Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03

4 mother, and you cannot tell what consola-
lion we fodnd in that quiet evening hour.
+" But tke time came when we had to give
up our little home. could not earn enough
10 keep tte little household together, and so
had TO gsge up Willy and May. They were
adopted by anoble-hearted young lady Of large
fortune, whose constant thought was how
much good she might do in the world. She
was as kind to them as mother could have
been, and though they died only two years
after Of scarlet fever, they had learned to love
her so deerly that her name was the last word
on their Aps.
When we had left them at rest in the
quiet country churehyard, she insisted on
taking Alice home with her, and soon after,
she found work for me, too. She was going
to be married and | was to help make all her
pretty new dresses. Everything went as
merry as marriage bells could have made it
the house was full Of guests the last dress
was finished and hung away in the great
square closet, and Alice and | were having
gay, idlc times out among the trees and down
IN the garden paths. There had been no
shadow Of any III in her sky, when suddenly,
four days before the weddipg-day, news came
that the gentleman she had expected to marry
had exss y ons Of her hridemaids, and had
iefl AeSantry.
You are too young to appreciate what
such trouble is, bat you cap guess what her
grief must have been when tell you that her
beautiful hair turned gray in a single night,
and the enilos faded from her fair face, which
from that day to this has been growing older
aud fuller Of frowus and wrinkles, until To-
day she is only I'D Miss KetHrah"
Oh, mamma I'm so ashamed - said
Katie Aud "Oh, Mrs. Fairbanks, did she
really take care Of you when you we're little
and alone ?" asked Rose Arthur.
Yes, dear, smoothing back the black hair
from the flushed forehead she was second
mother 70 me, and ! was married under her
roof"
No wonder she is cross !" cried Jack,
with eyes suspiciously red. I'd be cross,
too, in her place, and | should just like to
thrash that fellow, whoever be was %
Everybody laughed. 1t was so funny to
think Of little Jack Dunham whipping a
grown-B man, but Mrs. Fairbanks looked
more serious than ever, and told him better
way to take her part was never to laugh again
at her odd ways, and to be kind and respect
ful wheaerer he met her.
You'ye taught me lesson, mamma, p"
said Katie, softly. I'll never make fun Of
anybody again, if it is only play
" That is right, my child. There are sell
dom any men or women who live alone in the
world and have curious ways but have had
some great sorrow OF disappointment to set
them apart from the happier half Of us, and
you cannot be too careful how you speak and
act"
Just then some one called Mrs. Fairbanks,
and leaning down to kiss Katie on her quiy-
ering lips, she went on into the house.
For a moment the children sat in silence
each waiting for the other to speak.
" I'll tell you what" cried Katie, eagerly
the April rain Of her tears chased by return
ing sunshine we have all made fun Of Mis-
Keturah, now let US turn about aud do some
thing TO make her happy -
" But what eau we do ?" asked three oi
four in breath She is 50 rich she DON
want anything we can give her"
She would care for love, maybe" sale
little Rose Arthur, shyly. Real, true love
mean
Yes" said Katie, pausing to give Rose
rantnrous little hug "of course she would
Shat e,l one of US ina&e her hite UdfnH
mas present something we can make or ear
ourselves
Yes, yes 20 cried chorus Of eager voice.
quite as ready to follow the right as the wron
way. And before they separated the pla
was really decided upon.
There were busy fingers and watchful eye
in Holly village for the next three months
and no child 10 the place was happier tina
/ Katie Fairbanks as she sat, day after day
under the pleasant shadow Of the grape-yine'
cheerfolly giving up her play hours to worl
on the beautiful cushion Of white and blu
velvet which was to be Miss Keturahs Christ
mas present
Jack Durham had written to his uncle
who was in Germany, asking him to brin
him golden canary when he came home, an
sending, to pay for it, his own bright net
dollar.
Rose Arthur, who had loved Miss Ketura
too well ever to laugh at her queer way
was knitting splendid white tidy for th
back Of her rocking-chair. 1t was an er
trely new pattern in Holly village, and wa
the admiration of all her young friends VIII
were in the secret,
1t would take too long to tell what eac
child wgs busy about, but their sef-impose
yet loving abors grew lighter and lighter I
the days went by, until the glad tweuty-dft
of December was almost there, and Mi
Keturah did not even guess at the surpri'
awaiting her.
Now, Miss Dobbins had a kind heart
, spite Of her abrupt ways as you will hay
guessed from Mrs Fairbanks story, and Il
tender recollectons of earlier Christmas day
clustering about her heart-of days when 81
was young and gay and light-hearted Of re-
holidays, when the big world had seemC
, brighter for twenty-four hours, and she ha
not known the bitter meaning of grief at
8 disappointment-touch her heart, and ST
resolved to make party for some Of tt
/ children.
Among those who were so fortunate as
receive an invitation were the children wh
had played that summer day in Katie Fai
banks garden, and new feeling Of shan
touched their hearts at the recollection.
; But when the day really came and th'
, were all gathered in the pleasant old-fashio
! ed parlor of Miss Dobbins house, there we
none but bright faces among them.
\ Jlk Durham had left his canary-as swe
ss6ger as one could desire to hear--out {
the yerandah, and did not bring it in uni
after supper. Then he came bravely in al
/ put it down in one corner, where it began
! sing before any of the girls could get the
presents uniastened and ready
whats that noise 7" asked Miss Ketura
. quickly.
J That's only my conscience talking" sa
> Jack, with a merry laugh "but | must ST
. my say last, because I'm the only boy here
Miss Keturah looked surprised, but had
time to answer him, for Rose Arthur was
T. her other side with both arms around HI
neck.
| "Just lean forward little bit," Ro
, whispered between a smile and tear.
want to see how this tidy looks on your pre-
r ty red chair"
; "Why, Rose Arthur, what have you be-
about3 Not making beautiful tidy Ill
4 that for an old woman like me !!