The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-10-07

away from home soon after Bridget had leh and az
ter many ups and downs in those Cow years, was
now become half clerk, half servant in the house OF
n country attorney, His nature was more passive
III an thut of Bridget, yielding less energetic;
Having been from childhood weak in body, he Ind
scarcely bettered his condition in changing one scene
OF dudgery for another In the little parlor of tho
country inn his long sad tale of passive suffering was
told to his sisters If shc wcpt, il was but for
moment; then talking cheerfuIly Of what the future
should bo-how they would work together how they
would be dear friends, how they in London would
hive one common home, and asking nothing from the
world still pay TO il one never FILLING debt Of cheer
Eulness and sympathy how they would do all this,
they said 80 many times that the supper grew cold,
aud poor feeble Tom laughed outright They parted
that summers night; there was comfort VIXEN Bridget
promised that letter should come soon She did
not even hint what there would be in it.
Once more in London, she began that very week
10 build home for Tom. by little help from her
Long Acre friends she procured some few pupis,
whose parents being ambitious to udorn their parlor
walls at the cheapest rate had their children initiated
into the mysteries at sixpence the lesson. Sixteen
lessons week made eight shiIlings-litte enough to
exist upon; but yet il hired a room aud bcush, bread
At night too, there hours ,vor, in and then
the practice of wood engraving went nimby on.
In returning home once week from distaxt part
Of London Bridget had TO pass in an obscure stree
an old bookstal. She sometimes stopped TO look up
il; she always did so when she had seen upon i
old thumbed copy of BewicIs British Birds. In
those tail pieces, that were surpassed, ono
who knew all the difficulties Of the art found infinite
delight. She was observed evening by gentle
man who had come TO the bookstal some minutes az
ter Bridget; like her. too, he curious in art, aud
wondered that this young Poor-clad female could
find Of interest in one or two small pictured pagesnot
hastily turned over, but dwelt upon long, minute az
ter minute lie followed. but her light step left him
far behind he came again, there she was the
day week, with that same old bethumbcd Bewick-
Weeks went by in this manner, ill the saIl-keeper,
remembering her often face, bid her "buy, or
else not touch the books again" and Bridget creep
ing away like one guilty of misdeed, not that
the curious gentleman had bought the books, and now
followed her with speedy foot. This time he might
have found her home, but that, in leading in
TO lIoboru, some papers fell from the 70 ordrawings
she carried; he stopped TO pick them up-in the
ment Of glancing at them size was lost TO sight.
Now that night labor had made her somewhat pro-
cient in the art, she tried &c, employment but for
weeks without success. Specimens sent in 10 engrav.
returned, letters TO publishers unhced,d; =
letters or specimens from Long Acre of surely
inadmissibe. The master who had taught her was
dead. At last there pointed out TO her adver-
tsement in one of the daily papers, that ongaves up
on wood were wanted FOR the designs Of cheap pub
LEGATION. There reference II person Of whom
Bridget had heard; so, sending first her permission,
she introduced TO the advertiser A subject for
illustration was chosen, and pencil placed in her
hand. When the design came out visbly from the
paper, the advertiser, shaking his head said he would
consider. This consideration took weeks; mean
while sleepIess pillow that Of poor Bridget
At last the answer came; he would employ her but
at very moderate remuneration Yet here hope,
clear as the mondays sun; here was the first bright
beaded drop the cup of the self helper; here
hope for Tom here matter for the promised letter.
The work done, the remuneration coming in, the iru-
ition came; new yet humble rooms hired, Sec
midland furniture bought piece by piece; and II
proud night when alone in her still chamber, the
poor despised Liacoln girl thanked heaven Tor its holy
mercy.
The proverb tells that good fortune is never SIM
gle-hunded. On the morrow-it a wet and rainy
dny-Brdgc,, in passing into Spring Gardens, observ-
ed that the stall Of poer lame apple woman had
been partly overturned by rude urchin. She
stopped TO help the woman, and whilst so doing,
very flt old gentleman came up, and looking, very
quietly remarked in Of audible whisper to him
self, "Curous very curious! this very little act
of mercy first introduced me TO my excellent Tom:
ay!ay! TOMS gone; there isn't such another from
Eastcheap 10 Chelsea
The name of Tom was music 10 Budgets ears
The old gentleman had moved away: but following
quickly, Bridget addressed him.
81 have brother whose name is -"
"Tom,' interrupted the old gentleman; ''find me
Toms equal, and III say something to you. Here is
my address, lie thrust card into Bridget's hand
went Here u romantic omen Of good for Tom
The night The letter was ndited. Two days
uftor the country wagon deposited Tom in the grent
city. An hour after, he sat by Bridget's hearth.
"This night repnys me for all past sorrow" said
the sister, as she hand in hand by her brothers.
side 'Years ago, in those lonely winter nights "o"e.
thing like dream of this same happy hour would