Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-15

| notin
"Oh, that should r. he said earnestly.
"Ihen will leave you now, that you may have
them as soon as possible p and, evidently to his
great surprise, shaking hands with him, she left
! the cell
/ Perry was overlooking the work Of one of the
/ prisoners who was cleaning the passage, and the
man was one whom Miss M had known when
he was III so she stopped to speak 10 him while
the turnkey went TO lock the door OF the cell she
had leit' As he did so, she heard Hill say to him
'lf you please, SIR would you tell me II that la
/ dy is paid tor coming here the same as the chap
| lain is ~
Paid! bless your stupid brains what makes
you fancy such thing as that? Paidl | should
think not, indeed. She's got money Of her own
that she gives TO them as needs and sadly she's
imposed upon, poor lady. But the notion Of the
like OF her being paid just you take care [ new
- hear you say such word again
81 meant no offence said llill, humby 'Do
you think, SIR she will come again Co see me r
''Sufc 20 she Is always here two or three times
a week. aud She is certain % come up 20 see Won So
The turnkey came out as he spoke and locked
the door behind him; aud as Miss M--- followed
him through the long passages, she iuli more than
ever saddcntd at tho c1udi ton of the poor prsor-
er she had left. IL was 30 evident from what he
h1d said to Perry that tbe possibility of Kindness
which was not compulsory or the result OF sef-in-
'~t''N HtA itlftl utiDlt ut'll uAle known TO MN
in the dark, struggling. wretched life he had led
With some little difficulty she pursuaded the
governor that lemonade and OF anges came within
the definition of the doctors order-that Hill was
10 have whatever was requisite, and he promised
that they should be faithfully conveyed to the
prisoner as soon she sent them.
When Miss NJ M--- next visited the coal some
what sooner than usual, as she felt anxious to see
the poor man again the turnkey told her that Hill
had never ceased asking when she would be likely
TO come and his pleased respectful greeting as
she went in was 50 different from the gloomy in
difference he had manifested on her first visit that
she was quite surprised. She soon saw, however,
that it was owing simply to the discovery he had
made that She was not, as he expressed it, paid
Tor coming, but that it was genuine interest in
himself which brought her. After having told her
eagerly how much relief he had derived from the
fruit and other things she had sent him, he said.
looking at her earnestly
Ii is wonderful goodness in YOU to come and
SIT ~ this here cell with poor wretch like me- |
do think it is wonderful
Indeed, Hill, | assure YOU it is the greatest
pleasure TO me To come TO You, because / hope 50
much that may be able % comfort youn
And you wish TO comfort me r he asked, with
a wlstiul, iuquiring look that was very touching
With my whole heart she answered warmly T.
am 20 greyed at all YOU have 10 suffer that
there Is nothing would not do to relieve you if |
knew how
sudden fit of coughing checked him as he was
gong 20 answer and when it was over he lay back
exhausted, while she bathed his face and hands /
with gentle touch winch seemed to calm him
strangely. When he could speak again, he yield .
ssry,o the natural Craving for human sympathy
IN which be seemed TO have believed himself
alV ether shut out before, and began TO tell her
oi(au his many physical suilerngs IN complete
qfiau. finding apparently real pleasure in the mere
sound of her voice as she answered him with
words of earnest compassion. He was dwelling
On the long sleepless nights Of ieverish restless
ness. and she said
Perhaps il you should grow worse, they will
think il necessary that You should have a regular
lek nurse 10 SIT mp with YOU, and ii they do, /
will ask the governor 20 let me come / am a
very good nurse she added smiling.
lio opCae1 bis rycs in astonishmeut
o. You, ma'am. % come and sit up all night in
this cold cell with me n
Yes why not Z? she said.
And YOU would do this for M }1
" Indeed would most gladly
" could never have believed it ~ he exclaimed /.
as IL speaking more to himself than to her; then
hs eyes turncd involuata-ily to the window which
ms gaze was ever seeking. All, be said d" T
am safe TO get worse il / stay in this dreadful
place much longer l believe it would be the
death of me il had not the chance of getting out
soon but, after all. ii il were not that they say it
will be worse for such as | am in kingdom come,
/ might as well die Rs live, for I'm poor iorsak-
en- wretch without ever a friend in the world
Don't say that exclaimed Miss NJ. tax
ing the bony wasted hand in both OF hers. " Y GU
must never feel lonely OF iorsaSen any more, for
you have got me for your friend now and | will
be true one to you as long as YOU live
Hou my friendl' he said slowly, turning
round to look at her. "A lady like YOU my
friend, You never mean it surelyn
DO YOU think would deceive YOU p she said
very softly, bending over him, and meeting the
gaze Of his wondering wistful eyes.
" You don't look like one as would"
"No, indeed | would not. I really mean what
| say when | tell you that | want YOU to take me
as your own true friend who will never fail you
and you must speak to me of all your troubles rs
you would to your mother or sister, aud tell me
everything you would like me to do for YOU
friend, my friend!n he said, repeating the
words as If he could not bring himself to realize
their meaning. {
He was silent for a moment then suddenly
grasping her hand almost convulsiyely, he said
- Ala'an, when came into this wretched place I
thought IL was all over with me, an that there
wasn't any chance of any good ever coming TO me
in the world again. When took my trial there
was not a soul to say word for me, and all as
ever knew me before would have been glad that {
should rot and die in the goal and be buried like
Dog. | knew that right we'll, and | did not be-
ieve any would ever look at me again, except i
10 curse me for yagabond, and now I've got a {
friend a friend ~ And he lay holding her t
hand in his, tears gathered slowly in his dark {
iunken ewes and rolled over his cheeks. How e
long it since the blessed dew Of tears had come
10 soften the arid desolai0n of that poor hopeless
soul like waters from heaven falling on the burn
ng sand of desert waste As Miss M
wal ched him weeping quietly, and almost uncon- c
'cousy, his lips still forming the word that had '
bad such power 10 move him, bright hope arose
in her heart for him, that those poor wandering
feet might yet attain 10 the eternal Shore anu
The weary, sin-sianel man lie down TO rest for
ever in the everlasting Arms, for the heart that /
bad been touched by the divine fire of love. when
seen through human agency alone, faint and fec /
bly,, would surely open wide to receive the glori-
)us faness of that eternal tenderness which Is the
charity that never iaeth, aud life for evemore,
But she could do no more that day. The turnkey I
'ame 60 tell her il was time TO lock up the prison-
nrs for the night, and She was obliged To loosen I
her hand gently from Hills grasp, aud, with a few
Kind words leave him 10 his solitude. Ii was very d
pleasant 20 Miss NJ next day, TO see the gem !
line delight with which the prisousr welcomed c
her he was now quite at his ease with her though
perfectly respectful in his manner, and he began Il
10 tell her very freely all he had been feeling and
thinking since the day before lie had had bet C
night in every way, he sand, aud be hal droamt
ll his mother for the first time for many years ,
She hal died when bee was quite a youngster but v
lc thought he saw her standing 10y his bedside as /
plain as ever in his life, and she had laid her hand
On his head Just as Miss M had done, and had II
'poken kindly 10 him. and he seemed so happy ia Il
ais dream. Thon he went on TO speak OF his child
lOOd aud carly wears and how he had learned To h