Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-21

quiet place where her money would sup
port Johnny and herself But no 4; this 4
good home,' she said, Il will WORK for I
still longer, and then the dear child will
have a fathers memory ever about him.
| AS l said, he had never earned cent sine,
he was first taken sick, but Thirza worke
| like a slave she never rested her butte
was the best in the market her egg baske
was always full and her crops seldom fail
ed. Two weeks before John died, she solo
some cattle and paid the balance of The
debt on the place, so her way was now cleal
to work and lay up something for the child
She worked as If she we're driven up ear.
ly and late; ; braiding hats by night churn.
ing, spinning, knitting, weaving, and sew
ing in winter, aud In summer, working
out of doors, or In, as seemed necessary
She has done this for years, for that boys
sake, and now he is twenty-one. Last week
he brought suit against his mother to Oh.
tain the property she had earned. He de.
clares she had no right to anything but her
'thrds," and he claims all the rest"
"How can he9' ] exclaimed indignant
ly.
"Wby, you see the law is on his side, and
few mont his ago he got acquainted with a
girl he wants to marry; her folks are a
miserable set and put her up to It. So
much for mans tender care. John always
called her pet names, and loved her, but
never did her the Justice TO secure for her
her own hard earnings. Yesterday, the
boy told his mother he would give her a
thousand dollars to leave the farm, and
give 1t up to him. 1t is her home and dear
er than all the world to her,"
This time uttered Poor Thirza," al
most like benediction.
"What can she do, poor woman"
Nothing" said grandpa, looking up
from his paper; "no more than others be-
fore her have done, only to submit she
raised the young virer, has given him a
good education, and all the money he want
ed to spend, and this Is the reward. Change
the laws If you want justice"
at is the hurt, Thirza says that Is the
worst to bear she had built so many hopes
on Johnny when he grew up, but now he
is her foe"
ais he respected, will any respectable
lawyer attend to the case2"
"Oh, yes, he is our town clerk, and talks
people over TO his side-man's ideas are too
apt to settle on the side of the law"
1t was hard to sit still and hear this, hard
er than they knew, for one who had rested
securely in the thought of "rights enough"
and 'justice everywhere"
This was no fancy sketch, be fore our very
door we had seen the suffering, brave, en-
during woman, and even now the sunlight
rested on the roof of the house she had
made his through infinite toll and weari-
ness.
Honor, shame, indignation and grief
strove for mastery in our hearts. Could
such things be, and Gods sun still shine?
Could such brave women be stabbed to the
heart. and no voice out of all the world cry
murder? 1t was too pitful went down
to the river and tossed one after another,
small pebbles into the bubblng rapids, but
neither the rush of the river, or the songs
of the birds, soothed me, for wrong had
been done, and over everything hung a
pail as l thought of Thirza.
Now, when cold winds whistle about our
city home, 1 think of the lonely woman,
still doing Chores" while her heart cries
out to him who has left her. "Coming,
coming, coming. g."-Americdn Ho mes.