Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25
Tie Leisure Hour.
COURTF.vG NJ PROxX..


"Indced," said the deacon's wife. l
knew by that she hadn't heard word
had been saying.
"Why, yes" l repeated, a good deal dis
couragcd, for-I saw must begin again at
the very beginning-"she is more than a
hundred years old, and entirely destitute.
Yet she did not complain of anything but
the cold. She was formerly slave in Ken
lucky, but somehow strayed away up here,
and now has outlived everybody that ever
belonged to her. If L could manage to get
her in the Colored Womens Home for the
rest of her life, 1 should be glad. But as
she isn't resident of the city it will be
necessary to pay her board. A dollar n
week, Mrs. Hoyt thinks it is"
"Certainly, that would be the best thing
to be DONE" replied Mrs. Deacon, waking
up little. "Still, don't know what we
can do until we have called meeting of
the society,""
That was so much like her! If the YES
try had been on fire she would have stop
ped to call meeting of the society before
she would have ventured to throw on
dipper of water.
"But the poor creature is freezing and
starving" said I impatently. "Can't you,
as president Of the society, empower me to
give her at least one of those wadded sacques
we have on hand?'
81 don't know but ! might go as far as
that, though / suppose it isn't exactly in
ORDER" returned the deacon's wife, leaning
back in her chair, and smoothing the table
cover between her thumb and finger.
She seemed TO be medtating, so waited
for minute, and then she said abruptly
"What do you think OF Mr.. Brodhead,
Bella?"
"There l shouldn't wonder if he would
give us something handsome / exclaim-
ed, going down on my knees in my heart
TO the deacons wife for my injustice. "He
is man of means, and generous man,
I've always heard"
The deacon's wife looked puzzled.
"Oh your old colored womanP" said
she directly. 81 wasn't thinking about
her, was thinking Of you. Mr.. Brodhead
has very high opinion of you, Bella, did
you know it?'
"What do you mean, Mrs. Shackelford ?"
said /, as surprised as though the man in
tho moon had winked at me. For my
friends all know how | detest such talk.
And besides, / never considered Mrs.
Shack elford that sort of woman. Her at
tention is generally centred in the society
and her flower-garden.
But for once some other idea had taken
possession of her mind, and as her thoughts
always ran in grooves, she never could
harbor more than one at a time.
"Mr. Brodhead is a nice man, and a fine
looking man." she said, looking at me
sharply. "a man of means, and gener-
Gus man, as you say"
81 suppose So" replied, gathering my
shawl about me.
"Oh don't 60 yet, Bella. | was wanting
to see you, and | consider your dropping
in quite providential. The deacon and l
were speaking of calling on you this very
evening" said the deacon's wife, putting
out her hand TO keep me from rising "and
when saw your blue shawl turning in at
the Z lte, said to myself that's as marked
a token as Rebekah at the well, with the
pitcher on her shoulder. l haven't the go-
den earrings and bracelets to offer you, but
| have all the rest" she added, laughing
nervously.
Just then the deacon came in. Now there
is in the opinion Of his wife but one reason
why Deacon Shackeliord did not make the
world. lie found it already made. And
when he came in she looked up at him as
though Atlas had come, and she could safe
ly drop tho world on his shoulders, and go
OH picking up golden apples.
81 was just speaking good word for Mr.
Brodhead to Bella, deacon" said she.
"Ah! And what does Bella sayP" return
ed the deacon, looking as though 1t were a
question of investing in real estate, or of
the nrlco Of gold.