Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-06-26

down mother. and the bright little sister,
just three years his junior. bad set all their
hopes and pride on him; that he was their
only hope and trust, and when they should
come to hear the truth, that he was dis
graced and run off to sea, they would never
hold up their heads again
Ah, if he could 90 back TO the day on
which he left them Then the tears sprang
up into his eyes. he was thinking Of their
last words--his mothers and little Ruths
There was only one thought which was
harder than that, and this was going back
and looking in their faces and telling them
the truth And 80 reasoning after the
fearful ;" logic of evil" the one wrong al
ways involving another, he told himself in
despair and desperation. that there was no
help for it he must run off now, and go
to sea
And he who had been TOO weak TO resist
the temptations OF the land, would expose
himself 10 those increased a hundred fold,
on board the ship. among coarse and bru-
t., c7mpan OBS, amid the lack Of All moral
restraint and influence which a LONG sea
VOYAGE necessarily involves
just at that moment a carriage turned
the corner, and drew up before the door Of
large dry goods establishment. and 4 lady
aliehted. in some haste, and the long silk
scarf, which trailed down her cloak. drop
ped suddenly to the pavement.
Tom Haynes wa- instinctivcly courteous.
He caught up the bright floating fabric.
and sprang forward. i" You have dropped
your scarf ma am
Thus arrested, the lady turned suddenly
--' Oh, thank" then look of amazed
recogntion changed her sentence, and il
ended in, = Why Tom! Is that YOU"
The boys face was a fierce crimson. He
wished that moment that the earth would
crumble beneath and take him in.
YES, Mrs. Randolph," he t;,intly ar
ticulated
She looked at him with her eyes full of
sad pity. O, Tom | would not have be-
licyed it of YOU" She said sorrowfullv
He tried to speak, but instead there
came swift. smothered sob. beating out
from his throat, before he could crush it
down again.
She looked at him with a gentle. moth
erly heart and the pity wa- strongly in it
now.
Tom" She said, laying her hand on his
shoulder. a his own mother might have
done
IF Mr. Randolph should take YOU back
a-ain-if contrary to his rules and prece-
dents, | could persuade him to this, would
you try once again to resist the evil, - YOU
never did before"
He would not take ne back ott do. I
know, he recalled the lat words which
his employer had used towards him words
which had ttstcred and rankled in his heart
ever since and made him feel that let
come what might a swift freezing or slow
starvation. he would never seek his old
master again. even though forgiveness and
help awaited him on the threshold
Mrs Randolph did not answer for a mo-
mrnl. Tcinap> Sire smiled g littlo GO her
sell-thinkiug that his wife oa5H 10 know
Luther Randolph a little better than his
Office bov At last -he sand Get in.
Tom, and 20 with me" pointing to the ear
riaee And as Mr.. Randolph took her
seat She said 10 the driver, who awaited
her order, The office. Daniel"
Mr. Randolph sat alone at his desk when
his wife entered the Office. accompanied by
Thomas IIayenS. who had been ignobl,
driven out of it Il few days before She
walked straight up to her husband. who
Glanced from the lady to her companion in
silent curiosity anl~urpri~e | have found
aim. Luther. and hruU- it II 'n back" said
she Try him once more tor my sake" "
7 And make a fool of myself" erowied
the merchant; there was something that
encouraged further entreaty iii the tones.
No. Luther, I'll take all the blame, all
The folk on myself: only try him this once,
and see If the end does not prove it, wis
dom.
Nj. randolph looked AZ Tom on
young rascal, You'll be serving me another
trick one OF these days" he said. Sit
: down here and copy these letters.
The Office boy tried to speak. but instead
there came great guSh of sobs. with Il
rain of tears. And 50 Thomas Haynes was
received once more IN favor
= Mrs RandoIph'S charity did not stop
here. She procured him lodgings under 4
kindly home roof in whose pleasant atnos-
phere the boys nature expanded. and be-
meath which, he found the peace and shell
ter that his inexperienced youth 50 much
needed He never fell into evil again
: There Is more than that 10 tell. The boy,
! quick intelligence, his promptness and bus
ness capacity, advanced him steadily in the
/ house a. wears went On. until at last the ole
:. mother and the pretty sister, blooming IL
: her womanhood, came in pride and JOY, It
f live in the pleasant home which the strons
/ arm of the young son and brother hat
b earned for them.
There is more vet To tell. There cam
e a time when sudden business crisis tel
u upon, and paral wed the community. Th
u old houses, whose credit had stood tn
= storms Of scores of years, suddenly tottere'
and fell The house of which Luther Ran
dolph was now senior partner, tottered Il
Il man was taken suddenly ill--contined t
II his room and to his bed. And at tha
e time. had it not been for the senior clerk
/ Tor his knowledge Of the business in all II
e relations for his foresight and energy, tn
n house must have been overwhelmed. \
Il il was, it weathered the Storm and in graf
l. tude thereof Thomas Haynes was taken il
v to the firm by the other partners and Wa
y thereafter the youngest one.
u There is more yet to tell. When Mal
earet. the elder Of the daughters of Luthe
y Randolph was in the bloom of her lovel
III womanhood, Tom Haynes wooed. and ami
ld other sutors won her for his wife. An
81 after the bridal breakfast, which include
h ONLY the families Of the newly-wedded pal
d. he turned to Mrs Randolph, and calm
le her bv the sweet name of mother, he said
ps =. All that | have, all that | am, [ owe Ill
p der God, this day, to you" And then