Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-01-03

4 Mrs Willis eays tain from Sally
aint and she broke the seal eager
IS, ana read, while Elsie hung up her sun
bonnet, and came and sat down at her feet
looking up with questioning gaze while sha
read Presently look Of anguish came
over the face Of the woman, and she leaned
forward on her hands. rocking hack and forth
slowly Elsie sat oni.'ly for P minute, and
then she whispered
- Dear grandma. il lt irom uncle Dick ''
Uncle Dick, child why, who ever
called him that? who said Dick ? Nyha ever
told you of him -" dwelling with lOndness
upon the name which in happier years she
had repeated 30 often that the sound Of ii
now came 60 her like the sci. sweet strain.
os hclf-forgotten mUsie, heard family a. 6rst,
then coming nearer and heard NOR g.
tiuctly.
Airs. Willis, grandma Esd sue said he
Ha5 as handsome hoy -heeves saw Was
he handsome -
a Handsome yes, my Dick war Oh
child, what else did sha say p
. Not much she always talks. you know.
said he used % lC proud spirit 1,
aud thGt no one Lnew where he was
" Oh Dick But she does Mt know
/ y here this letter came from, does she 80
80 No; she only happened to speskof him.
1ou have never told me ~ him. zraudIna
Is he bad man
/ Ny BIck a had mau Uu, what d pretty
| boy But then, he Is mt q little hoy now
aud my arms are empty, save YOU, my little
Elsie. He - a wicked man, child You
must q a-k questions and the tender
light faded ont Of her pale face, and hard
expression made the features look grim and
hard
Ind all through that bright June mJ-u
/ tnS. while the birds were singing IN tie great
naples In the door-yard, and the sun lay iu
| square, narrow patches 90 the kitchen door.
| the old woman sat, the same hard expression
cn her face with folded hands ,irockiBg back
ami forth Sometimes, when Elsie would
creep into her lap and kiss tho thin, tremu
1 lou5 lips, "a softer expression would come
! into the brown eyes for q moment. But only
| for moment, and Elsie though a chiid,
/ kncw that some great sorrow which had
been long buried had this day come T. life
ami she puzzled her little head over il until.
IN answer to her childish Trayar. Go3 gave
her wisdom, a. he gigeth 90 all who ask
literally, AMI uPbraideth not.
.a.PIre a.
slowly the morning wore ou- ias r.d
hoU5e-sat las sleeping en tue broad door
stone the lazy sunshine vot poured i'm
through the dccp east window aud the tall
clock in the corner had steadily measured of
two hours ere either spoke. Then Elsie -aii
r Grandma. shall | get dinner f''
* it So late, chili' anI she ia, t-.-
down aud rose wCarjly, as it all her stT.a-..
had suddenly left her.
When dinner Wa ready. Mr. N -..
blew the dinner horn and Elsie wen; down
H. the orchard. - she aiwavs did e. me-
her -randiatbcr- Bot when ne sat her 1u
his shoulders for her ride, sine could only put
her arms around his neck and say.
20 Dear grandpa -'mething dreadful hl-
h-r.~aed
s, hv. blossom wh9, is IT, What can
Il he that makes my PEI 80 -sAerf Has
Grimes caught robin ami dcgaured ii or
has Your ncN doll hsj tumble ami broke
her little mex f' and IN mimiery he held
hcr out AMI made Ferv grave face 9. her.
iu-t to -how her how she looked And Elsie
Hac some cider poople, grown suddenly
usiamcj ni alI ler Ht;lc veJsti0ns before
some great ssrrHN. -4.i.
&. Please ioar't -rauiFl ludeei. il ,-u't
such a silly thing as tlle. lm afraid yoE
think me only iittle goose, aui not w.-s
enough TO be ot any comfort 20 you.
o. hv. what II ail- my littls EsIic
q. don know iu-t what il j., but grand
lag .ot a letter tbiS morning. aud she has
had such & terrible .5os ever since ara
quite SURF tHe letter wa tr"m Uncle Dies
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ms, ~.
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world. -.a said Yes. hEc that 'he vasu't
19g p IS, 9aiy great wicked nsn. aud
ta.t ulsu { a-N amy mare quest. MS Is +;
-, gran iplt'
80 lis r.-.. ~ am r...... a.
s-.,, .,9rI,--- hea--..15i min. f..-.. wars
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t1'-..t 80 -, s,.,,5,5..l - aTi IN
,,st,,-,l his ster, .enss 1r ins+iss ba5 nor
.,nr, ,,.oy.,-e5 even tbou,b r. was bis own
son VINO stood knocking al his heart. Elsie
vas frightened for an instant. but summon
in.r all bor courage. she crept into his Ian.
ana ls-iny bcr sat* chc.l, against bis. said.
=. Don i vas; love him. grandma o.
Il dis u1c.. child. but he wr5u,.i ,ss
bittsr,-- bitterly
.. L. he vaur enemy - s.ud =ns boxed
irsnkIv into his gray eve
".Ycs
!. Rnr ru.n-t W.. l.v. a,r saa,aiss7