National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-08-04
"May I stop here and rest bit on your

with tender care he assisted her up thu
steps, and in, calling, "Mother-Clara
here is an old lady very tired. Make he1
comfortable, please"
The door was opened, and pleasant
gentle looking woman came out, followed
by A beautiful girl Of about sixteen, who
drew the wearied traveller in, seated her IL
comfortable chair, and would have re-
licved her Of her hood and wrappings, but
she objected, saying she would rest only !
few moments. Clara drew up stand, and
placed cup Of tea and biscuits before the
old lady. While she fingered with them,
John came into the room and said
"I'm going out now, mother, and may
not be in before ten."
"Ah, l know where" answered his
mother, rs she observed his careful toilet
"Oh, my boy. is it we'll She can never
he yours. Why will you linger near her
Every hour will make it harder for YOU to
resign her to another, as it must be-"
"Don't, don't. mother, dear. ] must
see her-be with her while may. Donot
mention the future; live only in the
present There, goodbye. I'm off. But
stop.n Coming up to the old woman, he
said, "You have walked far, know. Now
do ride as near your home as possible" ="
And he dropped piece of silver in her
hand. The hand trcmbled as il closed
tightly over the money. He hastened out
and heard not the low whispered thanks
and blessings which reached his mothers
ear
eyes, YES you are right He is good
my noble boy But he has heavy bur
! 4 hnt
it could be otherwise" Mrs. Falrleigh
answered.
The old woman arose to GO They bade
her come again, whenever she was near.
And with many thanks, she left them.
The days passed by until the one came
which gave Lucy the right ever after to
use as she chose her wealth. She entered
her guardians Office, and said:
ave come, Guardy, to crave birthday
boon. You must not refuse"
"Well, tell me what it is. I'll not re-
fuse, unless for your own good"
She bent over him, and whispered in his
ear.
He started in real amazement.
"Ten thousand! Why, child, what can
you want with so much Oh, surmise:
| heard your cousins talking Of set of
diamonds. But really, Lucy, let me advise
you"
No, no, Guardy. You know | might
insist: but only plead. Let me have it,
and Pll promise to economize enough to
satisfy you, for the next three years. And
| intend to come to you, as heretofore, for
every dollar until-well, until no longer
belong to myself"
any child, fear you will make very
poor investment Diamonds are not likely
to increase in value"
"Tve not told you that is what |
want the money for," she said.
"Ah. but know"
"Well, yes, shall invest that amount
in diamonds, if you will insist on my tell
ing you"
The check was drawn, and Lucy went
away quite happy; while her guardian felt
very anxious indeed. He said:
"She is good girl, a very good girl, but
dreadfully extravagant. She'll 90 through |
her fortune right away, if | do not manage
to check her. A miserable investment.
must try and make it up in some other
way I'll try my hand at investing for
her now"
1t was not long before the Fairleighs |
again saw the old woman, who came to
claim their hospitality once more.
"I'm going away" she said. wanted
to see you again, you were so kind to me.
shall never forget you"
She renamed but a little while, and
then babe them good d-bye. A few moments
after, when Clara stopped down to pick up
a spool of Gotten, she saw lying behind the
arm chair where the old woman sat, little
black bag, which she Immediately recog
nized as belonging to her. Picking it up,
she ran out on the front steps, and looked
up and down the street, hoping to see the
owner, but she was nowhere in sight.
Thinking she would most likely miss it
and return, she went back. But the even
ing passed without seeing or hearing again
of the old woman. The next morning,
Clara said:
81 think we ought to look in the bag,
and, if it is of any value, try to find the
owner"
John thought so too. 1t was opened,
and, to their great surprise, in it was note
addressed
"To my kind friends"
Opening which, John read aloud:
81 have not left my bag by mistake. |
came to do so. You have all been kind to
the old woman you will never see again.
But that you may think of her often, she
leaves YOU token of thanks. 1t will re-
ieve the young shoulders of their burden,
and his heart too, perhaps. You need not
try to find me. But little while, and
earth will know no more the old woman.
have more than enough still to maintain
me, should | live more than the allotted
time. You will find with this, certificates
of money placed in the Union Bank, subject
to the order of John Fairleigh. Do with
it as you choose. Gratefully. your
OLD WOMAN"
John was bewidered-they all were.
Could it be real They were not dream
ing surely. Dollars, many thousands, for
them!
Although the cashier of the mentioned
bank was well known to John Fairleigh, it
was not without considerable hesitation
that he went to see if such good fortune {
was really his. Is
"Yes, it is Just so, Mr.. Faireigh. And
| was but little less surprised than your
SELF" answered the cashier.
"Have you any idea who the person I
is 2" asked John.
"Not the remotest. | only know that
an old lady came here yesterday, and in
perfectly business-like manner made the I
How happy John Fairleigh was-not t
because of the possession of money, but q
because he had then the means to obtain I
n professjon. His fathers wish and nten- {
t;on could he secured and his mother and c