Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-21


name is Seth"
Well, | declare !" cried Mrs. Harper,
q" If that hain't cool Just as though six
boys round the house wasn't enough. III
send this Seth to the poor house before the
day is two hours older. Biddy, them fish
balls will stick fast to the spider Run this
instant, and see to 'em :" and under the COW
oring Of Biddy's retreat Mrs Harper put
down her face to the cold, soft cheek Of the
baby, and touched his pitiful lips with hers
Mrs Harper was a rough, hard working
woman, who scorned fine sensibility, but all
women have n tenderness for babies, you
know, and Mrs. Harper was by no means rs
heartless as she pretended to be. She wore
blue yarn stockings which wrinkled learfully I;
and confined her hair with brass comb, and
had pinch-beck ring on her little finger to
ward off rheumatism; and we fear that cars
any way sensitive to improper English would
have been shocked at her broad idiom, but in
the main was Just about as near perfection as
the human race will average, and as all know,
that is a right smart distance" as they say
down South.
Mr.. Harper came slowly down stairs, ty-
ing his handkerchief as he came, and yawn-
ing, with the air Of one who had not had his
nap out.
Why, bless my soul :" exclaimed he
" Bless my soul Betsy what have we here ?''
My name is Elizabeth. if YOU please.
John Harper" said she tartly, " and this is,
if I'm capable of Judging, a baby !"
But where did it come from 2n
" Out of that basket and found the
basket on the doorstep. And here's the let
ter that was pinned to the baby's frock ~
| And Mrs. Harper read it aloud.
lIumph 20 grunted her husband "a
pretty piece of business six bows already,
and here's the seventh one ! A seventh son.
Bets mean Elizabeth seventh sons are
doctors usually. I'll harness up Bob the
moment breakfast is over, and take the little
wretch to the poor house"
You will will you ?" said Mrs. Har.
per. No you won't neither 'Spose'r
you'd left one of your children on some.
bodys doorstep in a three peck basket, don,
up in yellow flannel. and they had carried il
| to the moor bouse wouldn't Won have zone
into a tantrum %
" But | didn't leave any." began Mr.. Har.
ner
IS But Won might. Won know. and I've taker
a fancy to this moor child. and Tm gono "a
keen him a smell anyhow y
0Yon've cot six and nositiyelv forbid
itrr said her husband u Hem he nothiuo
but an exnonsc md trouble and we .hau h,
eat ont of house and home with 40 many chill
dren ~
"John Harpern said his wife 4" vou know
I boin,t no church member nor nothing bn
I've cot some faith in the Lord And know
he saws some whore in the Biblc sometbin,
like this bo;n't not sure that CIT il ;esI
right. but this is the meaning of il I1as
much rs We do il noto one of these little one
We have done If unto me- Yon coand finish
bringing the water to wash John Uarner
shall keen the childn
In the Uarner household Mrs. Harner,
word was law and there was no anneal from
lbor decision Mr. Uarner took tbe nail and
started for the well muttering as he went
and Riddv Fagon rested her arms nm IN,
brim of The wash tub TO watch Mrs. Harpe
lGxinr milk cruel for the baby.
d" You mind YOUR Washing Biddy ,s sal
her mistress. It's late enough to scar
ANYBODY Jones' folks will have their clothe
out now afore we do. if we haint spryl an
wouldn't have 'em git the start of us for
dolarl Mrs. Jones would have enough to tel
of for the rest of her life :"
Well, not to make too long a story of it
Mrs. Harper kept little Seth, and after few
years every one had most ceased 70 remembe
that he was not her son. He was hand
some boy, and he grew and prospered finely.
And as one after another of her six bow
.were gathered into the grave, until only tw,
remained Seth had drawn very near to tn,
afflicted mothers heart, aud with his pleasant
childish ways and his quaint sayings, was ,
great comfort to her.
Mr. Harper had grown reconciei to Seth's
adoption but he never ceased to complain IA
times of the folly of taking other people,
children to support. 1t was a powerful
outgo and no income, he was accustomed /,
say
Matters had gone hard with Mr.. Harper
In spite of industry and economy his affair
got every year more and more behind hand
The sickness Of his children had been sourc,
of expense, and there had been floods tina
DESTROYED his crops. and his oxen had died o
murrain, and lastly he fell from load of ha,
and crippled himself beyond the hope of re-
cogery. He might live for years, the physi
clan said, but he never would be well again.
Then began the struggle for liveIihoo,
which so many have to 6ght. Mrs. Harper
face grew thinner and sharper, and her voic
more querulous. Her boys were too youn
to be of material assistance, and on the poor
little, over-worked woman fell all the burden
Money had to be borrowed, and when it fol
due, there was nothing coming to discharg
tho debt. So Flossy, the dun COW, must b
sold. 1t was very hard to think of partin
with Flossy, the COW that had been cal
when poor little Johnny died, Mrs. Harpo
said, the dear child's special favorite an
almost the last words her boy had spoke
We're in the charge given to her little Will
before he died Mamma, be good to dea
, little Flossy and don't ever let anybod
knock her down with an axe, and salt her i
barrel ~
Flossy was an old COW now, but she CAV
milk that was like foamy nectar, and she wa
gentle, and ate apples and turnips from tn
lchildren's hands and liked IN have her necl