The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-02-14

Here is something for you, mother, y
he said, seating himself on II stool at hei
feet, and tossing into her lap shining
piece of gold.
"Why, Arthur, where did you gel
this ?"
"The strange gentleman down at the
| tlverh gave it to me, mother. He asked
me into his room, and gave me rs many
nuts and raisins as | could eat, beside"
81 wonder who he is 7" she said mus
ingly.
Il can tell YOU" exclaimed her hus
band, his eyes flashing angriy. =" He Is
the owner Of the Red Stone Farmhouse
He is the man who bid against me on the
few articles / wanted to reserve i he
curse of the homeless rests upon him !"
"Nay. John" intcrposed his wife gent
ly; perhaps he did not know how highly
you priced them"
Yes, he did; Purson Woods stepped
up and told him. But he only smiled
and said he wanted to buy everything jus
as it stood"
Well" said the boy, gazing thought.
! fully into the fire, Z" cant help pityine
him. he looked so sorrowful. He asked
lots of questions about you, mother, and
all the rest of us; and kept walking up
and down the room, wringing his hand:
and groaning as if he was in great
trouble"
~ will buy you new coat with this,
Arthur" said Mrs. Williams, as she ex-
amned anew the gold coin. "You need
one badly enough;" she added, glancing,
with sigh, at his we'll patched round
about.
"You shall do nothing of the sort,
mother said the hearted boy.
'Iou shall buy yourself and sissy a nice
warm shawl"
Before Mrs Williams could reply there
was quiet knock at the door Farmer
Williams opened it. 1t was only boy,
who brought small parcel for Mrs Will
liams
Another New Y ears gift, I suppose, u
he said bitterly, as he handed it to her
for he was in bitter mood Mrs. vii.
liams glanced reproachfully at her hus
band.
God grant that it may bring us a,
much comfort" she said, laying her hand
fondly upon the head that was resting
against her knee.
As she opeued it, she uttered an ex.
clamation of surprise. 1t was deed Of
Red Stone Farmhouse, made out in hel
name! On the inside wrapper were
these words:
'Inasmuch as we did unto the least Of
these ye did unto me-"
There were grateful and happy heart.
beneath the roof of the old Homestead
that night. Though with Mrs Williams
JOY there was mingled an uneasy feeling
She was well assured that it was in some
way connected with Arthur, and trembled
with apprehension lest some one should
appear who had stronger claim to him
This fear was dissipated the next morn.
ing by letter that came to her in the
first mail. 1t contained cheek for five
thousand dollars, together with these
words:
"The boy that you so generously re-
ceived ten years ago, and have so tcndcrly
cherished since, will never, never be taker
from you. The mother forced to relln.
qulsh the babe, dearer to her than life
is now IN heaven. The father, who st
basely forsook his child, and her he har
sworn to cherish, is unworthy of so SACRED
a trust. In the s. Bank YOU vii
find the sum of twenty thousand dollar:
deposited in the name of your adopted
son, of which he is to come into pos-es
sion when legally of age and the interes
OF which is to be appropriated to his sup
port and education during his minority.
To this singular letter there was Meth
er date or signature. There were variou
conjectures in regard to the stranger, VIII,
had been in the village some days, anc
from whom it was evi lent this letter came
"a well as the package received the nigh
before.
But when Arthur recalled to mind tn
look of sad, remorseful tenderness will
which he had regarded him, he felt tha
must have been his father. Yet he ofter
said, as he looked into the face of hi
adopted mother, that he wanted no deare
friends than those he already had AM
as for Mrs. Williams, among all the bles
sings that surrounded her, there was no
one that brought purer joy than h
whom she had taken to her heart when
trlendlesS babe, her NEw-YEAR's GIFT.