Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-04-12

hard tines and tears trickled down his
cheeks.
Don't think of them, Willie. Look for.
ward. There is sunny future in store for
you. Good night. Don't forge, to bring
the jacket"
What under the sun have you
got in your hands, Miss Merton said Mrs.
Gray, the next morning, as the school ma,
am entered the kitchen.
why, it's Willie's jacket. I've prom.
ised to mend it for him, so that he can 90 to
Sunday school tomorrow, and I've come to
beg some patches
Mercy on me, you can never mend that
ragged thing
i o, yes Ican. Where can find some
patches 2
| why there's lots of them in the loft over
the woodshed. store them up there for
carpet rags all through the winter and in the
spring take them down and wash them up
and sort them over; but dear me, you can
never do anything with that old thing
You'll see,' was the cheerful response,
and the school ma'am mounted up the lad
der to the loft and selected some suitable
patches. Sitting down by the window, she
ripped up both sleeves above the elbow,
cut off the rags and piced them down, sew
ed up the seams again, and put in fresh lin
ing, and made new cuffs. She then cut off
the torn button-holes, pieced out the sides
and darned here and there till there was
not single hole.
Has the school ma'am turned tailoress,'
said the Deacon, as he came in to dinner,
what wages do you make?'
20, good ones I tell you. Amt good
hand at paiching? and she held up the
neatly mended jacket. And then before
she could speak further Mrs. Gray told the
Deacon whose it was and how it looked
when she brought it in.
! You must have some hopes of the boy,
Miss Merton, or you would not take SO
much pains with him.
Il have great hopes of him, Deacon
Gray And she detailed the experience
of the week.
Ah, but one swallow doesn't make a
summer
| know it, Deacon, but the one swallow
is harbinger of summer. 1t gives us hope
OF seed-time and harvest. 1t tells us there
Is warm weather somewhere. Deacon, !
have studied the boy this week, and / am
satisfied that he only needs kind treatment
and encouragement to place him far above
the average Of men. 0, if you would only
let him come here now. I'll answer for his
good conduct
! The Deacon hesitated, but Miss Merton
plead, and eloquently too, for she felt that a
souls salvation lay in the answer she should
receive to her propositions.
You'd make good preacher Miss Mer-
ton,' and he drew his hand over his eyes.
It's hard resisting you. In fact guess
I'll have to yield. If mothers willing, he
may come tonight
You'll never repent this good deed, Dea-
con, never, never. The boy must be good
in such home as this so neat. quiet, and
well arranged. I'll answer for him.
Where are those pants laid off last
week, wife; those gray ones? They were
pretty good yet-only thin about the seat
and oat at the knees. Iguess between you,
you could get the boy decent pair of them.
30, yes. indeed, could cut them over
and turn the front to the back. Yes. in
deed; I'll get them as soon as do up the
dinner work.
Just at evening Willie came for his Jack
ct, and words cannot express his Joy at
learning he was henceforth to live under
the same roof with his idolized teacher.
80, I'll be so good he said. do tell
me what could do for you. Mrs. Gray
and without waiting for an answer, he ran
out to the shed and brought in the nights
wood, split the kindlings, and drew the wa
ter and filed the kettle, fed the pigs and
brought in the eggs.
sCan you milk, Willie the Deacon gen.
orally does. but he's late tonight, and will
be tired when he comes in.'
20 yes, ma'am, ! guess cam and he
soon brought the swimming pals into the
dairy.
The snow-white biscuit, the quiyering
custard pie, the mellow cider apple sauce
the golden butter and the fragrant tea, were
Just placed on the neatly laid table when
the Deacon's step was heard.
Waiting said he, well, sit down, must
do my chores first
They are all DONE said Willie, respect
fully. did them
.Ah, you did them, did you? Well.
then well have tea
Mrs. Gray had placed an extra plate by
the side of the school ma'am, and now mo-
toned Willie TO sit there.
4 can wait, always do, said he, hang
ing back.
Nobody waits at my table, when there's
room,' said the Deacon. Sit down, boy,
and remember that is your place hereafter
| Ii seemed to Willie that he had suddenly
slept into another world, everybody so kind
everything so free.
Sunday morning came. Will
lie was up before sunrise, doing the neces-
sary chores. and then Mrs. Gray hung up
an old blanket In the corner of the wood
shed, and gave him pail Of warm water,
some soap, sponge and towel, and told him
to strip himself TO the skin. and wash him
self thoroughly, and then. just when the
boy was holding the dirty, ragged shirt in
his hand. and hesitating to put it on, sweet
voice said kindly, you viii find your clothes
Just outside the blanket, Willie,' and then
light footsteps ran away.
He peeped out. Sure enough, there was
bran new shirt, the gift Of Miss Merton,
which she had made evenings the Dea-
cons pants, the mended jacket, a pair of
neatly darned socks. some of the Deacon's
that had shrGak and pair Of good stout
shoes, the last present from the Deacon,
who had told Miss Merton and his wife,
. IL tl;,uz txy bafres basi feef 81.