National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-05

she went away.
Well, she got good place, and she
worked straight along, and sent home
money - seven hundred dollars - and
cleared off the mortgage, and took deed
of the place in her own name to make
sure against accidents. That was six years
ago or more, and to to-day you would
never know it was the same place. The
house is all fixed up, and there's new furn-
ture in it, and the deacon's as chrk as n
cricket, and proud of Lymp, you'd better
believe"
"lIe ought to be-" said Middleton
heartily.
"Didn't | tell you ?" asked the other
triumphantly. "And that amt 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'
hersell-and then You see that boy
back there with hor2"
Yes, 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 a noble girl
"Well, she's got the grit You can t
discourage her. She's bound to laugh
right through everything and that kind
always have goo y =. 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 II
backward gesture, between that velvet
cloak and the day took her to the Falls
with only one dress All bought with
her own earnings too"
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, unselish spirit. If the girl
had pleasure in these things, why should
she not enjoy them2 The driver went on,
lowering his voice to 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 glance of curl
osity.
The road was in a frightful condition.
Sometimes the wheels on one side sank to
the hubs in soft mud, while those on the
ether were tilted up on snowdrift. The
jolts and lurches were rs painful as alarm
ing and Middleton in his weak state
could hardly endure them. He leaned
back and closed his eyes, but the deadly
pallor of his face betrayed his suffering
In moment pleasant voice addressed
him. 1t was the iactory-girl, who said,
g You do not seem well, Sir. Perhaps
it is dsagreeable 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 well, be
lieve: only have been i'll, and the road
is roughn
why, it is dreadful for sick person.
Pray take this thick shawl of mine.
am sure you could make yourself more
comfortable with it..
"Thank you very much but would
rather not deprive you OF it,"
81 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 shaw
herself in manner SO comfortable as to
be its own recommendation. He had not
energy to demonstrate further, but leaned
back and again closed his eyes, thinking
the while how very handsome hers were,
and what genteel touch she had.
He lay thus for some time, paying little
heed to anything; but after a 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 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 a
weary hopeless look, which touched Mid
dleton's sympathies. Miss Tucker an
swered her questions with ready good ma
ture, soon drawing from her the fact that
she was on her way to Lowell in the hope |
of finding employment.
Have you any friends in that cityl'
she presently asked.
"No."
"But what will you do with your baby
if you work in the mills Z"
81 thought perhaps | 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-your
own folks?"
No'-rather hesitatingly. "Ihaven't
any folks-at least they don't care for me
now"
They rumbled and iolted 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 in
greater strength. She laughed merrlly
1t each fresh mishap, rallied the old lady
,ut of her fears, and helped her to
,traighten her smashed bonnet, which had
come to grief from the jolting stage; she
oked away her brothers i'll humor, and
produced from her sachel an orange which
luieted the crying baby, and gave its
yeary mother brief rest. Her unfailing
,ood-humor and cheerfulness had an ef-
ect upon all even Ilarvev partly forgot
lis weariness in the lively talk in which
he engaged him. She chatted with per
ect frankness and some disregard of gram
mar rules; but the quick wit and the
,hrewd common-sense she displayed made
lmends for much.
At last, in going down long hill, the
which the old lady had been
ooking for came: the stage sunk with
hidden lurch into deep rut, and one of
he wheels snapped like a. reed. Forum
.tely the vehicle was not upset, only stuck
asst |; but they could go no further. Here I