Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-02

that | always remember the DARK Gays.
The words OF that song went rlght u ny
heart was busy sewing patch on the
dear child's apron, but somehow | conid
not see to take another stitch, and the
work dropped from my hands upon the
floor.
"Just then your father entered the room,
and with one glance ne seemed to compre-
bend 1t all.
"Why, Polly he exclaimed, what on
earth ails you? Borrowing more trouble
Is not our Johnny as fat and rosy as q
red russell? Nothing like good potatoes
and rye bread to make bone and sinew
Why, that boy will make singing mas.
ter yet; his lungs are in splendid condi-
ton and who knows but one day he may
be our county judge At which he
chucked me under the chin, and went out
of the house looking as happy as II we
had everything to our hearts content.
To be sure we had something more than
bread and potatoes for supper, as that at
ternoon the Doctors wife brought Johnny
large plum-cake. But how did know
that Johnny would have a cake for sup
per?
"Then yesterday, when Parson Giles
called, had on the new cap your Aunt
Harriet gave me-goodness knows it Is
seldom that I wear it, for I never expect
to have another-and l thought If he
should notice it, he will think l might
| better have saved the money it cost, and
| paid our pew rent; so l told him how
poorly things were going with us, and
after had entertained him long time
with our troubles, he leaned his face on
his gold. headed cane and remarked:
"sWell, sister, you must remember that
whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and
| perhaps that is the reason why you have
so many crosses to bear.
"He then arose slowly from his seat,
| walked out to bis Carriage and drove
away.
followed him to the gate, where I
stood looking after him, while the dust
| rolled back upon me like dark cloud ;
and 1 conld not help thinking, Well, par
son, if what you say is true, the Lord
have mercy upon your soul for if you are
a good man, should like to know why
you don't merit little chastisemcnt, as
we'll as myself!
Returning into the house, l mentioned
my thoughts to your father, who seemed
quite shocked, and asked if I would be
willing to exchange places with the par
son,
THE idea OF exchanging places with
that moor eonsumptive old widower His
every chick and child under the ground.
and the spiritual welfare of a large con-
gregation resting. upon his shoulders
Mercy on usl should go crazy at once
your father has such strange ways of
reasoning. He often tells me that Il am
like Israel of old, always looking back
and longing for the garlicks of Egypt
and that he has been obliged to carry me
upon his shoulders ever since we were
married; that I could never catch a
glimpse of anything in the dark No
wonder, for our pathway through life has
always been as dark as railway tunnel.
Your father could always see light
ahead, no matter if it was but the flicker
ing light of a FREELY; but l never could.
"Then l have so little faith in any
thing! Even when attempt to pray,
my prayers never seem to reach any high
er than the house-top. If by chance they
ascend up little further, one breath of
east wind will drive them back down the
chimney, to die out on the hetrth with
the expiring embers.
"But who is this at the door with let
ter? 1t was only yesterday that l was
wondering if nybody would ever write
to US again ?"
Takes the letter and reads it.
"Why, bless my heart children. your
fathers half-brother Nathaniel is dead !!
Well, l wonder that he didn't die long
| ago, going off alone out Wost to live
among wild beasts and fever and ague.
Better have staid at home and earned a
decent living; but, as father says, people
are never satisfied in this world.
"But what does this mean Ten thou
sand dollars bequeathed to your father
and me Ten thousand dollars in the
hands of the executors awaiting our dis
position Do wipe my specks, children ;
must be seeing double Well, it must
be SO ; but I don't believe we shall ever
get cent. of it The banks will break,
or stocks fall, or some plagued thing will
happen before it ever reaches our pockets.
"Ten thousand dollars bequeathed to
US! Well, well-what will your father
say now ?"-Ledger.