Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-01-26

: small marble top table at an aucon-room
opposite, proffered the old man ne job Of
conveying it TO his residence on Stockton
street. Not wishing to accomany the
carrier, he had selected the face, probably,
! giving the best assurance of To careful
delivery Of the purchase 81 9aas
Furnished with the number ofhe house,
the old cartman, after pretty tring strrg-
gle with the deep descent of California
street, reached his destination, md depos-
tied the table in the hall, lingering mo-
ment the lady did not surmise de reason,
! until he informed !er that her husband
(for such he took lfSh 10 beg bad probably
by accident neglected 10 settle for the
carriage. aa g ~ sg .ls E
"Very well, will pay you,' said the
lady, stepping into the adjoining room.
She returned, and, stating that she had no
smaller coin in the house, handed tho old
man twenty dollar gold piece. He could
not make the change. Br
"Never mind-I will call Tomorrow" !"
said be, turning TO 60. ,s4.ea fa Is
s5" /" No, nol' replied the lady, glancing
pityingly at his white locks and trembling
limbs; Il will not permit you to put
yourself to so much trouble" and she
handed the coin to Bridget, with instruc-
tions to see il she could get it changed at
one Of the stores or in some of the mar
kets in the neighborhood.
:" Step into the paror till the girl re-
turns, the air is chilly and you must be
cold," continued the lady very kindly.
I" Come" she added, as he looked at his
rough attire and hestated. "There is a
good fire in the CRATE, and no one there but
the children"
at is somewhat chilly" replied the old
man, following her into the parlor and TAX
ing seat near the fire.
/ Perhaps may find some silver in the
house, said the lady, leaving the room,
g for | fear Bridget will no, succeed in get
ting the twenty dollar piece changed"
"Come here, little one,D said the old man
coaxingly to the younger of the two chill
dren, girl about six years of age.
Come, love little children;" and the
child, who had been watching him with Gu
riosity from behind the large arm chair,
hestatingly approached.
What is your name, dear?" inquired
the cartman.
6. ".Maria. lisped the little one.
" Maria Z" he repeated, with the great
tears gathering in his eyes. " ] once had
a little girl named Maria,a ,and you look very
much as she did," s
6 Did you ?" inquired the child with in
terest, :" and was her name Maria Eastman,
too p 1.....5f
"Merciful God !" exclaimed the old
man, starting from bis chair, and again
dropping into it, with his head bowed up
on his breast. "This cannot be and vet
why not p He caught the child in his
arms with an eagerness that frightened her,
and gazing into her face until he saw con-
viction there, suddenly rose to leave the
house. :" / cannot meet her without be-
traying myself, and dare no, tell her l
am that drunken father who once attempts
ed to take her life, and perhaps left her
husband cripple" he groaned, as he hur-
ried towards the door. ID a
The little ones were bewildered.
You are not going 2" said the mother,
at that time reappearing aud discovering
the cid man in the act of passing into the
hall.
He stopped and partly turned his face,
but seemed to lack the resolution to do
aught else.
" He said he had little Maria once,
that looked just like me, mother" shouted
the child, her eyes sparkling with delight.
The knees of the old cartman trembled.
and he leaned against the door for support.
The lady sprung toward him, ,and taking him
by tbe arm, attempted 10 conduct him TO a
chair. Aatf M % e
No no" he exclaimed, " not till YOU
tell me i am forgiven"
" Forgiven ?-for what !"asked the moth
er, in alarm. A
Recognize in me your wretched faith.
er, and l need not tell you," he faltered.
"My poor fatherr she cried, throwing
her arms around his neck I" all is forgiven
-all is forgotten" th
All was forgiven, and the husband. when
he returned late in the afternoon. was
scarcely less rejoiced than his good wife
at the discovery. Whether or not Bridget
succeeded in changing the double eagle. /
never learned; but this do KNOW, took
the honest female all of two months to nm
ravel the knot into which the domestic af.
fairs of the family had tied themselves
during her absence. Pap Ainsley still
keeps his cart, for money would not induce
him to part with it. peeped into the
back yard of DIR. Eastman's one day last