The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-02-11


of tbs old Rcd Ssone Farn -h1use. max
inw tie bright Ere that was burning a
the large, old-isshiouod kitchen seem
dgnbs grateful aud around which were
gathered father Williams, his wiie aud
foar children.
TIE westifsF-bEoazed face q the farm
er bad i eAre~worn aud discontcated
look. He was Of those who make haste
to be rich. aud though he IS surround
"a by many blessings, and every reas-
onabls vast IL supplied, ~ the close of
the Old year finds no surplus Ia bis purse
his heart, instead Of being lifted up with
gratitude, j. filed with repiniDgs
His gentle, meek-browed wife is sit
ting beside hum, and her eountenanee
wears lopk Of chastenod sorrow, aud
tears ghsten lu her eyes as they wander
ta-a coris.r ~ the reoln where stands a
vacant cradle, from which smiled, "A week
ago, the rusy-cheeked, brlght-eyed boy,
upon whose little grave tonight the snow
is drifting heavily.
The silence was broken by a heavy
knock al the door
Father Williams Immediately opened
L. revealing a respectable, middle aged
colored man, who held carefully in his
hand covered basket
Does Mrs Williams live here 2" he
inquired.
''she does
"The lady who buried little child
Yesterday Z"
Yes"
aWch, here is New Years present
for her
Ihruslng the Dasketinto the farmers
/ hands. be turned and walked quickly
! down the road, where could be dimly
seen the outlines Of covered sleigh,
from which could be distinctly heard
the sound Of stihed sobs
Bewildered aud astonished, farmer
Williams carried the basket into the
kitchen, and carefully set it down upon
the table
As he did SO he was startled by a
plaintiye cry; and upon opening il, there
lay a lovely boy, apparently about three
months old.
Farmer Williams sprang to the door,
but the sleigh and its occupants wer e
nowhere TO be seen.
In the meantime Mrs, Williams and
| the children gathered round the basket
with ordinations Of surprise and pleas
ure. As the babe saw the sweet, gentle
7 face that bent over il, it suddenly stop
ped crying and smiling, stretched out
| It's little hands to her.
Thehe Of the bereayod mother now
yearned toward the child, and taking it
up il her arms, she pressed it fondly to
her bosom. just then the husband
came back from his fruitless search
I7dcrlare it's an imposition T. he o.
claimed, stamping the snow of his boots.
bat / won't submit TO it. III take it
over to the town farm the very first
thing in the morning.
Il can't bear the idea of its going
there. John, said his wife. Just see
what sweet babe it il 2"
Il don't see but what it looks like all
other babies, replied John, grufiiy, do
ing his best to steel his heart against
the little stranger, iii which he only
/ partly succeeded; for, rough rs was the
farmers way, he had kindly nature,if
one could only reach it.
ANY way, the authorities win have
/ TO take care of it, farmer Williams con
tnued; we can'twe have got more
mouths to fiji now than We can find
! bread for
Mrs Williams lips quiyered as her
+ thoughts reverted TO the little grave in
the church yard. All, III her heart there
was one too few
Dear John, said Mrs. Williams,
| pleadingly, 1T seems as though God had
sent this babe to take the place Of our
1 own little Willie, whom he has taken to
/ himself Let me keep it. 1t viii not
fail TO bring blessing upon us, you may
/ be sure
Farmer Williams countenance relax
cd somewhat as he looked into those
fearful eyes
Well. well, Mary" he said in soft
cned voice, "Ill think about it. Ii We
DO. You and the children will have to 20
without good many things, for these
are hard times, and hkely to be harder.
So you had better weigh the thing well
before deciding
Mrs Williams did so, and the result
Was that the New Years present be-
came a fixture in the Red Stone Farm
house. lie grew up merry, winsome
boy, twining even around the farmers
rugged nature, and taking, IN the heart
Of his adopted mother, the place Of her
lost darling, aud was loved aud cherish
cd by her with equal tenderness.
Many sacrifices dfl Mrs. Williams
make, many iollsome hours did she
E spend, IN order that her husband might
not feel the expenses Of his maintenance
20 heavily. Aud well did his growing
intelligence and beauty, and the ardent
affection he ennced for her, repay her
for all There was nothing about him
that would give tee slightest clue to his
parentage. Simply bit Of white pa
per pinned to bis irock, on which we're
these words, evidently written by q wo-
man, in graceful bat unsteady hand
Arthur. born September 23d was
stranger and you took ne ia.
Farmer Williams made some inquir-
! les in the nsighborhood, and leafned
J that lady with an infant, accompanied
by a servant, had been stopping for