Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-12-30

] UP nl lIe uloohl-handle that rested over his
shoulder
why, joey I've kept You from your
work again. I'm sorry. Where are your
shoes " as she spied the blue feet.
"Oh, take them of when sweep TO
save them aud the voice trembled so that
| Alice said "Joey something troubles YOU
! saw it in school to-day you cannot hide it
| from me, my boy
She read him we'll one of her brightest
scholars, keen, sensitive nature, which she
had often befrieuded, Ills mother anitress
Of the school he did most Of the cleaning,
while she went ont washing
His long, bony fingers crept slowly through
his hair-she knew that meant trouble with
Joc-a quiyer Of the thin lips and then
quick turning from her, as il the tenderness
were more than be could bear. Sitting
down on one of the benches, her sympa-
thetic Come, Joey tell me ALL" brought
him To her side, but his heart was too full
a great sob, and leaning his head on Alice's
arm he wept more with the grief Of a man
than a child
She wisely waited ia silence, sure his
story would be told for there was a strong
love between the two. All through the
school hc was named Miss Clayton's joe"
"You see, Miss CLAYTON, ever since YOU got
me into the choir I've been so happy Pro
fessor Weimer says I'm his best treble and
he can't lose me. I've learned all the chants
for Christmas--oh, the de1r chants and
for an instant the boys face grew radiant
with wnutterahle iov. "lIe would paw me
next year. and then ia help mother but
OH ! irish / were dedd D."
"Why. Joey, with such hope before YOU,
what do you mean -
"l'll never go into the choir again You
know Professor Weimer !, going to give a
sacred concert Christmas eve. We arc-no,
Mey are practising for it now, and can't, |
can't CO. don't mind their fun in the choir
so long as the curtains hide me- for when |
sing ! forget all about" he only looied
down at the patchc, and rags-"hut YOU see
at the concert ! wish I could die this
minuteW
She wondered She had not thought Of it
before. The week previous, the professor
had told her that her protege possessed a re-
markablc voice aud was his main depend
ence in solo parts. Tho child's whole nature
was music; his mother said he spent hours
during the night chanting to himself till she
thought the angels must come and take him
d" joey, vou have no other clothes?"
" No, ma'am, and Eve tried so hard to be
easy ON my shoes I'd 60 barefoot on the
street to save them for the concert. if mother
wouldn't find it out She wanted to beg
some old clothes but, oh, Miss Clayton
Horace Drake said he'd put raganu6in out
of the choir they're all rich but me, you
know"
It was terrible to see that little hand run
through his hair, and on the cheeks burned
two scarlet spots as his excitement increased.
1t was the cough which started Alice from
her seat; in minute she was out of the room
and back, kneeliug before the child, with
his shoes.
"Joey, put these right ON, and don't go
without them ever. III bring YOU warm
stockings tomorrow And joey, will YOU
promise me one thing never again to wish
You were dead?"
"Oh, Miss Clayton, you don't know
will kill me il | can't singl"
"lou can sing, dear boy; You shall sing at
the concert Christmas eve, in a whole nelc
sui rs good as Horace brakes. | know
some one who wants to make present.
Was it the hungry look before her that half
stihed her words Just there ?-"a present TO
little boy like you, and it will buy new
boots too Joey
The tears were in Alice's eyes then. for
the gladsome smile had gone from her face
to his
Turning from the schoolroom door she
fingered at the foot of the stairs to hear
again the Gloria: 1--WE praise Thee, We
bless Thee we worship Thee!" and she ac-
ccpted it, a song of Thanksgiving to Him
whose little one she had received"
In the days that followed a great peace
rested over her heart it was enough TO watch
the light in Joeys eye, though his cough in
creased so rapidly that he remained at home
the last week TO save himself for the con-
cert, only going out to practice
Christina, eye-and Ernest Dent waited
in Aunt James parlor. As the anticipated
/ hour drew near it must be confessed he har-
/ bored little anxiety as to the first impress
| sion his hetrothed would make. His mother
would love her ia the end, but she was
/ naughty in her manner and not altogether
/ pleased with his engagement; gay, rollicking
sister Kate would take her right into her
alfectionate heart.
So busily thinking he did not bear Alice
/ till, with her hand in his she stood directly
in front of him, her eager eyes seeking his
verdict. Ernest, for your sake 3wish my
appearance were more in accordance with
your taste. ! tiied very hard TO have it diff
fcrent DoHt ask any questions, | cannot
tell you tonight Why" then, as a faint
shadow fitted across his brow "You are not
ashamed of me because if you are, u
Nay, my darling, you know me better
than to misjudgc me- was only thinking
how for once it would delight me to see YOU
in some delicate color, There, forgive me I;
it was u passing thought, and am thought
less; YOU are so unsefsh my own, true girl Z"
Yes, She did forgive him, but the look had
been given, the word spoken, and somehow
it hurt her as never before, while the sting
remained in her heart till in front of St.
Marks Church she stopped and broke the
silence neither could seem to shake off "Oh,
Ernest, listen-it is Joey"
"Oh your Joe do you know Weimer says
if he liyes-what is it, are You so cold Y--if
he lives he will make fortune. lie is ex-
ceedngly interested in the boy; was going
to fit him for the concert, only some one got
ahead Of him. must get the child some
thing tomorrow, just because he belongs to
? YOU
After hearing that voice Alice was strong,
and the excitement, together with the frosty
air, had given her a glowing color by the
time they reached Mrs. SherW ood's.
I Dear Miss Alice" said Minnie Sherwood.
who was in the formers Bible class, how
/ sweetly you look Isn't Mr., Dent very
proud of you? III ask him when we get
down stairs"
, How she was tried in all directions that
: night
Minnies criticism was correct; the black
mcrinO cluug in graceful folds to the tall
t form Alice always moved quietly-iluted
5 rules partially covered a white neck that
= many a belle would have coveted, and dropped
r over the wrists around which were buttoned
perfectly fitting gloves. The full braids
4, that her own hands coled so easily looked
/ 4 al 20 1air sfk kaa