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

man, looking at HE from Il standpoint OF
mere self-interest; he had broader out
looks sometime. but his horizon was mar
rowed TO one Of money and gain
The words grated along the finer in
stincts Of Mrs. Randolph's nature \ faint
sigh crept into her face, fainter one from
her lips. Perhaps, for almost the first
tine N her life, her womanly intuitions
warned her for some latent hardness and
IN her husbands nature She
l.J not, however, attempt to argue with
i IN. although she knew that his reasoning
va ia some sense false and superficial
Her questions did not even touch his late
remarks. tu went straight to the discharg-
a office boy
How came Tom 10 tall into rhis bad
company, Luther ,"
'ihe answer Is easy enough, Mary. 1t
all came of that cheap boarding house, and
the folks inside of il. BOYS with their
salary have to put their heads where they
al, and people who take them on low
terms, with provisions II these starvation
prices, can neither ailoru 10 be exclusive
With regard 10 the class they take In, nor
offer an attractive home to the boarders.
Tom, like the rest. bolted his food,
suppose, and had no place but the streets
to pass the evenings in. and of course. a
1rren boy from the country afforded fine
:lance to his fellow-lodgers to induct him
uto all sorts Of follies and sin, and he
hadn't sense or strength to resist them"
Poor boy All, Luther, il he We're
ours and the mothers soft brown eyes
glanced again toward the white heap of
life and brightness and bloom which lay on
he floor
And again the father. eyes followed
lers. and the hardness was melted out Of
,hem now, and he said fervently: God
iorbid | would rather lay my boy in
the grave this hour, than know that he
nould live to be turned adriit III his youth,
on this great city, with no friends to pro-
te.t- and temptations laying in wait on
every hand to deyour him
And Tom had a mother, too, AMI She
must have loved him once, a. we ours.
Luther. | almost hope she amt alive now
.or | can Judge by my own heart. that il
muSt break hers to know that her hoy IS
.ost."
Yes. she l. living" Mr Randolph an
swered. almost reluctantly. remember
rom told me 50, and that she was widow
and h was her only son. although he had
a little sister besides. Foolish boy to run
ais neck straight into that trap " added
the gentleman, half angry with himself TO
ind that his heart was beginning 10 rrient
towards the culprit
Tears brimmed down the beautiful brown
eyes Of Mr., Randolph From the first
She had taken fancy to, and unusual i'll
terest in. the bright faced office boy whom
her husband frequently dispatched TO the
house with some note or message for his
mistress.
The boys bright, prompt. pleasant man
uer. hi, quick intelligence. the courtesy OF
speech and bearing which indicated care
.iIl home cultivation. had all attracted the
.ady.
And now hermother> heart w.> touched
10 its centre, thinking Of that other mother,
.onelv and widowed, whose pride and Joy
and strength had been this one boy. now
turned out on the world in shame and dis
1race. She though how smoothly the
downward road winds along the ways She
thought how the proud young spirit, stung
with remorse and shame, would be likely
20 flash up into fierce reckleSsnesS or settle
lown into sulen defiance. The lady
aeart looked upon her own son, and yearned
over this other mother
She rose. took her little boy IN her arms,
and set him on hi fathers knee. Lu-
rher =" she said e viii not argue on rei-
son with Won for YOU viii get the best ot
me there but plead for this boy IL Ia,
name of Your son. take him back give him
1ne more trial for the sake of this " ana
,he placed her hands on the FURNISHED heap
IF curIs in which were lights of gold. Tn,
.hiId looked up with his sweet face full OF
Dewilderment Something in the tender
solemn face Of his mother seemed 10 I'M
press him He reached out his fat, dim
1Ied hand, to his father, and cried. IN hi.
pretty child voice Take him back papa
take him back"
Mr.. Randolph Wa moved. Tie bent
lown quickly and kissed the small speaker
and fancied himself guilty Of 4 very IN
manly weakness. when h said "Oi Mary
YOU women with your children, are enougl
10 turn Il mans brain. IT. against my
ife-l long principles to do what You ak"
But alter all, the speech conceded mucl
more than it denied and Mrs. Randolph
Knew that if Tom was not gone beyond re
all, he might have another chance viii
ais master.
Three DAYS had passed. and the year hao
stepped softly from November into winter
and the last month opened with smiles a
radiant as those which kindled the face 0
June with wind bamv as Mays an'
with no sign or whisper of the long pat
Of storm and darkness through which tn
road lay toward the spring, Just som
lives lie in sweet warmth and security o.
the border land Of awful experiences Q
sorrow and pain and loss, through whic
their feet must walk to the eternal d" rest
beyond.
And one morning of this sunshine on
7 Of the season. youth, somewhere abou
/ his seventeenth year, might have been see
making his way slowly along one of tn
principal thoroughfares Of the city.
you had looked in his face, you would hay
found it bright, intelligent one, wit
eyes that held unusually plenty of fire an
spirit in them, but now carried some gloon
or sadness, or both So did the step, SLOW
and despondent; 50 did the slender bo
figure, with idle hands i'll his pockets tt
want of better employment.
Now Tom Haynes" buzzed the bus
brain of this youth, you're done for
this city. and the sooner you clear out an
90 off to sea, the better for you. The be
YOU can do is to ship as common dec
hand, for a long voyage round the wor
You'll have chance to see some OF II
world before you get back, and perhal
You'll get into a good berth and be ca