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

ing a sad farewell Only Seth ACCOMPANIED
him. holding his hand and bravely choking
down the great lump which would rise in his
throat.
"It is very hard :" said Mr.. Harper.
/ " Very very hard at my time Of life, and
after have worked like a slave 10 be turned
out homeless :"
Father - said Seth, 81 mean to pray
for help"
Mr. Harper smiled little bitterly. The
poor man had never had much faith, and
what he did possess was strongly shaken.
Prayers aren't often answered, Seth"
But our Sabbath School teacher said if
we wanted anything special, we must pray
for it, and Of course, if we don't want any
thing, it is just the same, and mean to ask
God not to let it be-"
And directly Seth slipped away, up into
the wood-shed chamber where he had a min
ature carpenters shop, in which were con-
structed wonderful water wheels, and sail
boats, and steam engines with tin boilers and
pewter driving wheels Once there, he shut
the door carefully, and kneeling down among
the shavings offered his petition II was not
couched in the most elegant language, but
who shall say it was not acceptable on that
account
90 Lord, said little Seth. don't let old
Brown sell the farm ~ Aud after repeating
the request over and over again. Seth felt
easy in his mind, and with a simple faith that
all would be well, he ate his bread and butter,
and went to bed
Mr.. aud Mrs. Harper could not sleep.
They sat together in the old kitchen-soon
to pass into the occupancy of stranpers-sat
together sad and desolate Their last NIGHT
at home
The south wind lust stirred the woodbine
over the window. and broke up its protesoue
shadows where the moonlight fell through il
upon the white floor.
There was a rap at the door. but neither
Mr.. Harper nor his wife noticed it, and in a
moment a tall woman stepped over the thresh.
hold. She put back her veil, and showed
face deeply lined with care. but now il was
peaceful. She had suffered much, doubtless,
but now she had respite.
You do not know me ?" she said, EXTEND
ing a hand to each. 81 am the woman who
teu years ago left an infant on your doorstep
suppose you have Judged me harshly. and
it is unnatural for mother to desert her
child. But hear my little story and then de-
, eide. Nv name is Annie Courtland.
married against the wishes of nv parents.
man who made NV life wre,cbed He was
gambler and a drunkard We had three
children. and dav bv dav they suffered for
bread. When little Seth came was homeless,
NV husband was anrrv beconso of his birth
there was another mouth to feed, he said
In fits of drunken furv he threatened To kiIl
my child, and at last. when Seth was nearly
ION montbs old his f,hor desor,oJ ma
and INV children were reduced to the verge
Of starvation. | could pet no work with n
babe in nv arms In order To feed INV others
must be rid of NV Youngest born. I heard
t of YOU. and formed the plan to leave INV
: chiidhere Since then have never bean +,
situation to claim him. until now. A month
since nv father died. and repenting of his
unkind6ess toward me he left me half of b;s
large fortune. And now have come for NV
little Seth
II woud he useless to describe the meet;no
of the long senarated mother and child bnt
! after the first TRANSPORTS were over Mr..
Courtlapd BEGAN to make inouiries as 10 the
cause of the air of Gloom which seemed IN