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

widow soon changed her first show oil Kindness 10
tnuns, repoaches proportionate to the loneliness and
dependence Of the child Months went by without
one solitary CLEAN orhappness,lor books or 'earning
forbidden, added TO all this, too, perpetual
secret letters from her home urging her TO send mon
ey But there was no meanncss in Bridget,she could
endure but not crave unworthiy Things had gone
on thus for n twelvemonh, when one winters dry
the widow came bnck, after weeks absence, gay
bride, and that night Bridget was sent back on
her way to Lincoln, with five shillings in her pocket
over and above the coach hire.
Bridget had fellow. passenger, who, having truv-
eled Far, and being young, and troubled with
chd,was much pleased with the thousand little kind
that the girl performed so that before the jour
ney 20 London ended vast friendship was
tsbished between them. They parted with much
regret; for to like Bridget, lonely, destitute
of friends, the very semblance of kindness was n
treasure in itself She had sat some time in the Of
fee waiting for the Lincoln conoh-not without com
fort for the bOOk-keeper had stirred up the Office fire.
andsuspecting her scnnty purse, had supplied her with
a glass of warm ale and toast--whcn pale but
spectabe-ookirs man entered, aud saying that he
the husband Of Bridgets fellow passenger, had
to offer her the comfort Of his home for day
or so, a return for her kindness to his wife and
child. After little deberation Bridget accept
ed the offer, for she dreaded 10 return home without
having written IL say that she coming; so an
hour afterwards Bridget sat with baby on her knee
by the side Of her feow-passenger, in comfortable
second-hoor room in street leading from Long Acre
Never was such ten prepared as on this memorable
night, never such heart, never such baby, never
such happy young wife, never such wondering
young Bridget; for here seemed the visible presence
Of all riches her hear. had craved; here, in the
chamber Of the artisan. few cheap books nicely
arrangeda few prints panneled esculcheonS, and
cunning tracery, that brought to mind old things in
Lincoln minister. covered the wills. These things
stood out like the broad written words Of hope and
perseverance.
Bridget had never been happy On the NOR
a letter despatched; but the
bitter reproach harsh threats. i, bore invitation
md when it said that Tom had left Lincoln
Bird. let had desire TO do so.
The stay of few days heightened into OF
months; for when her good friends knew her history
all Of it,snvins her love Of art-they could but
pity which pity ripening into estimation as her char
acter became more known, turned friendship into
love. We draw romantic character, but one Of
real truth Bridge, the busiest and cheerfuos,;
up early, that the hearth clean, the breakfast
ready, the baby neatly dressed and this done for
once, but always so that Bridget became n necces-
sary part of the household in Long Acre. by and
by, when she found to possess aptitude for
drawing, the artisan busily to work, and by the
evening fire paid back in teaching her homes, service
An uPturned cup, a book, n jug, were drawn; und
when these were perfect, things Of greater difficulty
were skerched. Her progress was slow,yet SO per-
feet, that in few months time, she n real help
TO her masier and when he fell into bad health, and
had to work at home, she assisted TO bring bread to
that poor household. The artisan grew no better,
but lingering week by week in consumption,
each day less able to perform the work which, being
of aud delicate kind his master would intrust to
no other hand.
One week(th week before he died) crest of
device had be painted the panneIs Of rich
city merchants carriage No hand could execute il
like that of the dying man; but his hand was past
work, though the mind could still invent ;nnd Bridget
who knew that but for this work being done no bread
could me, knslt, and by his bed earned what was
last eaten by that dying man. The work excelled
the masters hope he wondered more when, with
that artisans last breath, he learned the act of mer-
cy, how done and by whom. Bridget renped good
fruit; when she had lost friend. when his widow
and child had left London Cor the country the good
old master uoachmaker took Bridget home into veri-
table Long Acre itself He not rich; but paying
Bridget for all her services, she had money whero-
with to take lessons in art-to begin tho learning
of wood engravings,in which she afterwards rarely
exceed-to lay by four bright gold pounds, as the
means Of seeing Lincoln once again. They had new
written to her from home; never for years; but still
her heart chung to those old memories which had en-
comprised her childhood.
She was now seventeen. II was bright May
morning when she travelled onward to the minister
town. How her heart beat audiby when, by the
waning evening light, the home even of that msera-
BILE childhood again. Lifting the latch, she
stole into the house, but happy voice. no greeting
met her ear; all that was said was, swell, you're
come IA; ast'' But by and by, when it wns limited
that the nrder empty, and the relic OF those four
bright pounds seen, more civil words were heard,
which warming into full tide Of kindness, lasted.
veritnbly lasted ill the last shilling was entthen-
then lauginu her povertv to scorn, she order