Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-13

ent light.
You know" murmured that inward
monitor, whose quiet but searching voice so
often troubles us" you know that love Of
dress has been your besetting sin from child
hood up. Sometimes, acknowledge, you
have striven well against it but never have
you had 30 noble an opportunity as this
Avail youself Of it make the sacrifice you
ougH to make What business have you
with such articles Of luxury9
" But" argued the eager spirit Of the
flesh, surely in this case [ am right in fol.
lowing out my wishes. II will be cold
winter furs are rery warm, and / am
growing Old Besides, my husband wishes
it. Shall | wound his feelings No in
deed ~ And the dame for the moment felt
strong in conscious virtue
Little, however, would conscience listen
to this reasoning. She scorued it. "Cold !"
replied she sternly There are less expen.
siye ways Of keeping warm. Something
short Of iurs at four hundred dollars can do
it. What you say about your husband is q
mere excuse. If he sees you truly content
he will be satisfied
But" pleaded keen desire, have for
years so wished for Just these things.
can't give them up Why should | not
have them2 There is no one suffering near
me that | should thps deny myself the gift
my husband makes me-"
A sbufllng step at the door, followed by
knock, interrupted the disturbed thinker.
Come in," she cried, rising from her
chair.
The door opened, and distant neighbor
entered, an ill-favored ungainly man, noted
for his harsh temper and his penurious soul.
Mrs. Flowers greeted him with surprise
but he soon explained his errand Some.
thing was amiss with his horses gear, and,
seeing a light, he had come to borrow a
lantern.
I'm on my way to the poor house," he
said, with sour grin. When | came
home, at sundown, what should | find but
a worthless brat my wife had taken in, and
she was actually hoping I'd let her keep it.
Keep it, indeed The little rat was with
company of tramps the constable is after
So guess they were glad to drop it on the
road My wife, like fool, believes the
child gable, and says they left her be-
cause they couldn't make her lie and steal
She'd do it as fast as the rest, I'll venture
to say Her tale is, that she's no father
nor mother, nor any one, and them tramp'
picked her up. | don't believe word o
it. So, when | came home, though l'C
been to the mill, and it was late,-I says
says |, She don't sleep in my house u
single night I'll have her where she be
longs before daylight, as sure as my name,
Peter Turner So as soon as had done
my chores, hitched up and started with
her Then the pesky harness broke, and
altogether, I've had more than my share
of trouble with her."
There's the lantern hanging on that
nail, said Mrs. Flowers, shortly.
an be back in a minute" he grufily an
swered, and after lighting it, opened The
door, He drew back with muttered oath
" What did you follow me here for? hi
growled.
A little child stood on the Threshold
Her wan, mild-eyed face, surrounded by
pale, golden locks, falling on her emaciatet
shoulders, might have moved heart t.
pity. Peter Turner's was too small to con
tain so expansive an emotion but Mrs
Flowers rejoiced in larger organ Of cir
culation.
Come in, child" she cried, in her cor
dial voice, advancing and stretching gu
her hand Then, turning to Peter, " Yol
can leave her here till you bring back th
lantern
He made surly response and disap
peared. The dame drew the child to th,
fire; the little trembling thing gazed a
it earnestly as she crouched before il an,
spread her blue hands to the generous blaze
Want bad stamped its mark upon her
but, though it had dimmed her eyes anC
followed her infant checks, it had faile'
to destroy the impress she bore of pur
soul.
See her !" said Conscience. " Is Their
not suffering creature near you now ? vii
you tell me again there is no need to sacri
fee your besetting sin2'
Mingling with her voice came those swee
and gracious words, spoken eighteen hun
, dred years 20, and which still breathe thei
accents through the sin-troubled world a
clearly as when first uttered " Inasmuc
. as ye did it unto the least of these, ye di
it unto me-
The childess woman and the motherles
child looked into each others faces, eac
with longing, questioning gaze.
/ "You are not afraid Of me, child, ar
you ?" she asked laying her hand gently o
e tho little ones shoulder.
mo" replied the child, "not of you I!
4 and she touched with timid finger the goo
. womans soft cheek but | am afraid {
Q him !" glancing wildly toward the door,
lie is taking me to the poor house." sh
whispered, with dropping head, and treu
bling like dying bird.
Not one step shall you 60 !" cried tn
f. true hearted, motherly soul, and she claspe
\ the desolate little creature to her war;
y breast.
+ Great was Mr.. Peter Turner's disgust O.
D his return with the lantern. 80 you ar
' opening a refuge for stray thieves, are you
1 Mrs. Flowers2" he asked scornfully. "Wel
it's nothing to me. All | have to say il
4 if Mr.. Flowers likes to spend his earning
!. that way, | don't. But Ill help 20
4 along" he added with cutting irony
J. Whenever | see any stragglers there's
/. warrant out agin, I'll send 'cm on to you.
! And with that Parthian dart he went his wa,
J, Mr.. Flowers, deeply sunk in repose, wa
I profoundly unconscious of the sudden add
= tion to his family. lie was aroused by b
wife pulling his whiskers, and saying sh
Q had something to show him. After strul
), Cling in "slumber's chain " for few mi
:, ments, he managed to open his eyes sufi
!, GENTLY to discover the sharer of his griel
y and joys seated on the side of the bed, hold
I, ipg on her arm sleeping child, who's
}, golden head nestled on her bosom.
Mr.. Flowers stared blankly at this SUI
= prising sight. He was just deliberatiu
whether ho might be dreaming, when