Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-13

Every one looked anx ious to tell me some
thing, but no one spoke till ] found my
old friend Thorp. Taking my hand kind
ly, he led me aside, and for a moment was
silent. "Well, Cap" be said, earnestly,
"things Is rough on the Bar; they ain't like
they was when you left. She's gone-thaps
Daisy-and things aint gone right for some
of the boys ever since. Yes, Cap, it is
mighty rough!'
asked where Daisy had moved to.
80, no, Cap, you don't understand. The
old woman, she went back 10 Sacramento
broken-hearted, they said hut Daisy, sac
is gone called for, taken up among the
stars where she belongs. We miss Daisy,
Cap. She got round some of the boys, and
she made them promise to knock Off their
grog; l hain't touched it since, and I've
saved a little. If she'd only staid this thing
wouldn't a happened. You see, Cap" he
continued, "heres how 1t was One o. the
boys got badly hurt in his drift across the
creek, and one mornin Daisy started over
TO take him somethin, and it was runnin'
bank full, and the log was slippery, and
well we found Daisy mile below, with
her brown hair all tangled among the will
lows, and her blue eyes kind o. pleadin'
for help; and we brought her back-poor
thing There wasn't a single drink taken
on the Bar that day, Cap, it setmed 10 be
agin the boys. And Oregon Sis-her that
we all thought so bad-she combed out the
tangled hair, and she knelt down and kiss
ed Daisy, and went two miles afoot up the
meadows ant got flowers and put them in
the little blue hands, and-there's where
we laid her, Cap-up there, where you see
them white pickets."
"And Joe? ?" i ask ed.
"Hush," he said, pointing TO the saloon,
"Joe's in there; his sand is about panned
down-shot, might afore last, in row.
Joe's a.passin' in his checks, sure You
see Joe went 10 the bad. lie sat by the old
foot log, melancholy like, and wandered
up and down the creek, and no one could
do anything with him. and he took TO drink
again; and the cussed temper came back,
and he got 10 quarrelin' with everybody.
Night afore last he got in a row with Porto
gee John, in a nnLs' game they both
i.a"eu, but John was too quick for him,
and Joc's bad hurt. The doctor says lie
aint got no livin' show. May be you'd like
TO see him, Cap"
We went together into the room where the
wounded man lay. The broken windows
were darkened with blankets, and on a
rough pallet we found the poor fellow,
breathing heavily, and two OF the boys
tanning him tenderly as a mother would
have doue. The ashy face and heavy drops
OF sweat that had gathered on the forehead,
tod the unspeakable agony of the sufferer,
and showed that, sure enough, Joe's sand
was nearly run out, and he beyond all hu-
man lcechcraf. We had not meant TO dis
turb him, but his ear, quickened by pain,
caught our stealthy footsteps, aud, turning
round, he recognized me.
40 Cap" he said, "you have come at last.
! knew she would send some one TO talk to
me, as she used toto tell me all about that
blessed land where Christ lives-Him that
she just made me understand little, when
she lefl us. And pray for me, Cap, and
ask Daisy to forgive me for letting the dew
il come back, and forgettin' all that she
taught me. She told me that IL 1 would
only Iolievs all sha said. that L s~saII -
to glorious land that was away beyond
the stars. She's gone there, Cap, and be-
lieve every word of it now. o, can you
pray? She taught me, but I've most for
got how"
If ever felt like praying, II was then
If ever l felt able to ask forgiveness for Q
poor, waywsrl, shattered soul, who was
4 Al. 4.
about to he weighed in the balance of the
Eternal Judge, it was at that moment.
Soon there was silence unbroken, save by
a few smolhered sobs among the bystand
ers, but quiet, peaceful light rested on pool
Joe's face. "Come close" he said in a low
tone, ~ feel better now; I know I'm 60
in TO where she is, and somehow | dom
feel so much pain. Tell the boys to lay me
beside her; there's room, and l can fine
the way to her. And Cap" he whispered
as he reached his hand under the pillow
and drew out two pictures, "put these OF
my heart, for they belong there; poor ole
mother and her-the only two that eve
knew how 10 reach it. Write TO mothe
how 1t was, and that If ] did forget her,
never will again. When I'm gone, whis
per to Daisy that believed it all, ever.
word of ii; and that l found the road a
last; and am comm. Yes, Cap, I'm goin
| to Da--"
Poor Joe the blessed seeds of light sowl
by the little Daisy had takon root at last
and an unruly and turbulent spirit was a
rest forever and lorevermore.-OUerld
Monthly.