Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-02-20

Moving.

weary-looking horse, drawing load of fur
niture, was driven up for water at village
pump. The comfortable articles, SO neatly
arranged, gave no taken of that grinding
poverty which imoels the unfortunate to
flee from place to place, seeking what they
rarely find-a refuge from real want. AT
The base Of the high load was the brightly
polished stove. ON which had been prepared
'he food for children, who were for one
day, at least, homeless. There was the
table, around which the little pratilcrs had
gathered to partake of the food which had
cost the hard toll of their honest father !;
and there tied up in gray patch work quilts,
were the beds on which they had received
that blessed boon, careless sleep, which in
after years they may perchance vainly seek
The gaily painted chairs were hung to the
posts of the cart, while the bureaus, and
nameless other articles, which make the
catalogue of the humblest housekeeper, was
surmounted by the cradle and crib, and the
baby's high-chair. And these last, the to-
kens OF innocent childhood, it was, more
than all else, that moved The heart of one
who gazed from comfortable parlor out
on the gloomy scene.
! And the driver Of the team-he conld
be no ordinary ,eamster, whose business it
was to move families, and caring little
whether their destination were the new
mansion, or the public workhouse. No :;
there was sadness in the face, and sub
dued tone in the voice, which told that he
was the owner of the furniture He held
the pail patiently till The horse was satisfied
with water, and the basket till he had fin
ished the oats, and then sitting down on The
steps of the adjacent store, he refreshed
himself with a lunch from basket.
With curiosity, for which we as peo-
pie, are SO proverbial the bystanders began
to question him.
Moving, friend ?" asked one of these
gentlemen of leisure, whose mission seems
to be to keep their hands in their pockets.
and gaze at those who do more.
"Yes, sir, short way;' replied the stran-
ger, without raising his eyes.
The Ter stepped up TO the cart, and laid
his hand by way of examination. on one
article after another and having assured
himself that poverty was not the cause of
this moving, he asked, You've been buy
ing new home, guess? p
no. sir, am hiring"
add you hire the place you left"
mo, ] owned that"
''Ab, poor man! you've been unfortu-
nate and lost your home, | suppose. Tn
sorry for you; how did it happen p
mo, I've rented my little homestead to
good neighbor, who will till it as if it
were his own"
"That's stransep exclaimed the idler
but before he had an opportunity to press
his questions, the store-heeper appeared to
protect the stranger from rudeness, and at
the same time to satisfy his own innocent
curiosity.
"Which way are you moving, neighbor ?"
he asked, kindly.
sim only going to L. I've taken
the little place by the pond, near the mill,
brown cottage, with old elms all around
it; if you remember"
"Moving to better yourself, l hope p
said the store-keeper, kindly.
The stranger shook his head mournfully.
and replied, 81 shall never better myself in
this world Thank God, there is world
beyond, where there is no change"
The store-keeper's heart was touched.
"Neighbor," he said, kindly, lyon ought
not 10 sit here while your horse is resting.
Why did mt you step in and take a chair p
There were too many strange men
there" replied the man. "rm better alone,
now"
"Come, then, into the house with me, and /
take warm dinner" replied the other, ten-
derly. But the stranger declined the invi-
taiion.
Seeing that he would not accept kindness
for himself, the plying stOre-keeper laid his
hand on the weary horse, and stroked his
name.
"Had you a plenty of oats for him p he
asked; because you are welcome to all he
can eat"
ale needs no more, thank you. He viii
soon be able to move on = replied the stran-
ger.
There are business men in the world /