Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-17


For time this was realized. He had n
good run of trade, aud the prospect Of future
prosperity looked encouraging.
Robert was at work at his trade. He had
not done quite as we'll financially as his
brother had. Still he had more than paid
his way every year. His health was ex-
ceedingly good. but his wiie's had been fail
ing. He had not found a physician who
could either tell what allied her or prescribe
any effective remedy. This added very
much TO the expense Of the family. But
still he was free from any pecuniary em.
barrassment, with good prospect Of more
business and better future. But he had
no means of knowing what day may bring
forth. r. rl.
Twelve years of married life had passed
away. He was as healthy aud robust as
ever. He was busily engaged on profitable
job building dwelling houses, when one even
ing Henry told him he was going to Boston
the following msrning to buy goods, and that
he would be absent week. 1t was in the
spring of the year, and business was remark
ably good The two talked over their af-
fairs that evening, and congratulated each
other on their improved prospects.
The next morning Henry started for Bos-
ton, aud Robert went to his work as usual.
Henry arrived safely in Boston late that
evening In the morning he had just finish
ed breakfast. when the telegram was placed
in his hands informing him Of the accident
and Roberts death. 1t was then that he,
with deep sigh, repeated the passage:
" Boast not myself Of tomorrow, for thou
knowest not what day may bring forth"
The first tram that would take Henry
home did not leave until night. With a sad
heart he attended to what business he could
during the day, aud evening found him
homeward bound, where he arrived at day
light
Roberts death was sad blow to Henry,
and still sadder one to the widow and her
family. But Providence had ordered it,
and they must submit to its DEGREES.
The sad obsequies were over. Dust had
returned to dust, and the living ag lin to the
daily duties which never cease TO present
themselves. Up to that time prosperity had
attended the twin brothers They had grown
up in brotherly love and lived under the
same roof happily. But the link in the
chain of household affection had been brok-
en-, one taken and the other left From that
hour the scale of fortune seemed to turn,
and misfortune followed the living even as
it had overtaken the one already dead.
Roberts death came SO suddenly to hi
wife, already ill., that she became very much
worse, and continued in that state for som,
months She was confined to her bed al
the time, and Clara (Henry's wiie) was com
PEELED to devote several hours each day u
her care. She would not trust her sick siste
in any other hands.
Henry had good business through tn
season. He was to all appearance prosper
ing, Notwithstanding his family expense
were necessarily much increased by hi
brothers death But at the end Of the yea
a sudden calamity fell upon him. His stor
took fire from some unknown cause, and wa
destroyed, with nearly all that it contained
After the FIRE be made the discovery that hi
insurance had expired only q day or tw
previous. This was great loss to HIN
In addition to this calamity, one Of his chill
dren was taken sick and lay for weeks in
condition of great uncertainty. When, o
last, she began to recover, it took Il lon
time to regain her strength sufficiently
care for herself.
When the store was burned. Henry return
ed to the situation he occupied with Nj
Baxter, before he entered business for himsel
Mr.. Baxter was kind man, and very glad {
Henry's services. He sympathized with hi
in his loss, and gave him good salar.
Henry settled with all his creditors, an
found he had only the home left. This b
considered worth one thousand dollars, an
as his salary would amply support the fam
ly, he saw no cause for dependency. II
worked on with cheerful heart, hoping thu
, better fortune was in store for him. b.
the scriptural injunction was still in force
Boast not myself Of tomorrow, for tho
knowest not what day may bring forth"
IN A hogshead of sugar was being rolled fror
a cart into the store, and Henry was Gale
"a to assist. Plauks were laid from the cart
N the door and the hogshead rolled upon ther
d But one of the planks slipped, aud the who
10 weight would have fallen on Henry al
N crushed him, had be not exerted almost 81
il perhuman strength aud replaced it. But
N cost him his life. The great exertion ru
m tured blood vessel, and although be liv'
o. to he carried home, he become unconsciou
,o and never spoke again. Surely no mi
t6 knoweth what day may bring forth.
There was sorrow aud mourning at HON
m When the head and mainstay Of the fami
,w is taken, a feeling of desolation is left in {
-. place he occupied 10 the hearts Of those wi
N chung to him for protection.
", With sad hearts his body was laid avn
"a into the narrow house of darkness and
M lence, and the household returned TO we,
~ for the loved and lost His wife felt deep
- - her husbands death. The excitement a
no grief brought on severe illness, and
nj three months she was not able to rise fro
m the bed. Her sister, too, was also confn
,so to her bed all the time. When Clara
he gan to recover it was very slowly, and
90 months elapsed before she was able to resul
,oI her household duties again. Mr.. Baxter a
a other neighbors had been very kind to tn
- in their affection, hut their sickness
- been very expensive. They were alrea
,.s more than four hundred dollars in debt. a
nj they had no means Of paying it, but to s
aa the house and seek home in some poo
!, abode. For some days Clara shrank fr
.r the painful alternative. True, she col
80 mort gage the house, and still keep it fol-
aI time, but that would not pay the debt. ST
a remedy would be even worse than the e.
She knew she could lessen the family
ics peuses by discarding her sister in her
led tremity OF poverty, for Roberts share in
'So house had long before been eaten up by
am family. But she would never desert
'n sister. As long as she had crust of br,
~" aba ,Uould share IL with har sisters fan
"a and trust Providence for the rest. So
'aJ and Alice talked the matter over with !
"oa rowful hearts and fearful eyes. Neither
LA them felt that they could go away from n
h,s home, hallowed with 80 many tender as
-. Citations of the loved ones without BIT
panp. But there seemed no way to avoid