Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-09-29
" JENNtE SMART
" from
" MARoABET Mickey.


MAR0ARET Mickey"
He was perfectly amazed Here was q
Bible which once belonged to his own moth.
er, ana presented by her to Jennie Smart
whom he well remembered as servant in hi.
fathers family at the time he left Scotland
He could not be mistaken with respect 70 the
hand writing Of his mother nor could h,
keep out of his mind, the smiling face Of Jen.
ME Smart The reader can easily imagine
that trains Of thought and reflection were
awakened which would prevent him from
sleeping. Still there was a mystery about
IT, How came this Bible in the hands Of
James Duncan the drunken blacksmith. -
This mystery he determined to solve.
The next day he went to the shop where
Duncan worked, and approached the anvil
whore he was fitting a shoe, and said, " You
le6 a Bible with Zoe last night"
" Yes. You don't want me TO redeem il
so soon. do you 7'
" No. want to know where you got it d
" / came honestly by it,"
presume so, but | am anxious to
know
We'll, sir, it belongs to my wife. She
has bad it ever since she was a girl
Was her name Jennie Smart 2'
That was her name when | married her
Why"
II think l used to know her in Scotland
Do you live near here 2'
" Yes In Liberty street just round tn,
corner from Elm, up stairs
With your leave will call on her"
That you eau do if you like
Mickey left the shop, and soon found tn,
miserable abode and aseended the rickety
stairs and raped at a door, which was open.
ed by woman who seemed surprised to sec
a stranger. She invited him to be seated
He knew not how to commence the converse.
ton, but at length said, " This is Mrs. Dun.
can, | suppose"
" Yes, SIR"
He asked few more commonplace ques-
tions, aud she replied. He then said per.
ceiye by your accent that ike myself you are
Scotch"
" Yes, sir was born near Glasgow"
" Did you ever know lass by the name
Of Jennie Smart p
Yes, sir. That was my own name wher
I was a lass"
Did you ever know lady by the name
Of McKey-Margare McKey2'
Yes, sir. knew her we'll | wrought
for her as a servant for years"
Did you ever see this book before p
reaching out the Bible.
Yes, sir Mrs. Mickey gave me that the
day before | took passage for America. But
sir, how came it IL your hands p
keep grocery on Federal street You
husband pawned it to me for drink,
She began to weep. He saw where the
sore spot in her heart was. He told her who
he was, and drew from her a history of her
trials and then said, Jennie, (for you will
allow me to call you sol am very sorry
have been the means of giving you any sOr
row. | will never sell your husband another
drop Of liquor. will do what ! can to re
form him.
We will not give the conversation in de
tail. His visit cheered her heart
On his way back, he stopped at the shoT
where Duncan was at work. He looked uT
as Mickey entered and said, Did you fnC
the place ~
es. uuu uscu 10 hnoW youI win
when she lived at home"
You never knew any i'll of her | think. "
h" No She was always kind and gentle
Now Duncan, as you have such good wife
and such pretty children, why don't you stoI
drinking ~
He replied "A Yankee always answers q
question by asking another. As you have ne
wife nor children, why don't you stop sell
ing 2o
"IfI will stop selling, will you stop drink
ng?"
lie stood a moment, cast his eye upward
and said, WILL"
Give us your hand on that, said Me
Key.
They shook hands.
Now" said Mickey, come over to the
grocery" They went over and empted all the
liquor into the street. When the work was
completed Mickey added, " When you g
home, tell your wife what you have DONE and
add that if you get into trouble, you will al
ways have a friend in the son Of that Mar
garet Mickey that gave Jennie Smart the
Bible"