Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-03-07

ing for home. | wanted to see how II
looked and, to be quite frank, wanted
some Of the people Of Canton to see
how / looked, for my clothes were OF
the best cloth and cut in the latest
fashion. Many stopped me and shook
my hand-men and women who had
never noticed me before, but there was
a quality in their smiles that didn't
quite enjoy. l know now that they
thought me little too grand on the
outside. What a stern-souled lot those
Yankees were "All amt gold that
| glltters." How often had heard that
; version of the old motto!
"Why, you look like the senator
when he is just gittin' home from the
capital" said Mr.. Jenison.
They were not yet willing to take
me at the par Of my appearance.
met Betsy Price-One of my school
mates-on the street. She was very
cordial and told me that the Dunkel-
bergs had gone to Saratoga.
ing" Betsy went on. "She said that
young Mr.. Latour was at the same no.
tel and that he and her father were
good friends"
wonder if she really enjoyed stick.
ing this thorn into my flesh-a thorn
which made it difficult for me to fol-
low the advice of the schOOlmaster and
robbed me Of the little peace I might
have enjoyed. My faith In Sally wav-
cred up and down until it settled at
Its wOnted level and treasured me.
1t was a perfect summer morning
and enjoyed my walk over The famil-
lar road and up into the hill country.
The birds seemed to sing a welcome
to me. Men and boys 1 had known
waved their hats in the hayfields and
looked at me. There are few pleas
ures In this world like that Of boy
getting home after long absence.
My heart beat fast when I saw the
house and my uncle and Purvls coming
In from the twenty-acre lot with
load of hay. Aunt Deel stood on the
front steps looking down the road.
Now and then her waving handker.
chief went to her eyes Uncle Pea.
body came down tire standard &c his
load and walked toward me.
"Say, stranger, have you seen any
thing of Teller by the name O Bart
Baynes?" he demanded.
Have your" l asked.
"NO, sir, l amt. Gosh almighty !
Say what have We done with that boy
of Our'n?"
"What have you done to our houseT
/ asked again.
Built on an addition"
"That's what I've done to your boy"
I answered.
"Thunder an llghtnin'! How you've
raised the roOfp' he exclaimed as he
grabbed my satchel. Dressed like q
statesman an bigger'n a bullmoOse
T can't 'rastle with you no more. But,
say, I'll run We race. l can beat We
an carry the satchel, too"
We ran pell-mell up the lane to the
steps like pair of children.
Aunt Deel did not speak. She just
put her arms around me and laid her
dear old head upon my breast. Uncle
Peabody turned away. Then what a
silencel OFF In the edge Of the wood.
land heard the fairy flute of wood.
thrush,
"Purvis, you drive that load on the
floor an put up the hOsses," Uncle
Peabody shouted in a moment. III
you don't like it you can hire mother
man. l won't do no more till after
dinner This slave business is played
out"
"All right" Purvis answered.
"YOu bet it's all right. I'm fer abo-
lltion an I've stood your dOmineerin',
nigger-driver ways long enough feI
one mornin. If you don't like 1t you
can look for another man."
Aunt Deel and l began to laugh at
this gOod-natured, make-believe scold.
ing Of Uncle Peabody and the emo.
tiOnal strain was over. They led me
into the house, where a delightful sur
prise awaited me, for the rooms had
been decorated with balsam boughs
and sweet ferns. A glowing mass Of
viOlets, framed in moss, occupied the
center Of the table. The house was
filled with the odors Of the forest,
which, as they knew, were dear to me.
/ had written that they might expect
me some time before noon, but i
begged them not to meet me In Can
ton, as 1 wished to walk home after
my long ride. So they were ready for
me.
l remember how they felt the cloth
on my back and how proudly they sur.
veyed it.
Couldn't buy them goods round
these parts" said Uncle Peabody.
"NOr nothin' like 'em-no, sir"
Feels leetle bit like the butternut
trousers" said Aunt Deel as she felt
my coat.
ayes, but them butternut trousers
amt what they used to be when they
was young and llmber," Uncle Peabody