Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-12

lect, an aminble disposition and a
swarthy, wrinkled face. She had a
loose front tooth that occupied all the
leisure of her tongue. When she sat at
her knitting this big tooth clicked in
ccssnntly. On every stitch her tongue
went In and out and across 1t, and I,
standing often by her knees, regarded
the process with great curiosity.
The reade may gather much from
these frank and informing words of
Grandma Bisnette: "When I los my
man, mon Dieu! I have two son. An
when l come across I bring him with
me. Abe he rough, but den he no bad
man."
Abe was the butcher Of the neighbor-
hood. that red handed, stony hearted
necessary man whom the Yankee farm.
er In that north country hires to do the
cruel things that have to be done. He
wore ragged, dirty clothes and had a
voice like a steam whistle. Ills rough
black hair fell low and mingled with
his scanty beard. His hands were
stained too often with the blood of
some creature we loved. I always crept
under the bed in Mrs. Brewers room
Wien Abe came, he was such a terror
TO me. with his bloody work and noisy
oaths. Such men were the curse of
the clcanly homes In that country.
lhere was much to shock the ears and
eyes of children in the life Of the farm.
1t was n fashion among the help to dec
crate their speech with profanity for
the mere sound of 1t. and the foul
mouthihgs of low minded men spread
like a pestilence in the fields.
Abe came always with an old bay
horse and n rickety blackboard. His
II foot on the dash as he rode gave
the picture q daredevil finish. The
lash Of his bull whip sang around him.
md his great voice sent its blasts Of
NOISE ahead. When we heard a fearful
yell and rumble in the distance we
knew Abe vas coming.
ABE he come" said Grandma Bis
nettc. Mon Dieu, he make de leetle
rock fly
1t was like the coming Of a locomo.
tive with roar Of wheel and whistle.
-" ny ehAiuuoOu US SOOu as l saw the
cloud of dust l put for the bed and
from its friendly cover would peek out
often. but never venture far until the
man Of blood had gone.
To us children he was q marvel of
wickedness. There were those who
told how he had stood in the storm one
night n dared the Almighty to send
the lightning upon him.
The dog Fred had grown so old and
infrm that one day they sent for Abe
to come and put an end to his misery.
Every man on the farm loved the old
dog, and not one Of them would raise
a hand to Kill him. Hope and l heard
what Abe was coming to do, and when
the men had gone to the fields that
summer morning VIC lifted Fred into
the little wagon in which he had once
drawn me and, starting back to the
barn, stole away with him through the
deep grass of the meadow until we
came out upon the highroad far below.
We had planned to take him to school
and make him a nest in the wood shed.
where he could share our luncheon and
be out Of the way OF peril. After a
good deal Of difficulty and heavy pull.
ing we got to the road at last. Tie old
dog. now blind and helpless sat con.
tentedly in the wagon while its wheels
creaked and groaned beneath him. We
had gone but a short way in the road
when we heard the red bridge roar
under rushing wheels and the familiar
yell Of Abe.
Wed better rum" said Hope. Ter
We'll git swore at"
/ looked about me in n panic for
some place to hide the party, but Abe
was coming fast. and there was only
time to pick up clubs and stand our
ground.
Here" the man shouted as he pull
ed up alongside of it. where ye goin'
with that dog?'
G way | answered, between an
ger and tears, lifting my club in a
threatening manner.
He laughed then-a loud guffaw that
rang In the neal woods.
"Whatll ye give me-" he asked.
leaning forward, his elbows on his
knees-"what'll ye give me if l don't
kill him."
thought a moment. Then I put
my hand in my pocket and presently
took out my jackknife That treasure
Uncle Eb had bought for me - and
looked ut 1t fondly.
Then I offered it to him.
Again he laughed loudly.
Anything else?" he demanded. while
Hope sat hugging the old dog that was
licking her hands.
Got 40 cents that I saved for the
fair" said I promptly.
Abe backed his horse and turned in
the road.
"Waal. boy" he said. tell 'em I've
gone home"
Then his great voice shouted
"G'lang" the lash of his whip sang in
the air and OF he went.
We were first to arrive at the school
house that morning, and when tho
other children came We had Fred on "A
comfortable bed of grass in a corner
OF the wood shed. What with all the
worry Of that day l said my lessons
poorly and went home with a load on
my heart. Tomorrow would be Sat
urday; how We're we to get food and
water to the dog? They asked at
home II we had seen old Fred, and we