National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-01-04
John.

some way I've thou ght if told you
this little thing, there might be some
one it would please. Not so much
please as comfort. may be, like a
sliding hand within a bOdy's when
they're in trouble for there's moth
ing like quiet hand grip when
ones in deep pain. But about tn :
little history.
1t isn't much, and it has a poor
title, but if you knew how differently
the name sounded from what it
locks, standing there-hOw it makes
me fiasn and thrill with love and
deep feeling, YOU wouldn't think it
so homely and pain.
Every one knew him, from the
little bare, brown-footeI childrell
who sold CLAIMS aud cookies, &c the
fine people at the hotel, who always
took his yacht in place of rest. As
for him-Ive q notion he might
have made good picture. He was
dark as an Indian, and as tall and
as 1.-the. He could swim the fur
thest, and pull the strongest oar !;
and as for leaping and wrestling NJ
one could begin with him. There
was rich dark red in the brown
cheek, and when he smiled it was a
pretty sight-such white teeth, and
such strong mouth, with a laugh
deepening his brown eyes.
John had always been my friend !;
he used to take me out i'll the yacht
when he went with Joe, my brother
and stow me away on his jacket ;
and then when | grew older he was
the same kind friend-for Joc's wife
died, and left me the hOuskeeper,
and John used to come in, when
Joe had gone on a cruise to the cod
fisheries, and bring i'll armtuls of
wood; and i'll winter make paths,
and sit down by the fire, when the
winter nights were bad, and talk
with me; and in summer he used
often to come III with word fIom
Joe and kind tale with Charlie
and me-(that was before Charlie
was large enough to go with father
in his trips)-and / used to feel a
kind of sisterly love for him. lie
was pretty much alone; his mother
and he lived with old Nancy Bell,
his aunt. a cross old woman-but
she took good care of his home, and
it was all the home she had on earth
The Irvinghams were the richest
people who lived in the village. Tc
be sure, they only came here on
summers, but the family had always
lived there in the old fine house
with great park and lawn, and hot
house, which father before he died
used to be so proud of-for he was
gardener there thirty years, ans
mother had been Miss Emlly's mai,
when he married her.
Miss Emily was old, and not mar
ried, but her brother Alfred, Will
his wife and Miss Louie, used II
come back during the warm weathe
from their home in New YORK; AM
Miss Emily was very kind to me,
used to 60 there very often 1or sew
inc. and could do up the laces an
ruffies for her as no one but m0the
Gid. she said. Then, Miss Lou
LoG been born at the hall. Iha
- moa .efore father died 80 l used
,;he M re- fx her. But this is rot III
story after all. ,,.,
she was the fairest, daintesr it'll
beauty | have ever seen-no. MOI
than q child il her way aHi fee
incs-gentle and kind NJ on, $
very winning! She 'a It tsoites
wbitest skin, and par OF eyes
pretty as spaniels-thGu%h that
e not pretty thing to com pare
Miss Louie. And her hat. g.,
c,rled in little loose rings when 81
Y was child, and had n dark touc
&C on it, with a goldy color III the liG'
it was the prettiest hair in tn
world. and so proud as her fatht
vas Of it! He would not let h'
emf it; so she wore great. lon
loose ,curls, dropping down on h
sbou,lers to- her belt, and draw
hack from her brow with u blue ri
Q hon And such bright curls as the
il were were on her 1,nrehead and behiI
her ears-little rings that the VII
- tossed about her eyes : usea
think she was the ,'mest lady
them all, with her sweet, pufs wa!
! Just as fresh as childs. 81
not wonder that any one cou.a u
a, a, help loving Ionic Irvingham. .
ID j found out suddenly that Jon
v, loved her-and that did not su
T. prise me at first. Housed to drive IL
Hall carriage, until he bought h
-- yacht-for he loved the sea mo-
than anything else. Miss Emi
had old Robert, who had been the
% many years but John was
\ D, tul and steady that from Il
eire. % the stables, Mr.. Alfred HI
q pace ,,; IA rs carriage. So he kne
p MN nm uiINc IA. we'll as !, ever sin
N he used to carry haoLs of +
ID and hold her on the % - Tho
IS horses--as she used to rin., iol
r when she grew older, it was "
who taught her to ride, and wei
- with her-and think they set OF
anothers beauty off, even ii it
foolish to say 50. But when flour
he loved her, l was little trouble
Ii was in this way. 1t was late
H. fall, and Joe was not back ye
and the family at the Hall were
leave that week for town, Miss III