Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-14
Hester Prati's New Years Day.


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Hester Prati,s New Years Day.
New years day was double anniver-
sary to Hester Pratt. On that day, fifty
years before she had come into the world.
A solitary half century it was 10 look mp.
on-for Heater was an old maid. Thirty
years before she had been betrothed to
Herbert Gordon, but he had proved false
to his plighted faith, and the day that
was to have witnessed her bridal saw him
welded to another. That day closed the
heart and hardened the nature Of Hester
Pratt. Her manners became fr08ty and
forbiddinQ, and the name of old maid,
which chung to her became even more re
pulsive from the connection.
Within the space of three years Hesters
sister and parents died, and size was left
alone at thirty-alone in the house which
had belonged to the family for three gen.
erations. She was advised to relieve her
solitary state by admitting another family
but this she declined to do, evidently pre-
fering solitude to society.
Twenty years passed. and in passing
did not fail to leave their imprint on Hes
ter Pratt. Her face became sharper and
her hair more pentifully sprinkled with
gray, yet her step was apparently as firm
as ever, and her movement as decided.
She had sufficient property, and more
than sufficient, for her small requirements
and every new year saw something added
to her account in the village bank Her
savings were not likely to be diminished
by charitable offerings. She had closed
mp the avenues of pity, and hardy mast
be the bsggar who should ask aims of her
second time.
It was New Years morning. cold,
frosty morning.
On that morning Hester Pratt had
baked loaf of cake-a rich fruit cake
with which she intended to regale her
for the cake, but her mother had been
wont to do the same on that occisiou, aud
Hester kept up the old practice.
Having baked the cake. she drew it
from the oven, and, steamiug hot - It
was. carried it ont in the shed to oon'
With commendabie care she. shut up
her solitary companion. sn iron Cry cat.
in the kitchen, fearing that the elk might
otherwise present q temptation too strong
for the cats principles 70 withstand.
MeanwhiIe she busted herself in pr
pairing the oven for the chicken. which
was to furnirh forth her New Years diu-
ner. This, tco. YVES an old cnstom o' her
mothers. The chicken WAS nearly rea7y
for roasting, when the sharp cara Il Hcc-
tor detected a slight noise in tho wood.
shed. which Immediately joined the
kitchen
She advanced hastily to the door, and
threw il open.
Could she believe her eye-? Could hn-
men depravity reach such an aetu1 i.hing
hight, or rather dep'h? There, almost
par j, zad with establishment, she huhold
a Hov in the ect Of carrying eff the favor
ito New Years kn.
Her momontary snrpris v-r, She pro-
oeeded TO oct with energy
Stridiug up to the delinquent. ryfo Ii
stopped short in cOnsternatinn. she e,izaA |
him hv the collar of his i4cket and Shoot,
him vigorously, exclaiminu in ~ angry |
tone:
I've caught you. Won little r. seal have
I? Now tell me, why were You trying to |
steal my cake ?
The boy besitated for a moment. md !
seemed undecided bow to act.
Tell ma instantly, before I h4nA Won |
over TO the constable,' repeated Pe-tor.
with another shake, while with her free
hand she anatched from the boy the axe |
which he had appropriated.
| was go hnrgry,' sid he in Il low
voice.
Hungry = dare say" sneered Hester.
guess if it had been a loaf Of bread TO-
stead of cake, you wouldn't have troubled
that way
Il would rather have bread said the
boy.
You wculdn'tr exclaimed Hec'or, o.
fonished.
Besides, wanted 10 carry it to little
Bessie
who is little Bessie?' inquired Hes
ter, with something.of her usual manner.
She is my sister and is blind
Hester looked attentively at the hoy.
In spite of her hardness. there was some.
hing in this alluaion which touched her.
The hoy was apparently about eleven
years of sge. He was handsome boy, or
would have been. if his pinched face had
pot spoken so eloquently of privation
His clothes were quite insufficient for that
Indictment day, and his hands were fairlv h
red with the cold. Now Heaters prein.
1iofs were all against him Her theory
in regard to the boys was that they were |,
numitigated nuisances,-that they were
| class of vagabonds, who took mali
Nous pleasure in lying, thieving. and
Kindred vices - and sha had hitherto
vaged an unoompromising warfare
against them. II
Yet there was and indefnsble some
hing ab0ut this boy something in bis
Expression which softened her against
her will. Scarcely knowing how to pro-
iced, she began to question him |,
DO you live in this village? ! never F.,
Jaw you before
1 never was here before this morning.
madam L
You don't find it convenient II stop
ong in the same place.. said Hester. sar-
astioslly, thinking of her cake.
Apparently the boy understood the al
usion for he said earnestly
Indeed. madam. | wouldn't have taken !
he cake if we hadn't been 80 hungry,
8essie and l.
Bessie Yon have spoken of her be-
ore. How do l know but it's a story {
'ou are making mp Just to get eff? said
Hester, hardening herself.
i would show her to you, madam, if
g.
If what 2 interrupted Hester sharply. /
4 was thinking you wouldn't want to |
N xuho ab - onI ~n,V v,,snbk &hs~l I