Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-19
az IS'O.v.r.,' .sT TuR Borr0.u or
IT."
ny ELENoR KIRK.

last growing out OF patience with this tex
"A woman at the bottom of it, 1t woul
be strange in this world, mado up, as ia
as we are aware, of nothing but the tw
sexes, If woman would not OCCASIONAL,
be found at the bottom of a scrape. A wo
man, mind you, is never accused of bein,
at the bottom of anything good It is th
injustice OF the thing that makes mo an
cry. Now there are hundreds of us poo
devils who owe all we arc, all we have
and all we can hope to become. in tbi,
world or the next to the unselfsh love o
woman"
The gentleman's face was flushed, aud be
spoke very warmly and feeingly, so much
so that his wife, rocking her baby to seer
In the further corner of the room. inouir.
ed:
"But why should you care, John? II
has always been SO, End always Will bc
We don't think much about it now. be.
cause we have been taught TO expect it,"
"But you should care! and you should
fight for each other more than you do
There is one chapter in my life history that
| have always kept locked in my heart
but tonight I feel as If it were my duty to
| open ii for your inspection and do il for
the love of woman-for the love of one wo-
man who made me what am worthy to be.
the husband of good woman"
"Why, john" said Mrs. Havila.d softly
| approac hing-bnby still held tight to her
bosom-"You absolutely frighten me-"
Lets have the story" said the rest of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated and John commence
ed, at first little timidly, hut gaining con-
fidenco as he proceeded.
"When first came to New York at the
age af twelve years, to seek my fortune, I
can call myself prccocious chap without
danger of being accused of an unusual de-
gree of seil-appreciation was quick
to learn everything, the bad as well the
good. My employer used prolane Ian
guage. I picked up the oaths he dropped
with Il naturalness that surprised myself
even. The boys in the Office all chcwed
tobacco. This was a little the hardo lob
ever attempted, but after weeks of nausea
and indcscribable stomach h-wrenchinos. |
came of victorious, and could get away
with my paper day withthe best of 'cm."
"Oh, John,' interrupted Mrs. Haviland,
her pretty face all drawn up into knots.
"Truc, every word Of it, continued the
speaker
zone afternoon I was sent with note
from my employer to a house in the upper
part Of the city. hadn't anything 10 read.
but l had plenty of tobacco, and with that
| proposed TO entertain myself during the
two or three hours must spend in the pas
sage. For some distance | did not notice
who were beside me, but by and by lady
said very softly and pleasantly, 'Would you
please little boy be more careful. l am go
ing to party this afternoon, and l should
bate To have my dress spoiled
Il looked into her face. II was the sweet
est face ever saw. Pale, earnest, and low
ing, to my bcyi,h heart it was the counte-
nance of AN angel"
"What in the world did you say" inter
ruptc.l Mrs. lIaviland, her bright eyes fill
ing with tears as she saw how the memory
Of this beautiful woman affected her hus-
band.
SAY! There was very little l could say.
/ think all did for some time was to look.
| managed to dispose of the tobacco, how
ever, and wiped my mouth very carefully,
all OF which felt certain she saw and men
tally commented upon.
Have you mother, little boy?' she
next asked in the same low tones.
"'No ma'am, no father
"'Brothers and sisters p
Neither, ma'am.'
Then the little boy is all alone in the
world p
"'All alone, ma'am.
"'IIow long has his mother been dead p
and the dear woman locke away from my
face and waited until could speak.
"'Two years. answered.
"'And you loved her? came next.
"'Dearly,' was all could say. She was
silent for moment, and then said so
sweetly-oh! ] shall never forget it-'and |
what do you think your dear mother would |
say-how do you think she would feel-to |
know that her little boy was guilty of such |
a disgusting habit as this p pointing to NV |
cheek whore the tell-tale cud had yainly |
tried to stand its ground.
" i must leave now,' she continued, but |
here is my card, and If you can come TO |
me most any evening shall he glad to see |
you, and perhaps we can be of service to |
each other.'
"She gave me her little glovcd hand. and
10 my dying day, shall never forget the
sensations of that moment. l could not
bear to part with her; without her. felt
that could do nothing with her | could
stow to mans estate-a man in the truest
aaE lan
bacco never passed my lips.
AS soon rs | could muster courage 1
called upon the lady. Well do I remem-
Der how my heart beat, as | waited in the
elegant paror for her TO come down and
how awkward | felt as followed my guido
% her private sitting room. Here she got
1t every point in my life, and before |
Dade her good bye IL was arranged that |
should spend two evenings each week at
ler house, and was to read and study ON
hese occasions just what she thought best.
mo lover ever looked forward to meet
ngs with the mistress of his heart any
more ardently than l did to these evenings
with my friend.
81 grew careful of my personal appear
lnce- careful of my conversation, and stroYe
n every way TO be worthy this noble friend
'hip Two years passed in this delightful
nanner-two years that made me. My
riend not only attended to my studies,
striving also all the while to SOW the right
lind of spiritual seed, but she procured
ne business situation with a particular
riend of hers, where remain to this day.
Nobody but God knows what owe this
woman. During the last three months of
hose two years, noticed that she grew
pale and thin; she never was
into speaking of herself. Some
lines when / would ask her IL she felt
vorso than usual, she would reply:
"'Oh, not am only little tired-that
) ALL
nnna aVopinrr ebn Lont ,,,o L.. -.