Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-12-16
The Leisure Hour.
II UR.yI.yG OJ'BR n VEN. LE.fF.

"It's shame |" said Mrs. Fogg, as she
hurried away, after the funeral of Mrs.
Grant, escaping from the poor, desolate
room where two children, almost babes,
were sleeping unconscious that they were
motherless. "It's shame that nobody'll
take them"
"Yes-a bitter shame" replied a neigh
Dor, who was also getting off as fast as she
could, so as to shift responsibility on some
other shoulders.
"Thero's Mrs. Grove; she might take
them as we'll as not. But they'll go to the
poor-house for all she cares"
"Well, som ebody'll have to answer for
it," said Mrs. Fogg. "As for me, I've got
young ones enough of my own"
eve left Mrs. Cole in the room. She
has only one child, and her husband is
well-to-do. l can't believe she'll have the
hea 1T to turn away from them"
"She's got the heart for anything. But
we'll see"
Mrs. Cole did turn away from the sleep
ing babes, signing aloud with forced
sigh that others might hear, and give her
credit for sympathy and concern she did
not feel.
At last all were gone-all but a man
named Wheaton, and poor woman, not
able to take care of herself
"What's to become of these children"
said Wheaton.
Don't know. Poor-house, l s'pose,"
answered the woman.
"Poor-house
"Yes. Nobody wants 'em and there's
no place for 'em."
Mamma mamma !" cried a plaintive
voice, and flaxen- haired child, not much
over year old, rose up in the bed and
looked piteously about the room. 81 want
mamma"
great choking sob came intothe mans
throat.
Then the other child awoke and said
Don't cry, Sissy. Mammals gone away"
Al this the little one began crying bitterly.
81 can't stand this nohow," said the
man speaking in a kind of desperate way;
and, going to the bed, he gathered the two
children in his arms, hushing and COM
forting them with soothing words.
"What on earth have you got there"
exclai med Mrs. Wheaton, as her husband
came striding into the room where she sat
IN ending one of his well-worn garments.
"Two babies" he answered in voice
so unusual that Mrs. Wheaton dropped
her work on the floor and rose up in amaze
ment.
"What ?"
"Mrs. Grants two babies. I've been
over to the funeral, and tell you, Jane,
it wasn't in me to see these little things
carted off TO the almshouse. There wasn't
q woman to look after them-no, not one.
Every soul sneaked of but Polly Jones,
and she's of no account, you know. Just
look at their dear little facesr' And he
held them up in his arms, and let their
nder, fearful, half-frightened, half-won-
dering eyes plead their cause with his wife,
and they did not plead in vain.
Surprised as she was, and with an in
slant protest in her heart, Mrs. Wheaton
could not, in the presence of these mother
less children, utter word rdofremonstrance.
She took the youngest one from the arms
of her husband and spoke to il tenderly.
TWO OF tDTeo times, ana
tn en- laid its head against her bosom.
There was an influx of mother-love into
the heart Of this woman, who had never
been mother, the instant her breast felt
the pressure of the baby's head, and the
arm that drew it closer with an involunta-
ry impulse was moved by this new love.
Not many words passed between the
husband
though thought was very busy with both
of them. Mrs. Wheaton's manner toward
the children was kind even to tenderness,
and this manner won their confidence, and
drew from them such looks and ways, and
little expressions of satisfaction, as touched
her heart and filed it with loving inter-
est.
After night-fall, when supper was over,
and the children asleep, Mr.. and Mrs.
VIII eaton sat down together, each showing
a little reserve and embarrassment. Mrs.
Wheaton was first TO speak.
"What were you thinking about, John?"
said she almost sharply. 81 can't have
these children"
Wheaton did not lift his eyes, nor an
swer, but there was certain dogged and
+ esolute air about him that his wife noticed
las unusual.
Somebody else must take them," she
said.
1.-THE county will do it," Wheaton repli-
led.
"The county9"
ayes. There's room for them at the
|al ms house, and nowhere else that know
|of, unless they stay here'
"Unless they stay here !" Mrs. Wheat
on's voice rose little, "It's easy enough
'to say that; but who's to tako care of
them2"
"It's great undertaking, know" an
swered the husband, meekly, yet with
II ew quality in his voice that did not es-
cape the quick ear Of his wife, "and the
burden must fall on you"
81 wouldn't mind that 80 much, but"