The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-28


bald head alike from tho scorching sun of summer,
and storms ofwnter, and placed upon his head and
sailed out. AS he opened the door the bundle upon
the matrass attracted his attention. and he stopped
pick up, thinking to be bundle Of clothes, but
the weight oil it told him it was cOmposed of some-
thing besides cloth, and he sat down to examine it,
While he was busy with his hands unrong the bun
die, his mind was revolving the probability Of some
airy's leaving him roll of silver and taking this Gu
rious method Of transmitting it to him.. But before
his expectations had been raised to too high n pitch
the shawl was unrolle, and peeped u smiling in.
FAINT. The old gentleman did not seom al all displeas
ed with the result Of his golden dream for he smiled
and handled the child upon his Snoe making howev-
err, rs all OLD bachelors do, very awkward appear
anhe.
Fifty was soon aroused and tho child consigned to
her care, while odd Rugg' proceeded on his morn
ing walk. When he returned, he found his house,
keeper in no very pleasant mood A new idea had
struck her mind Sho was fearful the old gentleman
would keep the child, and adopt it as his own, and
should he do this, it would probably be the means of
loosenng the hold which she vainy imagined she bad
upon bis golden affections. She determined to sound
him upon the subjec; soon as they were seated ut
the breakfast table, shc very peshy asked him if he
intended to keep the child.
Keep,her,' exclaimed he, certainly intend to
keep her. Who is better able to keep her. Who is
better able 10 keep her, and take care OF her. than
am as long as I am able rs am now she shall no,
want for friends or homo.
This was death blow TO Hitty's hopes. IF tho
child was adopted as his own, she would in all prob
ability, inherit his property, leaving the large dover
which she had long had in view for herself minus and
she tartly replied.
We'll, children can be found at all times, ia per
son wishes to adopt one as his own, without taking
up with an outcast, and raking the highways for
whatsoever may happen to be left there to die
1T is my determination Miss Hitty,' replied he, ito
adopt the child my own and if the trouble which
it will cause in bringing up should prove too much
for youyou at liberty leave my services at any
moment you choose
This reply had the effect of siIencing her and she
did not venture to speak again upon the subject
She saw in moment that she had touched n tender
chord, when she stigmatized the child as an outcast
She had for some time been receiving the address
of the village schoolmaster old bachelor who had
the i'll will of his scholars and majority of the villa
gers. lie was avaricious in the extreme, his whole
study being how he could turn this and that to the
with him and ambtoh virtue were secondary objects
was altogether out oc the question, while his desire
for acquiring money was unbounded love FOR the
root of cvi' had evidently been planted in his heart
while in YOUTH and the shoot that had sprung from
this seed had grown with his growth and strengthen
ed with his strength Some of the villagers had even
gone so far as to cay that he would not hesi-
ate TO take other means to obtain money, than
those hold out right and just, both by the
laws Of God and man. Certain it was, that he had
never paid any particular attention to Miss nifty unit:
he had heard limited that she to be Mr. Rugges
heir OF his birth and parentage no one had any in
formation and he also very sudlous TO avoid any
mention of the subject and never appeared free to
converse upon his former life. He had managed to
keep his place in the village school, by the assistance
of few persons whose favor he had gained, and in
whose praise he was very proiuse
When he made his appearance at 'Od Riggs;
the next ev enng after the downfall of Hiity's hopes
on one of his love visits, he found the blooming and
beautiful maiden in fit Of deep melancholy, and
tendery inquired the She readily and without
any hesitation whatever, informed him OF tho events
of the preceding day, and conded to him her Tears as
to the effect they would have upon her welfare
Black, (for that was his name,) sympathsed deeply
with her in her troubles, and expressed great deal
of surprise at the the old gentleman had pur-
sued. ...
cHAPTER II.
Time passed on-years rolled by, and the infant
Helen had gown to lovely Lass of nine or ten years.
during which time her mother had resided but few
miles from the village, and employed her time in at
tending upon the sick, and administering to the wants
of the afflicted and so digent was her search for and
attention TO the needy and suffering that she soon re-
ceiyed the name Of 'The Nurse and her ability and
skill in tho capacity was known far and wide. She
had in the meantime ascertaned that her daughter
had fallen into good hands, and therefore did not at-
tempt to SEQ her, knowing that her presence would
but serve to bring her troubles to her mind nircsh
She soon however, began to have calls from the VII
lase to attend upon the SICK and one call succeeded
another ill tbs most Of her time was spent among the
VILLAGERS from whom she received the aPpelation o.
.Tbe Village Nurse Here she had an opportunity
Of daily seeing her daughter She was lovely lass
and as fair and beautiful child as ever claimed New
England for her birthplace and as she advanced in
years, her mind expanded with increasing vgor, e.
a.,;,a Diiu fl,aftv hawa