Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-27

beng happy! 1ad tnere ever Deeh Il uay
or hour III which self had not been the |
centre round which all his aims revolved =?
He pushed away his letter with Honorable
on the cover He began to doubt whether
after all, his life had been success.
What single good deed had he to be reck-
oned up in the DAYS when by his works he
must be justified or condemned? And now
he was an old man-for the first time he
began to feel that-and it was too late
1 All, it must have been suggestion of the
still, small voice that seemed to penetrate
his heart.
= Not too late, ., never too late to begin
to live for God and good -
But what could he do?
go and see the widow Matfit," the
voice in his heart answered. There
would be a beginning. If you find her
suffering you can help her"
He was acting on new impulses, but the
resolute strength which had helped him all
through life, hurried him on now; and in
half an hour he was at Mrs Maffit's
fourth-story room. Answering his knock,
She did not know her visitor. and stood as
if waiting to hear his errand.
" | am your landlord he said in tones
than stern and then she stood aside and
asked him to walk in.
4 He stepped into the bare, comtortless
room. \ ire, dull for want OF fuel, flick
cred on the hearth. and before it, trying
to warm his slender fingers, bent a
boy of about twelve. Mr.. Richmond'S
eyes, in their comprehensive gaze round
the desolate barren room rested on him,
and remained fixed. He was slight,
fragile boy, who might have passed for
Younger than his years, save for the ex-
: preston Of maturity on his thoughtful
countenance But those violet eyes over
| which the long lashe. curled the dun gold
hair falling softly round the pensiye face
t whose were they? He had never seen
n such since the day he parted with her
his enemy He turned at last, and looked
at the mother She remained quietly
T. awaiting his pleasure-a woman OF at
6 least forty. worn by sorrow and touched by
time. vet with IA certain proud grace III hel
!. manner as she stood in the same attitude
: in which she had stood twenty years be
r fore. on day he could never forget. Fol
this was his enemy He would not have
= known her, perhaps, save for the golden
d haired bov-but now he saw all her ole
self in her changed features. She wa'
Is waiting to learn his pleasure-what IRA
:. his pleasure? Before to-day he coul'
q have answered this question unhesitatlnl
~: to humiliate her-to see her starve-
IA to push her to the last extremity-to b
revenged upon her by any and all means 70
I. the light esteem which She had held him
1t Now-would any revenge of this kind sa1
o IL 4 h. hfstI
ld far off some words came back to him-h
lt thought he had heard his mother read ther
i in hi, boyhood.
a If thine enemy hunger feed HIM. if h
thirst. give him drink
III His heart throbbed strangely but h
III kept ali emotion out of his voice.
II hear your rent Is not ready, Mr.
Mafit-
= 1t i, not Frank ha~ been i'll 50 mucl
ct and required 50 much Of my attention,
re- hoped YOU would be willing to give me
~ lttle time think he viii be better whc
fe spring opens"
a, But YOU ought not to have eNpectc
MT much leuiencv from me. You told II
III. wears AGO that | was a stern, hard ma
t : Iou might have >ottened me if YOU Ia
mt tried me then; but think time has bee
turning me into stone.
.rt She recognized HIM now, aud her j
a. curled with u touch Of the old >corn /
k him Of all other men She would not sue f
en- grace
est :. / was true To myself then" She san
quietly: Il am not sorry, even now.
N His enemy still, he thought-his star
X. ing enemy. Should he offer her bread
IL a stone | havr said that new impui~
He were guiding him. and with him impuls
ch were all-powertul He went to the goldc
,od haired boy on the hearth.
,ok Would you like to live with me -
er asked HIM The fires are bright in /
to house and the carpets warm and so
RS There are pictures on the walls. and boo
be- without end IN the eases
: q At the sound Of books and pictures t
wo bow ewes frightened but he answer
tv. with sturdy resolution which remind
he Pierce Richmond again OF her whom
TT called his enemy:
tic. Il should like the fires and the carpe
eus and the books and the pictures better Y
hat But I'll not leave my mother.
air ..Wili your mother come Mr.. Rit
.et nnond turned and looked into the worn IA
md flushing a little with Indignation at
the words. :" do not mean to ask anythi
low YOU cannot grant, he FASTENED to say
he. tones OF quiet reinsurance. . am SIX
the two and alone in the world. Wife ne'
nm shall have: and | need a housekeeper-
he woman faithful enough to look out for
,et interests. and kind enough to nurse me
an tientlv through my old age. If YOU v
ess come to my home. and keep my house,
shall be your home and your boys no
tile while live, and at my death YOU shall
,ok insured against want
ves The widow looked a moment INTO
ome eyes. and then gave him both her hands
his a passion Of eager gratitude.
ard .. deserve nothing from you, she 50
fish, >. and YOU have saved me from despair
his But think az time went on, and the
osaI cant abode where Pierce Richmond
esl passed 50 many wears took new asl
ness Of ease and grace under Il womanS finge
aS little Frank met him whenever he ca
and in with loving eagerness; and he begaI
+ bc understand something of the difference
his tween a house and home. he never rep'
for ed that he had shown mercy TO his enc
r in
her \ Golden TnorGuT.-We know
I's 70: the author Of the following, but it is
hon Of the most beautiful productions of
ma human mind we have ever read
r to Nature will be reported. All tn
her are engaged in writing their own hist
rtist The nlaTr and the pebble 90 attended
the their own shadows. The rock leaves
ha Il