The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-07


crime If their wears and the conversation
was suddenly cut short, for the car stopped at
the street crossing, and the 1fIenos huff'ou
out together.
In the seat behind them sat an ola man.
Of somewhat portly figure and dignlhed pres
cnce He had u hard, cold sort OF tace,-a
lace which no tender sympathles, no hlsh ana
noble purposes, no earnest unselhSh strlVlogs
for rirht and trutl- had softened Or spiritual
lied, and, looking into the keen gray eyes un,
der the shaggy eyebrows, heart fhat hao
zone to tnon. for pity or mercy, would nave
turned away. Beneath them lay no sweet
gushing springs Of human love, only the cold,
6ard rock where no flowers blossomeu, and
from whose bosom gushed no streams, glad
deDinc the waste desert Of the mans soul.
But it was evident that the old gentleman
had been an interested listener to the CONVEX
sation which had transpired ia the seat before
him. At the first mention OF Squire Dun
hams name he had leaned forward land drank
in breathlessly every word which followed /;
while quick Aushes aud strange agitation went
over the hard, thin lace. He leaned back. so
that the men should not catch a glimpse of
his features as they lett the car, and his re.
Elections went on somewhat alter this fashion:
"WeIl, it's pleasant, that is fact, Tor
man to sit still and see his Lille held up after
he's laid in his coffin. never met either of
these men, but it appears one CT them, at
least, is pretty we'll posted up about me, and
the estimation in which am held in public
| nn', ,t.k tor
Sllas Durham, the old lawyer, who died last
night. Complimentary, wasn't it, Stephen
Durham? 'spose thore was little spite
and envy at the bottom of it all, just such as
poor folks always have towards those who
have got more money than they but then -
At that moment the car stopped in front of
the stately dwelling in which the old banker
resided. Aud that - but then followed him
into his house, and SAT down with him at his
solitary supper table, and after 1t was through
these worus were the text which the reused
conscience OF the rich man took up and preach
ed to him after this WISE
But then, Stephen Dunham,' it whisper
ed, as the rich old miser walked up and down
the gorgeous parIors OF his lonely home, "you
know that what that :an said about you was
true. There $ 10 use getting aside of it, for
it hit the nail straight on the head. You
know, that your one aim and object in life
has been to make money, and that there isn't
human being above ground that would have
reason to shed tear il you were laid tonight
beneath it. You've got money, as that man
said. You GENERALLY get the best Of bar
gain, but after all, your hall million that
you've deved your whole lite to get together,
won't pass for anything in that world which
you're getting pretty near now and as there's
no body to mourn you here, it isn't likely
you'll have any welcome there
Add here Squire Danham sat down in his
velvet arm chair by his marble table, and his
thoughts went back through the long winding
path OF the years to his youth. His boyEood,
his glad, oareess boyhood came back to him.
The seutlo, loving mother, the young, sweet
lace OF his sister, rose up before him: and he
saw the little brown cottage where his life
cane up to manhood. The old apple tree in
front was frosted with the blossoms of Nav,
and he stood there with Hetty, his little Sis
ter, aud her laugh, swect as the gurgIa OF u
mountain brook was in his ears, and her little
round, plump arms were about his neck.
How she did love him, that little sister
Hetty, over whose sweet lace had grown the
grass OF so many Summers--how proud she
was OF him, and he could see the little golden
head dancing out OF the house every night to
meet HIM when he came home from his work.
otephen Durham mother Was poor Wild
ow, and he had his own way to make in
the world He had risen, step by step, in his
native town, and he saw at last the greed of
money had taken possession OF him, until ev
cry other wish and purpose Of his life had
been swallowed up in tnv pursuit Of riches.
lie was still young man when he came to
the city, but he brought with him the title of
Esquire, Which he had borne Tor three wears.
lie took TO hlms elf wife, the daughter of q
rich man, and she brought him a hundred
thousand dollars dowry but in few wears
death had summoned her away, and she had
LETT him no children, whose soft, sweet voices.
calling him " father" should melt the cold
heart that knew but QUO love- and that was
money.
! All this Squire Durham thought of, as he
sat alone by the table, with the brigh, light
ct the chandeliers gliding the gray head he
rested on his hands, aud he thoug ht rich man
as he was, that his mouey didn't pay--,bat
after all, the great object of his life had been.
as the man said, IL closing operation" and bo
forged TO feel that in the wide world ,herc