The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-08
= THE -
ADOPTED BOY

Copyright los, ~ 4. = hcSiNfo.l
You might have hunted Bliss county
over and you eould not have found a
more even tempered couple than Dea-
con Tanner and his wife. They had
come to be nfty years old and were
rhildless.
The Rev. Mr.. Peters had succeeded
the parson who had had charge OF the
church at Bamneld to which the dea-
con and his wife belonged.
One day a calamity happened in the
village. A gale blew down a barn In
which resident and wife bad taken
refuge, and they were killed. while
year-old baby IN the mothers arms
was miraculously spared. The victims
had friends, but no relatives that could
be heard OF. Several good women came
forward to take care Of the little or
phan, but Mr. Peters had his plans in
regard 10 that matter. He didn't think
1t right for the child 70 be shifted from
one to the other. but feit,it must be
provided with a permanent home and
grow up in gratitude and goodness
He therefore called upon Deacon Tan
ner and his wife aud suggested and
argued and insisted that they legally
adopt the little stranger. A great deal
was said about hearth. home and the
prattle OF innocence; also about a
stan TO lean on IN their declining years.
In their goodness and innocence the
couple agreed with him, and the neces-
sary legal steps were taken, and the
kid turned over 10 them. and every
body was happy, particularly those
who had got II or their hands after
weeks Of affiiction. On the next Sun
day most OF the sermon was devoted
to this tender incident and the deacon
went home feeling good his wife had
remained home to take care of the
adopted. who had developed a beaut-
full case Of rash that morning.
Only about week had passed since
the adoption when the neighbors be-
gan to whisper that they could see a
change-in Deacon Tanner and bis wife.
They were losing their smiles. There
was something wrong somewhere. and
when # was limited to the minister he
called In hopes to solve the problem.
He wasn't kept waiting very long.
With tears in her eyes Mrs. Tanner
said:
1.-THE Deacon has called me a foolT'
"You can't mean itT'
"But do. He has called me fool
dozen times oyer"
''But whyT'
Because of the baby. The little
thing hadn't had the collie over Eve
nights running and kept US up most Of
each night when the deacon said was
a fool for wanting to adopt It. and he's
keeping II up"
TT seems incredible. l win 60 out
into the garden and speak to him |
about it."
Out be went and demanded an en-
PLANTATION and got t.
But she has called me an old idiot"
said the deacon in defense.
'.Impossiblei why should sheY'
ION account Of that young 'un.
whenever be howls she says was an
old idiot 10 saddle rs with him."
The good man administered soothing /
strip to man and wife In liberal guam
tity, and when he took bis departure
they had almost forgiven each other.
the end Of another week /
saw more trouble. While standing at
his back door IN the afternoon the dea-
con was overheard TO say to his wife
In the kitchen:
You think he's coming down with I
the measles now. do you. and that 1t
viii be four weeks before he Is over
It? Well. want to say that II be
comes down I'm going TO leave this
house. If you'd had the brains of
chickadee you'd never have got such a
nuisance here"
And later on neighbor could have
sworn to the fact that she saw the dea
cons wife out under the pear tree. with
her apron to her face. and overheard
her exclaim to herself:
Il can't stand tito live with an idiot
and bowling baby much Iongerl I'm
getting to be desperate woman"
Neither the deacon nor bis wife ap.
peared az church next day. and toward
evening the minister called He found
the baby bowling. the adopted mother
crying and the deacon hiding away up
In the garrett.
what do you think" walled the
wife as she tried TO clear her eyes or
the tears. neither one OF Us got a
wink of sleep last night. and the dea-
ION called baby hyena and me a
mutton headed scarecrowv'
1T cant ber'
"And what did she call mef" added
The deacon as he came down from his
-oost II told her that the baby had
humps instead Of measles. and she
said didn't know enough to feed hogs
Ind that she wished she had never set
eyes on melr
But this can't go on" protested the
shocked minister.
mo; I'll leave him tomorrow, ex-
'laimed the wife.
I'm leave her irstF added the dea.
on.
After an hour the good man went
'way. He talked his best and then
eft the matter In the hands Of Provi-
lence. Providence took hold OF things
md. knowing far more than a minister
lbout the results of introducing a
lowing baby into the home OF a cou-
'le fifty years old. went at IT and
'rought on collie. scarlet rash. whoop-