eyl The boy
Well. the mules no sccounil
As Mr.. BI,ey spoke bis son entered the
room He wss q quiet boy. who never 10
cs'e By word what be felt or thought.
de- SO, down on the bench by the window
Toe sun, shining through the torn
bnm Of bis old straw hst. cast irres nlsr
,hadoss upon bis face, In bis bsnd be
,eld . piece OF rope. which be bad been
n.king into halter for Bslssm. His face
~ore look OF ,ilent intensity.
Mr.. P,tey rose. and walking 10 The stove,
He'll bis hsnds over II rs IL 10 warm them
,Ithou b the sprioe sun sbone hot With
,ut. Tbeu, unable to look into the boys
eos. be glanced sidevise st his wife. end
sid, We'll. son.'
The boys little brown teet hung, on
wineios. ps,hetic,lly expressive, He did
10, even tqoirm bis toes.
When will be take him swsy, popf be
eksd.
Mr., B.tey felt almost relieved. Tonight,
e answered. hssitstins sliahtly. then add
,g. III get you smother pet thst will beat
',lssm oil 10 smash
TIE boy nsde DO reply, and present.,
hpped from toe room
He doesn't seem TO ere mucb, said the
oy's father
Toe less be ssys, the more the cares,
piled Mrs Bstey. Her mothefly intui
90 gave her keen understanding Of her
10. Her susver vas 90 cnrt thst Mr.
.,ey ielt there vss no sympsthy 10 be
pec,ed from her. and lef, the house
Al noon the boy csme 10 bis dinner frcm
,e direction oi the barn. he did not
sni any pie.
wbs's the ns,ter, so1f asked the
,lhsr.
Noihinr. be ssid. and sbfup,ly Left the
ION.
T,s, ev nirs Abe proudIy led sssy bis
rizs U, 10 the lott oi The barn . NJ
9 asure cluos TO . BEEN 10 the ssii,
"a too s,isitipg eyes peered out from
smsii, tish xiedov, vstehiDg, ss Bal
.n's io,e ssrs saved . Melancholy aaisu |
ntiI . tarn 10 tbe lane lid him from
sbt iasn The boy slipped dosn sod
nfisd bic face deep 10 The sweet boy :