Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07

tNo 'oNs might Dc grazing or taxing
siesta while chewing the cud of CON
tent On the vine hid porch of the
village tavern Landlord Pel would
| quite likely be doing in an armchair
| tilted back, and across the way Mr..
| Hobbs, who keeps the one general
store, would ms likely be Mapping on "A
counter. his head pillowod upon n pile
! of calico. little farther M the street
and near the one tall spired white
church Mrs. Mears. the village gossip.
may be sitting on the vcranda of A
small house almost hid by mvr!riantlv
| growing Norway spruce and idly rock.
| ing while she chats witt the Widow
Sloper, who lives there and whose mis-.
sion in life is 10 cut ana TT the host
go to meetn'" gowns Of female Sand
gate. Both dearly love to tax over all
that's going on. and Whether this or
/ that village swain is paying especial
attention TO any ono rosy check cd Lass.
and, if so, whats likely to come ont"
Both mean well by this ncighhorly in.
tcrest, and especially does Mrs. Slopcr
who always advises Dlaits for stout
women, with mddin' fullnoss In the
bust for thin ones.
One or two men may be nj work hay.
Ing in the broad meadows west Of the
village. through which the slow chr.
rent of n small river twists ana turns.
or others welding hoes on hillside
field Of corn TO the east. but 30 far a4
moving life in the village street c0o4
there will be none. On either side nr
the Sandgatc valley two spurs Of the
Green mountain range, forest clad,
stand guard as If to Isolate from nli
the world this peaceful dale. whose
dve'lcrs' sole ambition in life may hn
summed MP in to plow, plant, reap ana
go to meeting
On the north end Of this park-llke
highway and beyond the last house it
narrows TO an ordinary roadway and
divides. One fork turns 10 the right,
following up the banks Of winding
stream to an old gristmil with moss
covered wheel ana lily dotted pond
above, The other turns to the left,
crosses the narrow Sandgate valley
and bears south past the Page place.
If it were sunday, not many years ago
and about II in the morning, Il stran.
ger passing the church would have
heard through the open doors and win
dows the exqusitely sweet voice OF
Alice Page. clear as bell and melodl
Gus as birds, toying and trilina
through Coronation" or some other
easily recognized hymn. and had that
stranger awaited the close of service
he or she would have seen among thG
congregation fling out one petite and
plump little lady, with foVer-lke face,
sparkling blue eyes and kiss inspiring
mouth. who would most likely have
walked demurely along with her bi:
brother Albert and, turning down
narrow pathway. follow him across
the meadows. over a footbridge that
spans the stream and up to an old
fashioned elm shaded house.
This landmark. known far and wide
as the Page place, is historic. Built In
; the time of King George and one Of
the first three erected in SYNDICATE, il
has withstood the storms OF two centu.
ries and seen many generations Of
Pages come and go. Additions have
been made to tan eli on one side
larger windows and a wide yeranda in
front. Inside it is much the same. 70,
the open fireplaces remain in parlot
, and sitting room. and a tall clock Of
solemn tick stands in the hall where il
, stood when Paul Revere took his ia
, nous ride
The last owner. Simeon Page, or. AZ
\ he was called, Squire Page, Joined
: the great majority two years after an
,oi1rOo1 a
Sandgate valley He had bitterly op.
:. posed its entrance into the town, and
q it was asserted that chagrin at his de.
feat FASTENED his death. His widow,
with their two children, Albert and
O Alice. and a widowed sister. remained
: and with the aid of hired men man
9 aged the farm. But bushes began TO
: choke the pastures and meadows, the
= outbuildngs grew shabby, the house
/ received no paint and ms the children
5 grew up and needs increased one by
: one the broad fields were sold. 1t had
II been the squres ambition that his on
/ ly son should become professional
n man. and, carrying out his wishes, Al
L. berts mother had pnched and saved,
:. denying herself all luxurics. and given
Il him collegiate education. He had
r. graduated with honors. read law. been
admitted TO the bar and then returned
5 to Sandgatc and opened an otlce.
,. Alice. three years his junior. had been
I sent to boarding school for two
wears. where she devoted most or het
II time to music. then came home again
l. as mothers helpmatc.
4 "a vaavc Of splf denial al