The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-10-04

Winking violently with irst one eye
aud then the other. she started to 20
and then, with sudden solemnity, she
rsinserted her head 10 the doorway
If I'm summoned" she said, it..
above all else 1t l'm called, | must 90
day or night.
Certainly" said Tom. much puzzled
" but you won't be auntie !" As the
young man walked abroad to get his din.
ner, he felt impressed with an almost
mysterious awe of the old nurse
ITO think Of living always with death
grinning one in the face ike that" he
muttered
In the night Toms dream OF peace
was again dispelled
Another knock on his door.
Am | under ban?" growled Tom
"What's the matter now p
'Im called" said the voice Of Mrs.
Primmins, "my summons has come -
"Oh. the devil :" cried Tom, lost to all
sense Of the Importance Of conciliating the
nurse. 500 to bed Hold on till MORN
ing"
la the morning Tom. who, happy fel.
low always slept soundest under a sense
of depression, did not make his appear
ance until nine O'Clock. He found that
Mrs. Primmins had actually disappeared
for parts unknown. In the arms of his
his stern landlady he found his charge
nesting. A new light-that of love-was
beaming in the solemn woman's sys,--
that woman. though Tom,, who would see
any one Of her boarders starve and rot
for ten cents day saved He looked at
his little responsibility with a feeling
Of awe, almost suspicion Of witchcraft.
1t is customary to shake the head. and
wonder at the amazing Providence that
sometimes removes mother aud throws
a young infant upon the charity of others
Why not also consider reverently the in.
nate instinct of motherhood that rises in
every female heart at sight Of a baby 80
bereaved
al have undertaken" said the land
lady giving Tom such smile as he had
never dreamed could rest on her features,
al have undertaken to go with you in
search of Mrs! !Primmin's niece Malviny :"
Several hours later Tom Collins sprang
from light wagon in which he had
driven to the door of pretty cottage.
We will make one last effort by IN
quiring here" he said to his iandla
dy. who held the baby.
With his usual impetuesity he pushed
directly through into the little rear kitch
en-. There, he forgot his errand. forgot
everything except what he saw A young
girl, plump, neat and rosy, stood, with
round arms barred, before a table. She
was assiduously occupied in caressing
with her white hands, little Jumps Of
dough into shape. Then she placed them
in rows in big black pan. For mo.
ment she did not see Tom. He, unrea.
soning, impulsive. fellow forgot his er.
rand-iorgot everything, in short. aud
began envying those Jumps OF dough. He
felt instinotivoly that he, tuu possessed Il
great capacity for being moulded by some
such hands as those
Suddenly she turned Such dimpl
ing smile such rosy embarrassment
Tom. great, black haired, jetty eyed giant
that he was. thought this plump little
blonde an angel Thought why he was
sure of it,
After while he came partially to hi.
senses. and said. " am looking ior ont
Malyina Barker"
And that is NE, said the rosy lips
"Then I've brought you baby" h,
said abruptly"
A good deal Of astonishmeut can >,
put into pair OF bright blue eyes with
out spelling them and 50 there was
Fortunately, at this point the laudlad,
appeared. and SO. u moment later. die
Malvina's mother. called up from the eel
lar by the voices.
Negotiations were soon completed.
Tom again in his little room, found i
the loneliest, dreariest place he had evel
in his life looked upon
A couple of days later he concluded i
would be inhuman not 10 60 and inquir,
after his little charge. In an incredibly
short time he was seized with the sam,
impression again. Then he went to tax,
to baby, who had not learned that tn,
moon is more distant than the door knob
box of biographical blocks. Then h
went to inquire If it needed pocket money
and he told Malvina that he knew it Iii,
not keep her awake nights her eyes wer
So bright.
This time Mulviua'- mother told Ton
that of course they were very plain peo
pie. aud no il associates for yOunj
'gent" like him, bat il he wished to sta,
there was plenty of Strawberries sn'
cream for lea
Tom stayed. aud after tea the moo
came out, Oh that wicked, shameless
moon Tom, by ito light. told Malvin
right out thai her eyes were hlusr tha
Heaven-her lips sweeter than roses
and all that.
When they parted, Mulvina went t
her room and cried.
What could such a perfect King Of
man mean by talking to her like that
OF course. he could not mean to marry
little school.mistress only home Oh n va
catien
Tom acted qaeerly too. when alone
his room. He took pencil and pape
f and figured and calculated He made
list Of all the little properties he pos
essed tie added them up and then h
added them down. Then he set down
list of all the things he was accustoms
to spend money upon that could be di'
pensed with. Then be brought ont boo
on economy. where it tells how ma
can live cheaper with frugal wife tha
r he can alone. He was astonished to fir
that book SO intensei, interesting
. The next day Tom went again to 81
the baby. In fact, it had seemed to hi
/ as though the afternoon never won
I come. He had more waiting to do at II
e cottage. for Malyinas mother receive