Connecticut western news., 1872-07-12


 never know it was the same place. The house is all fixed up, and there's new furn- iture in it. and the deacon's as chirk as a cricket, and proud of Lymp, you'd better believe"
 "He ought to be-" said Middleton heartily. "
 "Didn't I tell you p asked the other triumphantly. "And that ain't half. She hires girl to wait on her mother, and she's sent the younger children to school -she never had any chance for schoolin' then You see that boy back there with her9'
 "Yes, 1 noticed him.''
 "Well, that's her brother John; all the boy the deacon ever had. He's seventeen, and smart. Lymp's putin him through college, going to make doctor of him, she says"
 "She is noble girl"
 "Well, she's got the grit. Yon can't her. She's bound to. laugh right through everything; and that kind always have good luck. Not proud neither, though she's got money in the bank, and can afford to have things nice now. Some difference" he continued, proudly. with a unchWdIu SoS6uIo, Oob"o0A Iudb Volf0o cloak and the day I took her to the Falls with only one dress. All bought with her own earnings too.'' ...-e ! Middleton did not smile: he felt re- buked. Even the velvet cloak and dress hat in the stage-coach became respectable to him in connection with that cheerful, courageous, unselfsh spirit. If the girl had pleasure in these things, why should she not enjoy them9 The drivor went on, lowering his voice to a tone still more confidential tone.
 { The coach stopped to let off four log drivers, and Middleton gladly ava;led him. self of the seat they vacated, it being more sheltered from the cold wind than the high one he had been occupying. This movement brought him face to face with the owner of the laugh, and he could not help surveying her with a glance of curi- osity.
 The road was in frightful condition. Sometimes the wheels on one side sank to the hubs in soft mud, while those on the other were tilted up on snow-drift. The jolts and lurches were as painful as alarm could hardly endure them. He leaned back and closed his eyes, but the deadly pallor of his face betrayed his suffering. In a moment pleasant voice addressed him. It was the factory-girl, who said, ]. You do not seem we'll, Sir. Perhaps it is disagreeable to you to ride backward. You are welcome to my seat, if you like to change"
 "You are very kind," said Middleton, surprised. "The seat is very we'll, be- is rough" ...,..-. ..-.-.s
 "Why, it is dreadful for sick person. Pray take this thick shawl of mine. I am sure you could make yourself more comfortable with it.
 "Thank you very much; but I would rather not deprive you ot it." 1---z--. .-- sI do not need it, Sir; my cloak is very warm; and you can make yourself a pillow of it. Please take it ;" and she leaned forward and arranged the shawl herself in a manner so comfortable as to be it's own recommendation. He had not energy to remonstrate further, but leaned back and again closed his eyes, thinking the while how very handsome hers were, and what a genteel touch she had. He lay thus for some time, paying little heed to anything but after while his attention was attracted by the talk of those in front of him. The pale woman with the baby was questioning Miss Tucker concerning Lowell and its factories. She had g timid, nervous manner, and spoke softly, as if frightened at the sound of her own voice. She had evidently been pretty once, but now her face had 3 weary hopeless look, which touched Mid dleton's sympathies. Miss Tucker an- swered her questions with ready good na- ture, soon drawing from her the fact that of finding employment.
 "Have you any friends in that city? she presently asked. f~
 tsNo."
 "But what will you do with your baby if you work in the mills 2"
 "I thought perhaps I could get some one to look after him, if had the luck to find work"
 "Haven't you any friends where you come from that would take him-youl own folks2" .- -H --. "No"-rather hesitatingly. "Ihaven't any folks-at least they don't care for me now"
 They rumbled and jolted along, the road growing more difficult with every mile till, indeed it was nearly impossible.
 But discomfort and annoyance only seemed to bring out Lymp Tucker il greater strength. She laughed merrily at each fresh mishap, rallied the old lady out of her fears, and helped her te straighten her smashed bonnet, which ha6 come to grief from the jolting stage; she joked away her brothers i'll humer, ant produced from her sachel an orange whicl quieted the crying baby, and gave it weary mother brief rest. Her unfailins good-humor and cheerfulness had an eff feet upon all; even Harvey partly forgo his weariness in the lively talk in whicl she engaged him. She chatted with per feet frankness and some disregard of gram mar rules; but the quick wit and th shrewd eommon-sense she displayed mad, amends for much.
 At last, in going down long hill, thu catastrophe which the old lady had beel looking for came: the stage sunk with sudden lurch into deep rut, and one o the wheels snapped like reed. Forum ately the vehicle was not upset, only stucl fast but they could go no further. Her Twas 8 cheerful state of things! The near rest house was half mile away. and the had the alternative of walking it throug the mud or waiting there in the bleal March wind for an indefinite time till an other conveyance was found. The forme course was plainly the wise one, and al scrambled out accordingly. Lymp Tucke drew up the skirt of her gay silk dres. thereby making liberal display of ankle and under-garments, but the comely shap of one and the spotless neatness of tn other made it exousable. Then, takin possession of the kicking baby, and biddin her brother give his assistance to Middle ton, she led the way across the fields tn whole company taking up their line ( march behind her.
 Arrived, after considerable difficulty, { the farmhouse, they had the, satisfactio of learning that they must wait at leas two hours for the repair of the broke