Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-04-22

ior her and the other two. On the principle
that short horse Is soon curred. the two
Youngest were soon ready. and they started
on, leaving the widow to recover her senses
| which this sudden event had well niob sent
tered
At home the boys had been fasting very
rlgldly on some new sugar warmed over for
the purpose, and having cleared away away
traces OF 1t. the house was in readiness for
their parents reception Bov-like. they
were full of curiosity, at seeing part of the
Ellis family come home with their narents
and find their father was going back for the
rest-but they asked no questions. John
ana Achsah were sent up stairs to crack but
ternuts with the newcomers Mark and Luke
helped their mother to stuff and prepare for
the oven two nice fowls, and strewed raisins
with liberal hand into the plum pudding,
while Matthew made fire in the parlor, and
busted and arranged with AZ scrupulous
care, as though he We're a Young lady expect
ing gentlemen callers BY the time the Dea-
con had come with the widow the house
was all warm. and radiant with good cheer.
ana the traces OF tears on the poor woman's
cheeks died quickly away. So much easier
1t Is to dry tears Of JOY, than those of sor-
row.
Who ever saw Fast day - full Of mirth
and gladness under Deacon Joness roof. as
was that memorable one? The children
were full OF enjoyment, which oyertiowed in
happy words and merry laughter. unchecked
by paternal reproOf, the elder people sat IN
quiet comfort about the parlor fire and talk
ed of old times they had not done for
years. And when at two O'Clock they all
sat around the long supper table, loaded with
good things, who could wonder that the out
side fragrance and the inside sensations
should so work upon the good Deacon. that
i'll asking the usual blessing he prayed that
g might all gratefully remember the Giyer
Vi az good, on tnis day of public thanksgiy-
ing 10 meant public fast, of course, but
was II not 'ater all more appropriate as he
expressed II - certainly had much to be
thankful Tor, IN THAI .he well 4f tenderness
in his heart, SO long sealed up by treiudice
and pride and self will, had at last been, on
ened. and the waters were again flowing,
bringing JOY to others and peace TO his own
bosom.
- Rachel said he to his wife in an un-
dertone, when the supper things had been
cleared away, - won't you hunt up every
thing in the house in the way of clothing
that can be spared, that will do any good to
Hannah and the children? I'm going out to
put few little things in the wagon OF
course Mrs. Jones needed no second telling,
but went into such an overhauling of closets
and bureaus. as brought forth many COM
more than once the widow was obliged 60
stop in her utterances Of gratitude and turn
away to hide the tears. The ..little things
the Deacon had mentioned were bag of
flour, another OF meal, and third of p0ta-
toes. with some minor articles. Among the
minor articles were a nice ham ready smok
ed, and it must be that he had forgotten the
solemnity with which Fast day should be
kept by the way he chuckled, a. before tying
il in the cloth, he laid smoothly upon the
brown rind. n crisp five dollar grcenback.
In the clear light OF the full moon the Wild
ow and her children went home that night,
with hearts that beat with pleasure and hap
piness. The wagon was so null of bagga ge.
that there was only room for Mrs. Ellis and
the two Youngest children. but Dolly was
perfectly safe for woman 10 drive. being
to keep the road with no driving at all
so the Deacon plodded along slowly behind
, the wagon, leading one of the older childreF
by each hand, and making himself so socia
and agreeable TO them all that no Won
. der Mrs. Ellis exclaimed, - Oh. Eliphalet
II seems as II time had gone back with ut
twenty years -
Such 4 showering of thanks and blessing:
upon his head as there was when he lei
them at their own door that night He 60
away from it as soon ~ possible. turned Dol
Tvs head toward home and rode slowly alons
, in the happiest frame of mind he had hno,r,
for years Such is the blessing of cleal
e conscience Somehow he fell TO singing il
, his happiness, and the tune was the old IA
= vorite one he and Hannah had sung together
; so much in their youthful days Dundee
oh, that grand rich old tune, with its quan
$ weetncss its wild. warbling measures a
e Burns has it. The echoes caught it up. re
peated n, making even that quayering yoic
: seem sweet.
oh gV.- tears tor Others w,.~.
And patience for my own.
Charity, all-embracing charity Deaco
, Jones had found at last the true. the real st
cret ofa happy litc- j. d