Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-09-18


other Of Doremy's intended, James Judson,
who died nine years before, Just when he'd
got his new house dsse. and the wedding day
was sel"
II must have been hard for her TO take
care of them and support herself too" |
said.
at was she shaved hard, you might say.
But she seemed 10 do pretty we'll. | have
an idea the Lord kind Of prospered her after
she took them orphans When her mother
went blind, folks said she'd have to give em
up; but she didn't"
Blind how awful !" with a murmur Of
sympathy.
"Ycs, it was a nerve trouble. and came
suddenly. Deacon Quimby went over to rea.
son with her. Says he, l'm afraid you've
been stif-necked in this matter, Doremy
now you'll be made to see them twins as a
burden, and have to put en- where they be-
long Doremy answered, just as quiet |
look at IL different, says she lfthe Lords
took mothers sight, He's sent her two pair OF
young eyes TO grow up in her use while mine
have to be tied to my needle. The boys are
her best comfort. Step in and read mother a
psalm, deacon, tbatll do her good more'n
talking
The deacon did read to Susan Fletcher
spell, and came away clearing his throat as
if he had a dreadful cold. Next day he sent
her up a bushel of apples. Folks said it
was the irst present he ever made, but that
isn't hardly likely" said Mrs Blatchford,
mildly. Doremy was right, though her
mother had solid comfort in those boys. She
taught em to read, too
ITO read ~ exclaimed
It's fact" replied Mrs. Batchford, en-.
joying my surprise. "She knew pretty
much of the Bible by heart, and Doremy
would set 'em at some chapter and tell her
what it was, so she could correct EN- as they
read 1t used to be kind of like a picture to
see the old lady setting in her chair, with
them two chubby rogues leaning against her
and spelling out the good words as sober as
ministers, and Doremy sewing away as fast
and smiling to herself. Doremy wasn't never
handsome, but | always thought she grew
better favored after she had the care of them
little ones. Somehow there is something real
beautifying in loving and doing 'tisn't q
skin deep prettiness | mean, but kind of a
look folks has to admire"
If they have the eyes to see it," | sug.
gested, as the good woman gazed meditativey
over her spectacles, as if bringing up the
vision of some faces so beautifed."
Folks mostly has the eyes; the shutting
em up is what hindefs their seeing" re-
piled she, briskly. But maybe you're
tired. | never know when to stop talking,
especially if it's about Doremy and the boys"
There's no romance about the story, but
seems to me it tells considerable for one
womans patience aud courage, and smartness
too. There's saying about old maids chill
drcn, and must say rather expected Dore-
my d bring 'em up either to have their own
way in everything, or never to have it at ALL
But they're just right healthy, well-mannered,
and loving their Aunt Dory, as they call her,
just as much as they'd ought to love her.
And that's saying considerable" added Mrs
Blatchford, with emphasis, as she hustled out
of the room obediently to the old clocks
wheezy signal of the tea-hour, which, like the
laws OF the Medes and Persians altered not
in this primitive region all the year round.
Three summers went by before quiet little
Cherrywood again held me as seeker after
rest and refreshment among its hills and hos
ptable rustic people. Once more Widow
Blatchiord opened her door to me and iu-
stalled me monarch Of her keeping-room,
and 'tha h-sasy rifamtn- -hovo n 7. ~as
not to her displea> re that one of my first in
quiries should relate to Dorcma Fletcher and
her adopted children.
There, | knew you wouldn't forget about
them !" said she, delightedly. al thought
you'd like to hear Of it when things happened
as they did. You remember told you how
well Doremy trained the boys. Well twas
the fall after you left that Squire Luce's wife
died, and along the fall after he spoke to
Doremy. Said he'd noticed how well she
brought up Johnny and Jimmy, and he had
seven boys and girls needing to be taken in
hand, and--well the upshot was Doremy
could be Mrs. Luce for saying so. What did
she think of it? ." don't know" says she,
kind of flushed up but steady spoken.
"'Tisn't exactly my idea Of marriage to make
just a convenience Of it. And can't say
that | feel calling toward your children as
did to my boys." "WeIl,' says the squire,
can't you take it as a kind of duty
Besides, | calculate my wifel be considera-
bly, respected and have as good as the best"
" How about Jimmy and Johnny?" says
She "Wel," says the squire again, about
the boys-I calculate to do well by them,
of course. Might bind out one, and let the
other help on the farm, guess. They're old
enough to work considerable" He talked
spell longer, and Doremy listened, quiet as
ever. Then says She " thank you kindly,
Squire Luce, but don't 60 to no house that
isn't open to my boys too. Do you think I've
loved 'em and worked for EN- all these years
to turn 'em off now for seven strangers
And you expect silk dresses will make it easy.
Furthermore she says, Z" | amt very young
now, but do hold to loving being the ouly
ground for folks to marry on, and that's out
of the question for you and me-"
The squire was real provoked but my
his feelings wasn't nothing to the feelings of
other folks when they found out about it -
Singular how interested everybody is in the
settlement of what don't concern but two
people, isn't it ?" said Mrs. Blatchford taking
breath after her eagerly told story.
d" So she and the boys live as they did p
said.
That's the best of it," said my smiling
hostess. " Along back, two months or so,
when everybody'd got tired of berating Dore-
my for throwing away her bread and butter,
and sacrificing horself aud her blind mother
to those boys, stranger came to town. He
was nice appearing man from the West and
began to make enquiries all round for any
family by the name of Hapgood Come to
cypher it all out why he was Eben Hap
goods brother, and own uncle to Doremys
twins. He'd worked along until he was toll
eraby rich, and concluded to come eastward
and hunt up his brothcr-neyer expected not
to find him alive you see.
" Well he was just delighted with the boys;
seemed as If he couldn't make enough Of 'em.
His mind was set upon taking 'em home with
him, and who would gainsay it He was
rich, had no children, and was their next of
kin. Doremys heart was like to break, but
she faced the trial. ought to feel it
Providence, said she, | suppose They
are getting to need better advantages than |
can give 'em mothers failing, and | can't