Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-01-06
Mrs. Williams New Years
Gift.

clustering night. The wind dashed the
frozen sleet against the sturdy walls Of
the Red Stone Farmhouse, making the
fire that was burning in the large old
fashioned kitchen seem doably grateful,
around which was gathered Farmer
Williams, his wife and four children.
The weather bronzed face of the
farmer has care-worn, discontented
look He is one of those who make
haste to be rich and though surround
ed with many blessings, and every rea-
senable want is supplied, at the close of
the old year finds no surplus in his
purse, his heart instead of being lift
ed up with gratitude, is filled with re-
pinings.
His gentle, meek -browed wife is sit
ting beside him. Her countenance wears
look of chastened sorrow, and tears
glisten in her eyes as they wander to a
corner of the room where stands vacant
cradle, from which smiled, week ago,
the rosy checked, bright eyed boy, upon
whose little grave, tonight, the snow is
drifting heavily.
The long silence was broken by
heavy knock at the door.
Farmer Williams opened it, revealing
a respectable, middle-aged colored man,
who held carefully in his hand a cover
ed basket.
"Does Mrs. Williams live here % he
asked
/ ''She does
"Thc lady who buried child yester-
day ?'
"Yes."
"Well, here is New Years present
for her
Thrusting the basket into the farmer s
hands, he turned and walked quickly
down the road. where could be dimly
seen the outlines of a covered sleigh,
from which came the faint sound of ST.
fed sobs.
Bewildered and astonished, Farmer
Williams carried the basket into the kit
chen and set it upon the table.
AS he did SO he was startled by a
plaintive cry ; and upon opening it,
there lay lovely boy, apparently about
three months old.
Farmer Williams sprang TO the door,
but the sleigh and its occupants were
nowhere to be seen.
In the mean time Mrs. Williams and
the children gathered around the basket
with exclamations of surprise and pleas
ure. AS the babe saw the sweet face
that bent over it, it suddenly stopped
crying, and smiling, stretched out its
little hands to her. The heart of the
bereaved mother yearned towards it, and
taking it up in her arms she pressed il
fondly to her bosom. Just then hel
husband came back from his fruitless
search.
Il declare, it's an imposition p he
exclaimed. stamping the snow of
his boots. ''But won't submit to it
I'll take it over to the town farm the
very first thing in the morning
Il can't bear the idea of it going
there, John, said his wife. Just sex
what sweet babe it is !"
Il don't see but it looks like othel
babies, returned John, gruffiy, doing hi
best to steel his heart against the littl,
stranger, in which, he only partly sue
ceeded, for, rough as was the farmer
way, he had kindly nature, if on,
could only reach it. ANY way, the au
thorities will have to take care of it
we can't. We've got more mouths t.
fill now, than we can find bread for.
Mrs. Williams lip quivered as he
thoughts reverted to the little grave il
the churchyard. All, to her heart wa
one too few.
dear JOHN she said, pleadingly
sit seems as if God had sent this bab
to take the place of our own little vii
lie, whom he has taken to himself. LIE
me keep it. It will not fail to bring
: blessing, you may be sure, p
| Farmer Williams face relaxed as h
looked into those fearful eyes.
5 ''Well, well, Mary" he said in
softened voice, "I'll think about it.
we do, you and the children may hav
! to 60 without a good many things, fo
t these are hard times, and likely to b
t harder. So you had better weigh tn
matter we'll before deciding
: Mrs. Williams did so and the resu
q was that her New Years Gift became
fixture of Red Stone Farmhouse. Fl
: grew up a merry, winsome boy, twinin
i even around the farmers rugged natur
- and taking in the heart of his adopte
mother the place of her lost darlin,
Ii loved and cherished by her with equ
&c tenderness. Many sacrifices did 81
e make, many toilsome hours did 81
# spend, in order that her husband migl
s. not feel the expense of his maintenan'
too heavily. And well did his grown
ct intelligence and beauty, and the arde1
le affection he evinced for her, repay b
for it all There was nothing abo
! 7 him that could give the slightest clue
- hIc Davontara Sirpl,r bi+ &c mi