Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-04-30
Miscellany.
The Faithful Guest; or a Night OF
Danger,

shrNh
There vas someihing--I forgot what
to take grandfather aud grandmother
away from home one day in October of
the year lived with them in Burns IIol-
low. Ii may have been a funeral or some
relis iOus meeting for they both drove off
dressed in their best. in the gig, with old
Ajax harnessed 10 it, and after | had
tucked in gramma's iron gray silk skirt
aud ran back to the house for grampa's
speciaeles and had seen the gig vanish
the distance, felt lonely Burns Hol.
low was lonesome place at all times !;
and the handsome rambling Ean,ion,
which might have sheltered a regiment
had ghostly air about it when one walk =.
ed through the upper rOous alone.
There were but two servenis in the
kitchen, Hannah 0akes and the Irish lad
Anthony. | heard them laughing merri-
ly together, for, though Hannah was an
old woman, ,he was full of fun, and in
five minutes the door opened and Han
nah came in with the tray.
'Plcase Miss, said she, as she set it
down, may | run over TO Mapleton to.
night g.? My sisters daughter had boy
last night they say. aud | want to see it
nat'rally-it's .ie first I've ever had of
grand niece or nephew
Who brought the news? p | asked.
Anthony, Miss, said Hannah He
met George-that's my nicco's husband
when he was out after the COW, and told
him to tell Hannah she's great aunt"
You may CO. said | 'but don't stay
late. Grandpa aud grandma may be
away all night, and feel nervous. To
be sure there is Anthony, but | never re-
ly on him. BE certain not to stay late
| repeated this injunction with a sort of
fright stealing over me-a prescntiment
of evil, | might soy--and something
prompted me to add, Be back by nine.
Why, [ cannot say: but | felt as if by
nine, should be in some peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and after doing all
| required, went away, and | heard her
heavy shoes on the garden walk, outside.
Early as is vas, | had dropped the cur
tans and lighted tho wax candles on the
mantle, and | sat long over my tea, find
ing certain compauionsbsp in it, as wo-
men Of all ages will
l sat thus long time, and was started
from my reverie by rap at the door-a
timid sort of rap-so that knew at ono e
that it was not member of the house nor
an intimate frierd. [ waited expecting
Anthony to answer The doer, but finding
that he di4 net. went to 1t myself
1t had grown quite dark, and the moon
rose late that night At first | could on
ly make out crsuchlng figure at the bot
tom of the porch But when | spoke it
advanced, and by the light of the hall
lamp | saw black man. | had always
had sort Of fear of negro, and in
shrunk away but as did so,
he spoke in husky whisper. This is
Massa Morton's, isn't it?
Yes, [ replied, but grandfather is
out
l retreated as he advanced.
pleas miss" he said, Judge B. sent
ME here. lie said massa 'ud help me on.
Let me stay here night, miss. Is trab-
bled five days since left him. HidiD
like. is awful hungry, 'pearc like I'd
drop, and ole massa's arter me For the
lub OF heaben, Miss, let me hide some-
where's, and glib me jes' crust. Massa
Morten 'ud help me and its kept me up.
Missus will Know
| knew that grandfather had given sue.
cor to some of these poor wretches before
put ! felt that might be doing wrong by
stranger in his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within me.
At last | said you have note from the
Judge, l suppose sr?'
Il had some wrtin' on paper, said the
nan, but rs lost it, de night it rained
10. All miss, Is tellin the truf-Judge
tent me, sure as Is sinner. rs been
,elped along so far, and pears like | must
,et to Canady. Can't 60 back noways.
Nife's dare, and the young uns. Got clear
year ago. Miss. III pray for you ebry
lay of my life ef you'll just be SO good to
ne. Tank you miss
For somehow when he spoke of wife
md children. | had stepped back and LEI
i'm in.
1t was the back hall door to which the
ap had come, and the kitchen was close
t hand. led him thither. When |
aw how worn he was, how wre,ched, how
lis eyes glisteued, and how under his
ough blue shirt his heart beat SO that you
ould count the pulses. | forgot my eau
ion. brought out cold meat and bread,