Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-19

room began TO wall, and we heard the mans
heavy footsteps pacing back and forth, back
and forth, over the small, clear strip Of his
uncarpeted aoor.
l had conhded to Dolly. who, having been
engaged in another part Of the building had
heard nothing Of il, all the curious story, and
she paused from time to time, as she set out
the tea.things with a serious face, and listened
to the pitful sounds.
" l can't stand this any longer 7" she broke
out at last. 4" am going TO see about 1t.
It's dreadful. That baby is hungry, know.
and it's ten chances to one If its fatner ever
dreams what the matter is, or has anything
10 feed it with if he does"
But he locked himself in," said I. " Do
you suppose he will like to be disturbed 2"
can't help what be likes" said she des-
perately, am not going to have that child
starve before my very eyes"
And Dolly, her blue eyes big with deter.
mination, and looking as solemn as if she
really did behold the infant in the agouies Of
starvation before her, started off, and 10 a
moment had crossed the ball and was knock
ing at the opposite door. Presently she came
back 10 triumph, very rosy and sparkling,
with the small stranger in her arms.
Poor little sing" said she, kissing its
suggestion Of a mouth, " it is half dead Its
father looked ready to drop, and was trying
to feed il cold milk with teaspoon. Take
il. Hannah I"
50 took IT, and myowu young SON. hav.
ing had his cry out aud fallen to sucking hi.
thumbs in infaite content, gave him his
FIRST lesson in practical benevoence by diyid.
ing his supper with this felow-traycer in the
fearful vale Of babyhood.
The little creature took its nourishment
with the utmost relish, and soon fell asleep
and in the absence Of suitable accommoda.
tions, | gave it to Dolly to hold.
Supper being quite ready, Fred came 10
and lighted up, aud | proposed to him to
invite the solitary man in the next room
to share our meal. After good deal of
urging the invitation was at last accepted,
aud he followed Fred in, looking, as Dolly
had said, ready to drop" and so sad and
worn that my heart warmed toward him at
ouce. Dolly did not come to the table, but
seated herself in corner with the sleeping
baby on her knee. Dolly has a sweet face,
aud as she sat there half in shadow, with the
lamp-light just bringing out and sottenng
its outlines could not help thinking how
beautiful she looked There are SOME women
who are especially created to be mothers.
Ii is written all over them in unmstak able
characters. 1t would seem like break in
heavens order If they missed of that destiny
And as noticed the tender droop Of the
lids and the content lurking in the corners
OF her pretty mouth, it occurred to me then
for the first time, that Dolly was one of
them. A baby became her wonderfully.
Perhaps it occurred to some one else too
for as our forlorn guest looked at his child
resting peacefully under the gentle over-watch-
ing of that bright young face, some of the
trouble cleared away from his own, and when
Fred begged him to remain awhile after tea
was over, he did not refuse.
We found him most intelligent and agree
able young mana merchant Just starting u
little business for himself. not rich of course,
self-made. with most Of the struggle Of life
before him, but possessing fund Of common
sense and commercial knowledge that were
more, Fred said, than capital to any man.
After this introduction, we insisted on ma
king him comfortable in one of our chambers
for the night, while Dolly gladly took upon
herself the charge of the baby.
The mystery Of our simultaneous occupa.
tion Of the house was explained next day. 1t
seems that our landlord, owner Of an immense
quantity Of real estate, was very old and in
his dotsgc. TIE agent who transacted all his
business having been i'll for week or two,
the octogenarian took upon himself the man
agement Of affairs, with the result, 10 one
case, which have described. AS there were
no papers taken out, and duplicate keys, the
old mans inadvertanco had not been dis.
covered.
Our fellow.tenant remained with US as our
boarder for a week, at the expiration OF
which he found pretty little cottage at the
other end of the town, and his housekeeper
being in condition to resume her duties, re-
moved thither Dolly, who had devoted her
self 10 the baby with the utmost enthusiasm,
gave it up with very rueful face and uu.
bounded caresses, but not, as it proved, for
ever.
She called on me yesterday, airy and
bright in her modest bridal array, and lead
Ing that seIfsame baby by the hand. 1t IL
two years old now, and she has been married
= month. We we're chatting gaily on, when
she glanced about her, aud her eyes sottened
and grew dreamy. live in the same house
still, aud it was the very room-scene Of that
memorable tea.
"What do you think" she asked suddenly,
" Henry said to me last night?"
Something very sweet, of course" ]
answered.
Don't be foolish, Hannah" she replied,
bushng and smiling little. I'VE were 10
the sitting-room. | lad just undressed
Henry and was cuddiug him awhle-he is
50 cunning in his night-gown-when all at
once Henry broke out; he had been so still.
thought he was reading. i don't think,
Dolly, said he, it was your face, though
that is lovely, nor the coffee, though it was
delicious | think it must have been the
baby" Aud Dolly caught up "the baby"
aud Rugged it as though it was very pre-
cious baby indeed.
Certainly, | have always been of Mr..
Henry Carter's opinion. 1t was the baby
without doubt.
Freaks OF Panther.