News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-04-27

| excuse for idleness In this land OF ours,
If ones help Is needed?"
| Judge Crooker's voice had been
calm, his manner dignifed. But the
last sentences had been spoken with
quiet sternness and with his long,
bony forednger pointing straight at
Mr.. Sneed. The other members of the
committee clapped their hands in
| hearty approval. Mr.. Sneed smiled
| and brushed his trousers.
"We're all off our balance little,
but what Is to be done now?"
1--WE must quit our plumbing and
| carpentering and lawyering and bank
| ing and some of us must quit mer-
chandislng and sitting in the chimney
! corner and grab our saws and axes
and go out into the woods and make
some fuel and get 1t hauled into town."
said Judge Croker. "Ill be one Of q
party to go tomorrow with my axe.
/ haven't forgotten how to chop
The committee thought this a good
suggestion, They all rose and started
on search for volunteers, except Mr..
Sneed. He tarried, saying to the judge
that he wished to consult him on a pri-
vate matter. 1t was, indeed, just then,
matter which could not have been
more public although, so far, the news
of it lad Travelled in whispers. The
judge had learned the facts since his
return.
81 hope your plumbing hasn't gone
hA Il.
mo, it's worse than that" said Mr..
Sneed ruefully.
They babe the little Shepherd good
night and went downstairs where the
widow was still at work with her
washing, although it was nine o'clock.
Faithful woman!" the Judge eX-
claimed as they went out on the street.
what would the world do without
people like that? No extra charge for
overtime, either"
Then, as they walked along he cum
ningly paved the way for what he
knew was coming.
"Did you notice the face of that
boy?" he asked.
Yes, it's a Gods blessing to
see face like that" the judge went
on. only the pure in heart can have
it. The old spirit of youth looks out
of his eyes-the spirit of my own
youth. When l was fourteen, think
that my heart was as pure as his. So
were the hearts of most of the boys
l know"
at isn't so now" said Mr.. Sneed.
81 fear it isn't" the judge answered.
There's new look in the faces of the
young. Every variety of evil is
spread before them on the stage of our
little the. =. They see it while their
characters e in the making while
their minds are like white wax. Every
thing that touches them leaves q mark
or slNirch 1t addresses them in the
one language they all understand, and
for which no dictionary is needed
pictures The flower of youth fades
fast enough. God knows, without the
whitening knowledge of evil. They say
it's good for the boys and girls to know
all about life. We shall see!"
Mr.. Sneed sat down with Judge
Croker in the handsome library of the
latter and opened his heart His son
Richard, a boy of fifteen and three
other lads of the village, had been
committing small burglaries and stor-
ing their booty in a cave in a piece of
woods on the river bank near the vii
lage. A constable had secured a con-
feSsion and recovered a part of the
booty. Enough had been found to war
rant a charge of grand larceny and
Elisha Potts, whose store had been
entered, was clamoring for the arrest
of the boys.
1T reminds me Of that picture Of the
robbers cave that was on the bill
board Of our school of crime a few
weeks ago." said the judge. I'm tired
enough: TO lie down, but I'll go and see
Elisha Potts. If he's abed, he'll have
to get up, that's all. There's no tell
ing what Potts has done or may do.
Your plumbing is in bad shape, Mr..
SneeQ. The public sewer is leaking
INTO your cellar and in a case of that
Kind the less delay the better"
He went into the hall and put on
lis coat and gloves and took his cane
)ut of the rack. He was siXty-fve
7ears of age that winter. 1t was
litter night, when even younger men
ound it a trial to leave the comfort
If the fresde. Sneed followed in
Silence. Indeed, his tongue was shame
BOUND. For a moment, he knew not
What to say.
Tim much Obliged to you," he
hammered as they went out into the
old wind. II don't care what it
osts, either"
The judge stopped and turned to-
ward him.
Look here" he said. money does
lot enter into this proceeding or any
notive but the will to help a neigh
or. In such matter overtime
oesn't Count"
They walked in silence to the corner.
'hpra Snpad prpSSad tho iuduo'S bond