Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-15
srItel TaIr.
"FoR FATnER,s HoNoR.y 7

preston upon bis face,
''What is gone n asked his wife.
my money is gone" answered Mr. Sterling
fretfuliy.
"what money! p
THAT money was foolish enough to lend Mr..
Granger
"Why do you say that p
"IIes dead. "areplied Mr. Sterling. coldly.
"Deadn The wifes voice was foil Of surprise
and pain. Sorrow overshadowed her face
"Yes, gone, and my money with him. Here's
a notice Of his death. sure when saw him
go away that he'd never come back, except in his
coffin Why will doctors send their patients from
home TO diein
Poor Mrs. Granger! Poor little orphans -
sighed Mrs. Sterling. "What will they do p
AS well without him as with him. was the un-
feeling answer OF her husband who was only think
ing Of the three hundred dollars he had been over
persuaded to loan the sick clergyman, in order
that he might 20 South during the winter. Hes
/ been more Of burden than support to them
/ these two years
"Oh, Harry how can you speak so ?" remon-
strated Mrs Sterling. "A kinder man in his fami-
ly never was seen. Poor Mrs Granger! She
will be heart-broken"
"Kindness is cheap and easily dispensed, ;" cold
ly replied Mr.. Sterling "He would have been
Of more to his family II he had fed and clothed
them better. | reckon they can do without him.
T If had my three hundred dollars | woudnt-n
feeling the almost brutal words his heart sent up
to his tongue
/ Not many yards away from Mr. Sterling's hand
some residence stood a small plain cottage with a
garden in front neatly laid out in box-boarded
walks. and illed with shrubbery. A Ahoney-suckle,
twined with running -bush covered the lat
ticed portico and looked in at the chamber win
dows, giving beauty and sweetness. The hand Of
taste everywhere, not lavish, but ds-
eliminating taste Two years before there was
not happier home than this in all the pleasant
town Of c.. Now. the hand of death
upon it.
Poor Mrs Granger Poor little orphans -
Well might Mrs, Sterling pity them. Wh,u her
mercenary husband was signing over the loss OF
three hundred dollars the young widow lay sense
less, with her two little ones weeping over her in
childish terror. The news of death found her un-
prepared. Only a week before she hal received
letter from Mr.. Granger, in which he talked
hopefully Of his recovery. al am stronger he
said; "my appetite is better; I have gained five
pounds in flesh since / left home.n Three DAYS
after writing this letter there came sudden
change OF temperature; he took cold, which was
followed by congestion OF the lungs, and no medi-
cal skill was sufficient for the case. His body was
not sent home for interment. When the husband
and father went away two or three months before,
his beloved ones looked upon his face for the last
time in this world.
Love and honor made the heart strong. Mrs.
Granger a gentle, retiring She had
leaned upon her husband heavily; she had clung
to him a vine Those who knew her best felt
most anxious about her. "She has no mental
stamina" they said "she cannot stand alone"
But they were mistaken. As we have Just said,
love aud honor made her heart strong. Only a
week after MIR. Sterling read the news of the
young minister's death, he received a note from
the vi low.
"My husband she said, twas able to 60 South,
in the hope OF regsnng his health, through your
kindness II he had lived, the money you loaned
him would have been faithfully returned for he
was a of honor Dying he left that honor in
my keeping. and | will see that the debt is paid.
But you will have to be little patient with me-
All very fine" muttered Mr.. Sterling, with a
slightly curling lip give heard OF such things
before--they sound well. People will say OF Mrs.
Granger, What a noble woman What a fine
sense Of honor she has But shall never see the
three hundred dollars | was foolish enough to lend
her husband"
Very much to Mr. Sterling's surprise not lit
tie TO his pleasure, he discovered about three
months afterwards, that he was mistaken in his es-
innate of Mrs. Granger. The pale, sad, fragile
little woman brought him the of twenty-five
dollars He did not see the tears in her eyes as
he displayed her husbands note, with its dear ia
miliir writing, and made thereon, with consdera-
BILE formaty, an endorsement of the sum paid
She would have given many drops of her hearts
blood 10 have been able TO clutch that document
from Mr. Sterlngs hand. His possession of it
seemed like blot on the dear lost ones memory.
"katie Granger is the queerest little girl ever
knew said Flora Temple to her mother, on the
evening Of the very day on which his FIRST payment
was made Mr.. Sterling heard the remark, and
letting his eyes drop from the newspaper he was
reading turned his ears TO listen.
g think her very nice little girl, replied the
mother.
$50 She is NICE" returned the child; but then
she is so queer
"What do you mean by queer?'
"Oh she isn't like the rest of us girls. She
said the oldest thing to-day-I almost laughed
! out, but I'm glad | didn't. Three OF us. Katie,
Lille Boufeld and |, were walking round the
square at recess time, when Uncle Hiram came
along, and taking out three bright ten pieces,
he said heres dime for each of you girls to
buy sugar plums." Lille and screamed out and
were starting away for the candy shop in an in
stant; but Katie stood STILL with her share of the
money in her hand. "Come alohg,n cried
She didn't move, but looked strange and serious.
"Ain't you going to buy candy with it?" | asked.
Then she shook her head grayely, and put the
dime in her pocket, saying (l don't think she
meant TO hear the word, Its for fathers hon
or; y and leaving us, went back to the school
room, What did she mean by that, mother? Oh,
she is so strange
"Her mother is very poor, you know replied
Mrs. Sterling. laying up Katie's singular remark
to be pondered over.
"S6e must be-" said Flora, "for Katie has
worn the same frock to school every day for al
most three months
Mr.. Sterling, who did not let single word of
this conversation escape him. was far from feeling
as comfortable under the prospect Of getting back
the money he had loaned Mr.. Granger as he had
felt an hour before. He understood the meaning
of Katie's remark-" It's for fathers honor;" the
truth flashing at once through his mind.
/ There was another period of three months, and
, Mrs. Granger called again upon Mr. Sterling, and
gave him twenty-five dollars more. The pale,
thin face made strong impression on him. II
troubled him to take the money from her small
fingers in which the blue veins shone through the
transparent skin, as II was counted out He wished
that she had sent the money instead OF calling.
1t was on his lips to remark, "Do not trouble or
pinch yourself to pay faster than is convenient,
Mrs Granger" but cupidity whispered that she
might take advantage of his consderate kindness,
: ard so he kept silent.
mo, dear it's for fathers honor; can't spend
it,
Mr.. Sterling was passing fruit shop, where
6 two children were looking in at the window when
= this sentence struck upon his ears,
"An apple won't cost but penny, Katie; and
| want one so badly answered the younger Of the
two children, little girl not five years OF age.
{ ''Come away, Maggie said the other, drawing