Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-29

"That 1 can't say this is the first time
have either seen or heard ofthe young gen
teman."
"Burdon must have money"
"Undoubtedly. His songs were Away
successful, added to which he is goot
man of business and retains a right in al
he does. Then again, he is so careful al
most too careful, with his money. So
think there can be little doubt about hi
being well off,
"Do you know his family?"
"No; have questioned him good dea
lately on that point, for 1 could see that h,
was breaking up, but he would never an
swor. He seems to have a morbid fear o
poverty"
Our conversation was interrupted at thi,
point by our young guide stopping at {
small, dirty house. Drawing whistle
from his pocket he blew on it shrilly, anc
then did break down on the grating oveI
the area. These signals had the desired Of
feet of bringing an old withered crone to
the street door, who was, without excep-
ton, the ugliest specimen of humanity ]
ever beheld. In one hand she held thin
consumptive-l e-looking candle, which she
shaded from the wind in such manner as
TO throw its light fully upon her own hide
Gus features. She placed herself in the
doorway so we could not pass, and glared
at us with her pale, filmy eyes, and MUIR
INJURED and moaned in terrible manner.
Don't mind old Sycorax," said the boy
"she won't hurt because she can't; she
would if she could"
AS he spoke he showed the woman on one
side and led the way upstairs into a small
room, the walls of which were entirely
covered with books. On low couch op-
posite small fire lay Arthur Burden, his
thin white hand working nervouslv with
the coverlet, his ewes closed and his Inns
moving slowly. as he murmured tbe lines
of a love song.
The noise of our entering caused him to
start, and. turning round with n faint
smile. bo hold ont HE hond 70 rio1dinc
saying
"Well Fielding old bov .rbo anchor 10
weighed :, bnt Won oro moi alone, ;,
"Ob. yes . see. how ara Won old fol
low?" said Burden. but saw bv his man.
ner that he was disnIeased ot INV bo;rc,
there so. making some excuse 7 nren,reJ
to leave the room.
"Don't 90 old fel,ow >, said Rrrdor .1
confess 1 did not want Won at first but now
Won have come 7 rather Won would s,o,
You and have olwavs boor rr;orda sa
Won avos ,ro,, soo ,ho ,a p.a,S,a %
hight be able TO do me favor-
basteped to assnre hin, ,b.t orr,i,;,,1
could do for him would do with nleaxuro
Snow let me see what 7 can do ".said
Fielding feeling his nrlSo
81 can tell YOU the exact amount ~ renli-
ed Burden, with a faint smile. "You can
do-nothing!"
look ed in nv friends face and sa,y that
Burden was right.
"You see I know what is coming I have
felt it creeping on these six months or
more. was certain nothing could stop it,
and, as you see, 1 was right I have no
fear of death-the only regret have is for
poor little Charon there"
she your son?'
No; found him shivering on a door
step some eleven years ago. 1 don't think
he could have been much more than eight
cen months old. l had just lost my dog at
the time and felt lonely, and he, poor little
wretch, looked so lonely too that it struck
up sort of sympathy between us and l
brought him home.'
"But why on earth did you call him Cha
ron ?"
"Because he was the son of Erebus and
Nox; at least he was found in the night.
and don't know who his parents were
"What do you want us to do for this
boy?"
Bring him up. Please to hand me that
paper Thanks. This is my will, whereby
leave Cbaron property to over the amount
of five thousand pounds. / want you fel-
lows to become executors, if you will, and
see that the little imp is cared for. You
Will? thank you. Film the names and
l will sign it. There, thank goodness! that
Is over. You can alter his name when /
am gone, to anything you like. You must
take care OF him for my sake"
Have you no relations9" we asked.
None! You have often asked me for
my history, Fielding, and now that l am
near my end you shall have it. Now don't
stop me old fellow; l know what you
would say-I must not excite myself to
talk much. Iou see l am almost as good
a doctor as you are; but l feel that 1 can
not last another DAY, and as few hours
cannot make much difference, prefer dy-
lng my own way. may as well keep my
mind employed as not; so sit, old fellows,
and listen to what no one has heard but
yourselves"
We took our seats on each side of the
couch, and Burden commenced his histo-
ry:
"SiA and twenty years ago was clerk
in merchants Office. 1 can't say | liked
the business, but stuck to it, and got on,
for l loved my masters daughter, and
lOned nv hard work ono doy to ho ol,Io 4.