Year: 1871

THE VERMONT DEACON.


In the happy State of Vermont lived
two neighbors, Major Fiery, a farmer, and
Deacon Goodall, merchant. These two
men were inseparable friends and irrecon-
cilable foes. They could not stay apart,
and they could never remain together, al
ways coming to high words and parting
in the heat of quarrel


Every day did the Major mount his
steed. pace to town, and get down at the
store of his good friend, the Deacon. All
subdued by the last nights encounter,
and humbly resolved to sail under reefed
canvas, they set forth on conversational
voyage together; but insepsibly gliding
into some stormy theme, the high words
of the previous day would be re-enacted
and in hot wrath the Major would mount
for home, cool off Oh the road, afilict him
self with reproaches over night, and the
next day return to renew the encounter.


Thus, day after day, week after week,
year after year, had revolved the even cur
rent of unevenness in the temper of these
iracblc friends, until each had grown
gray in the warfare. But one luckless
day The excitement had reached al unpre-
ceden,ed fury, and the Major had SO for
gotten himself as to seize the Major by
the collar Of his coat and administer to
him vigorous shaking, then mounting
his horse he had spurred for home


The cool evening air and solitude soon
wrought their usual work on the self
condemned Major, and he experienced I'M
usual sclf-reproach for his objectionable
less of temper. Night found MIN impa
tient for the morning, and early morning
found him on the way to beg the Dcacon's
pardon.


The merchant had not yet como down
TO the store, and the impatient Msjor
sought him at his home Responsive TO
the carly summons, down came the Dea
con. mild az summer, and shook the Ma
jor's profeled hand.


was so ashamed Of my conduct yes
terday," said the tiajor, that could not
rest until l came back and asked your
pardon. To think that we have been
friends for thirty years, aDd that | should
SO far forget myself as to actually shake
you, was really unpardonable


:" Oh, it was nothing" soothingly re-
Piled the Modified Deacon; 1.-THE best of
us will sometimes lose our self control"


Then YOU forgive me. Really and
truly forgive me?' pursued the penitent
Major.


Certainly. certainly, forgive you, re-
piled the amiable Deacon


Are you quite sure you do, now? Full
ly and entirely, and not merely trying to
do so, and would if you could:"


Why, yes" laughed the Deacon, AZ
am quite surc!"


We'll" said the Major, Frightening,
" if you are quite sure, will venture to
tell you "a little story"


Go ON, said the Deacon.


Now don't tell me you forgive me if
you don't"


" assure you that it is all the same as
if it had never happened; so go on with
your story"


Well, after we fell out last night about
something you said, you remember, that
would not credit, rode home thinking
over our little difficulty-you have forgiv-
en- the shaking, Deacon. When reached
that part of the road where the steep wall
is on one side and the precipice on the
other, just as | got to the narrowest part
OF the road, my horse came to full stop.
| had almost fallen into doze, and may
be had fallen asleep, but to my seeming
l was wide awake as am at this moment !;
but be that as it may, I looked up, and
there, right in front of me, and astride of
the road, stood the veritable devil."


The devil:" cried the Deacon.


Yes" said the Major, looking very
grave, there was the devil, and he said
he had come for me-"


+" Had come for your" queried the Dea-

con with a Zone that smac,xed little of
relish for the predicament


Yes" pursued the Major in sorrow-
fal tone, the devil had come for me-
There was no getting forward, for the
devil had the whole road. No turning
around, for the road was too narrow; no
getting to the right for the rock, nor TO
the left for the precipice. The situation
was desperate, but / thought if must
die, would die game. So said I: Mr..
Devil this business is very sudden and
must say your proposition is very ill.,
timed; have a large family to provide
for at my time of life. and could not
really think of such thing, SO you had
better look up some other party, for re
ally must assure you that / cannot GO


But l have come for you" said the
devil, :" and you must goi Other men
have to go that are worse off than you are,
and your excuse will not pass S
But" / urged, Mr.. Devil. It's too