St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-06-21

lie then told her of his attempt to ge
shelter in the other cottage.
''Sir," said the woman, ''if you hal
said you were gentleman-''
The boy laughed 81 don't think
knew it, my good woman" he replied
"my senses were so benumbed { for
was some time struggling at the water.
edge among the broken ice, and then
believe | was nearly an hour creeping tt
your cottage door | remember it al
rather indistinctly, but as | felt the firC
and drank the warm beer, was diff
ierent creature"
While they still talked the husband
came in and while lie was eating hi.
supper, they agreed that he would walk
to Dean Hall, and let Its inmates know
OF the gentleman'S safety, and when he
was gone they made up the fire with the
coal that remained to that poor house.
hold, and the woman crept up to bee
and left her guest TO lie down and rest
before it.
In the gray of dawn the laborer re-
turned with a servant leading a horse,
and bringing 4 fresh suit of clothes.
The young gentleman took his leave
with many thanks, slipping three halt
crowns into thhe woman's hand. proba-
bly, all the money lie had about him.
And | must not forget to mention that
he kissed the baby, for, when she tells
the story, the mother always advert> TO
that circumstance with great pride, add
ing that her child, being as 'clean as
wax. was quite fit to be kissed bv any
body +"
''Nlls>us," said her husband. as they
stood in the door way looking after their
guest, ''who dOst think that he ~
Il don know" answered the missus.
Then Ill just tell thee. That be
young Lord W.; 50 thou maveSt he a
proud woman, thou sis and talks with
lords, and asks them in to suppcr-ha,
Ia ~ so saying, the master shouIdered
his spade and Went his way leaving her
cllnklng the three half crowns in her
hand, and considering what She should
do with them. Her ncighbor from the
ether cottage presently stepped in, and
when she heard the tale and saw the
money, her heart was ready TO break
with envy and jealousy. ''Oh. to think
that good luck should have come to her
door, and she have been so foolish a. To
have turned it away. Seven >hillin.>
and siXpence for morSel of food and :,
night >heltcr-it Is nearly n week ;
wages ~
>" there. a> they supposed. the matter
ended, and the next week the frost WAS
sharper than ever, Sheep were iros II
IN the lenny fields, and poultry OH their
Ferclc>, but the good woman had walked
10 the nearest town and bought a bl:un-
ket. 1t WAS Il welcome addition 10 their
bed covering. and it was many = lon,
year since they had been 50 comfortable.
But it clianced one dav at noon. that.
looking out ut her easement. she spicd
three Young gentlemen skating along the
ice toward her cottage They >prang on
the bank, took oil their skates. and made
Tor the door. The young noblcman in
formed her that he had such a severe
cold he could not come to rec her before.
"lle spoke as pleasantly" she ob>crv-
ed, in telling the story, "as If | had been
a lady and no less And then he brought
4 parcel ont of his pocket, and Eve been
over TO T. lie says, and bought YOU Il
book for a keepsake, and | hope YOU
will accept it : for then ali talked as fast
could be for Il matter of ten minutes.
and went away. SO | waited till INV
master came home, and we opened the
parcel, and there WAS fine bible inside,
all over gold and red morocco, and INV
name written insile and bless him +, 2
ten pound note doubled down over the
names. I'm sure that when | thought
that he was poor, torlOrn boy, he was
kindly welcome. 80 my master laid out
part of the money in tools, and We rent.
ed a garden, and he goes over on mar,
ket days to sell what we grow. SO now
thank God, we want for nothing"
This is how she generally conclude.
the little history, never failing to add
that the young lord kissed her baby.
But said my friend, Il have no
told you what | thought the best part o
the anecdote. When this poor Christ
ian woman was asked what had induce,
her to take in 4 perfect stranger. ant
!, trust him with the best clothing tn,
house afforded, she answered, simply
"Well, | saw him shivcring and shrink
.ng, 50 | thought, thou shalt come in tol
the sake of Him that had not where t,
, lay His head" The old woman in th,
} cottage may open her door every nigh
l of her future life to some torlorn beggar
, but it is all but certain that she vii
never open it to nobleman in disguise
Let us do good, not to receive more il
return, but as an evidence of gratitud,
| for what has already been bestowed. Ii
| few words, let it be ''all for the Low,
2 and nothing for the reward
An INCIDENT IN TIE BIRSING Ol