Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-06-12
VOL. XIV.

me fix mine Isn't he kind ?" said Fred.
q" He is going to make me a little boat
some time he told me So" cried Frank.
.. And me a whistle, mother-me a whis-
tie added Will
Il hope you don't make yourselves
troublesome to the minister. my dears,' -
replied the mother
'.Oh no, ma am, We don't He says he
would be very glad if he had three such
boys of his own; and he says the hour
with US Is the happiest time in the whole
day" answered Fred.
= He would be real lonesome if it wern't
for US he really said so, mother" added
Frank.
And there is nobody i'll the world he
loves better than me and Frank and Fred
He said that too" cried VIII.
The Summerbel boys always did the
same things, and if one spoke they all
spoke Indeed, the neighbors Away,
named them collectively, saying, - Fred
and Frank and Will " in speaking either
of one or of the three
And now the tender heart of the sym
pathetic widow was brimming with pity
for the lonely man who had not even the
company Ofchildren in his bereavement.
Surely his sorrow is greater than mine
thought she, with tears in her gentle eyes
One morning very early. as she was thin
ming out her lettuce without hearing or
seeing any one, she suddenly felt some hui
man presence near, so consciously that she
raised her head; and behold there was
the minister leaning against the wooder
fence in Miss Pins old place.
Good-morning said he. And as he
lifted his hat and smiled she noticed fol
the first time what handsome eyes he had
There Is something about them which
remind me Of my husbands. 1t must be
in expression for Nh Boomfeld's are gray
and Edwards were black she unused
And she unused all day
In the evening he passed again with his
handsome gray eyes; and seeing Mrs. Sum
merbell transplanting strawberry plants
her three boys about her with their feet
on her dress and under her trowel in THEN
eagerness to help, stopped again with the
same cordial halt-sad smile. and this time
he said
Do you know, Mrs. Summerbell, ii
NOulu bc Il real kliluHt>> ~ dlION lHe u
help your little boys about your garden
work ] am accustomed TO such exercise
and miss it exceedingly now
OF course the discreet widow. living il
a world Of tongues, did not allow it ; but thi.
showed his kindness of heart. now did ii
not2
At last currants were ripe. then straw
berries and cherries. and finally. early APP
ples-red-coated Astrachans and great
yellow-boughs.
Il don't know whether any body ha:
got eyes but myself, but have seen how
the thing was going for sometime. Be
tween their pity for each other, and theil
fondness for those boys, the minister anC
the widow Summerbell are falling III lov,
with each other just as though they wern
out Of their teens said Miss PIN at Dea.
con FolSom's. where she had gone to hell
can fruit
' l. that So, Miss Pnn?" calculated the
Deacon. astonished for once out Of form
and ceremony.
You may rely upon it, and it Will bC
match too, and good one besides, 4.
sure a. my name Is Betsey PIN" replied
the spinster, with three mods, each one a
great deal wiser than its predecessor.
Now as it happened Mrs. Deacon Fol
som had sister with withered hand, {
lame foot. and whose chief occupation wa.
to hear, to see. and to tell Therefore, oil
catching the choice bit, she at once put OF
her green calash. and, taking her hooked
handled umbrella for staff, started of
ike the meddling old parrot she was, tc
tell Of it. And first of all she hobbled in
to Mrs Summerbell's, where the widow
herself sat with clove-pink fastened il
the bow at her throat, which Frightened W
the lilac ribbons amazingly. She wa
singing in soft, happy voice
The Lord INTO His gardeI came
The spices breathe a rich perfume
The lilies grow and thrive
but broke off the hymn to rise and put
chair for her visitor, with Il smile of neigh
borlv welcome Not that she was please
particularly, for nobody was, or ever coul'
be, 10 see Polly Blake; but her heart wa
soft and warm with pity for all the Lord
mfortunates.
Are YOU pretty well to-day, Mis-
Blake - She asked, cordially.
"Wel enough, far's | know" returned
Miss Blake, snuffing fercely, according t
delicate habit she had. Then she wen
on, hardly stopping long enough to coun
four.
So YOU are thinking of changing you
situation. Mrs. Summerbell? Well,
s'pose it Is nobody's business so't you AM
the minister are suited but it never strucl
me, somehow, a. though | could bring III.
mind to be married to more than one man
Mrs. Summerbell opened her eyes am
dropped her work in horror and dismay
When she had thought Of avoiding gossi
and scandal it had never been such as tbs
Her innocent brain, which was full o
thoughts of love for her dead husband, ha
never consciously taken Ill the suggestlo
of even the runt0r of successor An
now the idea being sprung upon her :
suddenly and vulgarly, she felt fairly fam
with the shock and alright But betor
she had time to open her mouth Tor wor
OF reply. three small hurricanes burst int
the room, named respectively Fred, Frank
and Will As they made her aware 9
their existence by cries and whoops an
prancings the involuntary thought rushe
into her mind that the boys, at thei
time of life, did need "A father. Then sh
bushed to think she had the thought; an
before her face was fairly cool and She ha
auieted the children, just home, hungr
from school, Miss Blake started up.
Buftm's come and L must go." sh
cried. pointing through the window at
bakers cart, which was passing. Butful
promised to bring along some of those Ii
tie wine biscuits next time he came, an
Folsom's folks won't never think OF then
IF 7 am not there to see to If.