The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-11-16

ton to that cold and extreme exten
which rendered her suspicious wher'
there appeared marks Of want and sor
row that carried with them their owl
evidence Of sincerity This was such
a case.
That child, said Lady O.. after
hearing her daughters account Of the
meeting on the common, is indeed in
need of food and rest can see it in
her looks. l can see that her distress
is real in every line of her face, which
is n very pleasing one; and in the few
words she has spoken there is such u
touching tone, very different from hy-
pocrisy She shall have something to
relieve her hunger, and then we Will
question her.
,1,1he little croatures tears were seen
&. start in her syes at the sight of the
Jnqd for she was famishing with want.
The. meal ended, once more she was
fHAdilcted TO the presence OF the ladies'.
Lady G--with much gentleness
commenced her interrogatoues, after
having kindly, but in way suited to
the capacity of poor untaught girl,
endeayorcd to Impress on her mind tho
duty as well as the Importance to her
self OF speaking the truth.
The following particulars were art
lossly narrated
The child began by SAYING that she
vas born in Bath Her father was in
business in that city; she told his trade.
Her mother-in-law treated her SO
harshly and unkindly that on some
gipsies coming into the ncighborhood,
as She was allowed to lun neglected
about, and glad to be out of sight of
her severe step-mother, she got ac-
quainted with them, and was finally
induced by their persuasions to run
away and join them. With these gip-
sizes she had lived two or three Years.
gong about the country with them.
She did not know if her father had
made any inquiry concerning her or
not. At length, not liking the way of
life OF the people among whom she had
fallen, she determined TO leave them
on the first opportunity. She had
stolen away from them, taking nothing
with her but one Of their old pots, with
q view to cook for herself turnip, or
anything she could get to support her.
so that she might not die for want of
food. She had wandered about the
roads and wnysides, begging ever since
she Quilted the gypsy camp, and with
the very few hall pence she had picked
up in this manner had bought penny
loaf at a village she might pass in her
rambles. She did not at all know
where She had been wandering, but at
last she had reached the common,
where the young ladies found her that
morning.
Lady G Had little or no doubt
that the child's tale was true; and
thinking to cast out SO young and so
unfIcnded creature again on the
wide world would be to give her up to
destruction, she resolved to afford her
present shelter, at least I'LL she could
ascertain by inquiry hat all she stated
was correct Having obtained from
the child the name and address of her
father, she determined at once to write
to Bath, begging an immediate reply
In the interval the poor little wan
derer was attired in better clothes
and placed under'thc especial care of
a steady female servant, with charge
to keep strict eye upon her In a
few days an answer came from Bath
confirming the girls story, and eI-
pressing an earnest wish for her re.
turn home to live with her father
But the little Mary eyinced so much
horror at the idea OF going back to her
mother in law, that Lady G----for-
bore to urge her to return home.
She had been greatly interested by
the simplicity of her young charge,
and the servant to whose more espec-
ial care she had been committed,
spoke very favorably of her. Lady
c. proposed, therefore, to keep
her in the family aud try to make
servant of her, beginning with some
humble duties in the household. The
childs gratitude was OF the liveliest
kind; there was nothing bad in her;
indeed her natural disposition seemed |
docle and amiable. But she had re-
ceived no instruction; all her good
qualities must, therefore. be inherent. !
This was very promising, and her ben
efactress, after few weeks more of
probation, finding that she might be
trusted among the other children, sent
the little Mary to the village school
There the child showed SO much apti-
mde for learning reading, writing, &c,
that she soon became the head of the
class. and made such progress that on
leaving school two or three years af-
ter, she was promoted IN the house /
hold, and became lady's maid to her
benefactre,s. Ia this situation she |
continued for several years, repaying |
the kindness and generosity of Lady /
G--by the most assiduous fulfill |
ment of her duties, and tho warmest |
attachment to her person.
Finaly--and few stories of romance
conclude SO satisfactorily rs this taie
of real life--the trustworthy and res |
nactable house steward of the family /