Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-31
RIPE FOR IMMORTALITY.

A few years since when on visit to Woburn
Centre, our attention was called TO man, who
was drawing hand carriage with child in it,
accompanied by two or three other children,
who were walking by his side. Occasionally
he picked flower from the wayside and pre-
scented it TO one of his young companions. He
appeared TO be engaged in cony ersation, doubt
less explaining the names and qualities of the
flowers, which attracted the notice of the child
rem.
"'rhat man." said our companion, sis gen
orally considered rather odd in his ways, though
no one has eve. alleged anything against him
on the contrary, he is very INDUSTRIOUS very
frugal without being mean, and leads very re-
tired life. He is not yet forty, though he seems
much older, and is still bachelor.
When he was a lad, his mother took charge
OF iriendless girl and brought her up as care
fully as If she had been her own daughter
and when she reached womanhood he offered
himself to her in marriage, but she declined,
and married another This refusal seemed to
make no chan e in his habits he continued
active in business as journeyman eurrer, and
passed his little leisure always in his mothers
company Sometimes his shopmates joked him
abont being rejected but he invariably turned
their jokes aside by good-natured remark.
He was not to be offended.
her husband, he treated aftectionately as
sister, and told her, if unfortunate, to always
bear in mind that in him she would have
friend while he lived. She had four children
when her husband died and left her destitute
Her early friend learning her condition, hast
ened to bring her and her little ONES home to
his own house. and provided for them as cheer
fully as if they had been his own. Although
his mother is now well advanced in life, she is
as kind to the widow and her children as her
son. Every Sunday, when the weather is fine,
he walks with them, and though a man of few
words in the company of those with whom he
works, yet he takes special delight in chatting
to the children"
We stated these facts briefly at the time, and
having been at Woburn again few days since,
we made inquiry concerning this singular man,
if he continued as kind to the widow and her
children as when We first heard his story ?
We were informed that both she and her ben
eiactor, as well as his mother were dead. Be-
tween two and three years since she and his
mother died within few months of each other,
leaving him alone to take care of the children.
Inc youngest was adopted by an aunt but he
retained the Others and provided for them with
me same DEVOTION as when he first took charge
OF theni' lie washed and mended their clothes
nlnseIi, cooked thelr food, sent them to the
gay anu SUNDAY schools, and was, in short, to
them 10th father and mother, for he did not
employ domestic to do his house work
About six months since he ruptured blood.
vessel, and was informed by his physician tbSt
he could not hope to survive.
Calmly he dictated his will, and divided HIS
property, some eight or ten thousand dollars,
equally among the children and then "feli
asleep in Jesus" His only regret in leaving
! fe was his anxiety for the future welfare Of
the children but firm in the faith that his
Heavenly Father would take care of them, he
commended them to His love, Kissed them, and
passed to his rest. When he was laid in the
coffin, a lady who saw him said that he was sur