Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-03-01

me0G.
eyes, Yes, said Arthur, slowly aris-
ing from his chair, will go with
you. It can but kill me and L might
as well die as live, if I must live at this
poor, suffering rate"
1t was a bright, cool October day,
and Arthurs first emotion, upon emerg-
ing into the open air on foot, was of
fear and trembling; but with cheerful
conversation the doctor brought him up
out of the shuddering slough, and after
time the youths blood began to circu-
late more freely, and he breathed more
easily.
"Where in the world are you going,
Doctor?"
They had turned down from Broad
way, and were entering upon that slum
where once was Collect Pond.
"To find q friend, Arthur. Be not
alarmed. Surely, you should feel safe
with me-"
But this place,-O, it is awful !!
Where are we?"
"This is what is called 'The Five
Points. Were you never here be-
fore ?"
"Never."
"Then you have missed great study.
Here, step carefully"
"But-Doctor, you are not going in
here ?" ..... .....
eyes. Don't be alarmed. Follow
me. I promise you that all shall be
we'll"
It was through a narrow, dark, dirty
alley-up a fight of rickety outside
steps-in by broken doorway-then
up dangerous stairs-then through q
gloomy, reeking passage-and finally
they had entered square chamber,
with blackened walls and ceiling, in
which was one bed upon bed frame,
another bed upon the floor, and a small
charcoal furnace in the narrow fire.
place. There were two or three stools,
and two old boxes which might serve as
seats. The light struggled in through
a window, half the panes of which were
of paper, and revealed upon the higher
bed man wasted almost unto death
with consumption by the side of the
bed woman sitting and upon one of
the boxes two children-a boy and a
girl.
, For time Arthur Latour was like
one paralyzed. 1t was to him as a pest
| house, and he felt as one might feel who
had suddenly trodden upon a deadly
serpent.
, "Well, well, broke in the doctors
CHEEKY voice" how is it to-day ?"
"Ah, good sir-dear, kind friend
the end is nigh" 1t was the woman
who answered.
ga better end than can ever know
| in life, whispered the man upon the
bed. The whisper was hoarse and hol-
low, and the effolt produced a spas
: modic cough.
The doctor approached the bed and
| the woman made way for him.
" You are not gaining strength, are
| you, Eben?"
Ono, Doctor. I can't deceive myself
|; any more, [ know I am dying. But
who came with you? Didn't I see an
, other ?"
: Meantime the woman had met the
| doctors companion, and at this moment
| had recognized him.
arthur Latour" she exclaimed, in
glad surprise. Good bless you, sir,
for coming to us in such an hour p
Arthur beheld woman yet young
and comely, though pale and hollow
eyed, and poorly clad and when she
, had spoken he recognized her. He re-
membered, in his college days, young
, man who had built boats for the stu
, dents, and who had piloted them in
| their fishing voyages upon the coast.
That man was Eben Burroughs. And
, he remembered Eben's wife, Sarah,
| then fair-faced and buoyant, who had,
( in those other days, entertained him
often at her frugal board when q days
sport had kept him at the river And
!, he remembered how kind the boatman
and his wife had always been to him,
and how many times they had done
their best to please him.
| And one other thing Arthur Latour
remembered. Heremembered golden
haired, violet-eyed, sunny. faced maiden
l "A relative of Sarah's-whom he had
: met at the boatman's cot, and who had
: shined upon his path like star that
= CLEANS with heavenly influence.
> And this woman was Sarah Bur-
roughs, and the man upon the bed was
her husband. The children he remem-
/ bered, one as a pratling urchin, and the
OuIlCL 40 ali lllLduU III lUo lllOUu6I B dEI0B.
, " Arthur Latour - echoed the sick
, man, making an attempt to raise him
self upon his elbow.
"In mercy's name," cried Arthur,
> when he could find speech, "what's all
this Mrs. Burroughs - Eben 10,
my soul what does it mean?"
my friends" said Doctor Tapley,
. "Arthur didn't know whom he was to
l meet when brought him here. This
} is the first knowledge he has had of
> your misfortune.
I'm heavens name, pleaded Arthur,
grasping the woman by the hand, all his
l true manliness Of heart and soul com
j ing to the surface and showing itself in
word and look, chow has this come to
pass? Why do I find you thus ?"
2 He sat down upon one of the stools,
[ and Sarah Burroughs told him the
l story. Her husband had received an
offer which had induced him to come to
the great city. In time the party for
l. ,ropJvaJ fo;IoI oxI II