Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-06-15

him, and Milly broke away from Mrs.
Granger and threw herself into his
arms.
NO, no, no | am here, grandfather.
| am your Little Sunbeam, and / will
not leave you. The lady is very good,
but she does not know that without me
you would die
Il wont he so selfish, Little Sunbeam,
moaned the old man. Think of what
you must give up-gay dresses, balls,
and fashion, good schools, and the
sight Of countries Of which you have
only dreamed. 1t makes no difference
when the maimed old veteran dies, but
it is hard to dig up old roots. | must
die here, where | was born, and I can
die alone. Milly darling, go with the
lady, and don't forget
Il WON'T cried Milly almost angrily.
Leave you? | could not do it. | am
glad to know the lady loves, US, and
would do SO much for us, but l must
stay with you
is this woman or child? thought
Mrs. Granger.
A woman in thought and purpose,
madam for the hard life she had led,
the striving with poverty, the thousand
and one shifts to stretch their little
means to the utmost, had developed her
early.
Mrs. Granger was woman of tact,
and though she had set her heart upon
having this beautiful child to love and
pet, she knew how to yield gracefully,
and she did it now.
4 was wrong, my child she said.
In ny wish to have you for my own l
forgot one who has a stronger claim up
on you. At the same time, my husband
would never forgive me if | let you re.
main in poverty, and l must do some
thing for you. Not in the way of chari-
ty, Mr.. Wen worth it is a debt-a holy
debt, which ought to have been paid
long ago.
She found it hard to persuade the old
man; but when she told him how it
would grieve her husband if she did not
give him help, he complied. Then the
mouse worked for the lion. She went
TO Washington and laid the case before
her acquaintance there in Congress, and
the result vas largely increased pen
sion to the old soldier, who would not
take help from any other source. The
pension was not great; but it was
enough, with strict economy, on Milly's
part. She went no more to the cars
with winter-greens, and had more time
for school. She studied hard at
home, too, and showed a great aptitude
for certain branches, which surprised
her teachers. Tom Granger came often
to Port Dolton, and as often as he came
and saw Miliy working about her grand
father in her plain dress, ready of heart
and hand, he went away thinking of her
as q saint,
So years went on. The boy of eight
cen was tall young man of twenty
four, and Milly was the same age as
Tom on the day when she sold him win
ter-greens on the cars Time had de-
veloped her into beautiful woman, with
q strong, clear brain, and heart as ten
der and as true as in her childhood,
And so, when those seven years have
passed, we find her walking by the side
of the beautiful lake, in the yellow hue
Of the Indian, and young man, tall
and strong, but with the same bold face
which beamed on her when she first saw
him in the cars so long ago. She was a
teacher now, and liked her voc ton,
though lie declaimed loudly against it.
Nota Bena.-Tom had been school
hoy and understood the species
She was standing before him with
downcast eyes, while he was telling her
in passionate words how he loved her.
He had borne down her first objections,
as to lack of wealth aud station, family
hopes and ties, and then she said:
Listen to me Tom. You ask me if
| love you, and l tell you yes. Stop !;
do not touch me. l cannot be your
wife. | have a mission which | cannot
divide with another. That mission is
to make the declining years of my dear
old grandfather happy, to lead him ten
derly to his last home, and keep the
grass green and the flowers bright above
his grave.
And l never thought of separating
you,' said Tom.
He could not leave his native place,
Tom. Here he was born, and here he
must die. He could not bear to see me
married, even to you, whom he loves so
well. 1t breaks my heart to say this,
Ton; but
There! cried generous Tom; Il was
brute to make you cry; but 1 love
you dearly, little one, and don't mean
to give you up. You have said the
word, 81 love you," and if we never
meet again that thought will give me
strength. l will wait your time,
And she gave him her hand, and they
walked on beside the shining lake. Our
Tom was not one Of the pulling sort of
lovers. He saw that the time was not
ripe, and waited.
1t was getting dusk when they came
up the path which led to the cottage,
and as they opened the door the sound
of the distant whistle announced the
coming of the express train. The old
man half started from his chair as Toms
manly figure appeared in the doorway,
but sank again with sigh. Il thought