Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-05

She had been asleep some time when she
was awakened by slight noise at the door.
She was of the counter in q minute, ready
to be liberated, when Il struck her that the
noise did not sound like an ordinary key in
the lock. She stole softly along and crouch
ed down behind q largo box ofshawls. The
noise continued few seconds, and then the
door swung softly open and man came In.
Mona kept still and soon light flashed
out from tho dark lantern which he held in
his hand. Instead of the features of man
stepped In iniquitS, which she had expected,
she saw a lair faced youth Of not more than
nineteen years. His face was pale, aud his
eyes seemed almost 10 burn, so intensely
black were they.
Mona watched him go down to the safe
and examine it. lie looked at II a moment
and started back exclaiming,
MY Godl That should como to thisl"
Mona's resolve was made instantly. Walk
ing quickly and quietly along to where he
sat she faced him. For an instant she look
ed at him, then said quietly
"What are you doing here?"
The boy--for he was no mere-said pas
sonately-
II have gamblod, and now l was about to
steal to pay my gambling debts o. i'll had
only died before brought such sorrow upon
my poor old motherm
Mona by n few words drew from him a
history of himself. His name was Charlie
Severance. Lcft without fathers care ut
the age of seven. he had fallen into bad COM
pany. He commenced by playing truant,
and went from bad to worse until he began
to gamble when he was eighteen
"And now" he concluded vehemently, ~
am ruined!"
What is the extent of your gambling
debts?" asked Mona. r.t.
FIFTY dollars" he replied.
"Only fly dollars" replied Mona, and
you would have stolen Tor that amount? had
you no friend who would lend you the mon
ey until you reiormedPn
ut might rs well be fifty thousand" re-
sponded the boy gloomily, II haven't got any
friends mother and are alone!
IF give you this money, will you begin
from this night to live as your mother would
wish you to live?n
lie gazed at her blankly, and then slowly
repeated
"You give me money-you "A perfect stran
gcr!n
No." Mona repeated, IL am not stran
CT. In Christ we are all members of on,
family. lie did not despse the thief Cal
vary, neither do despise you. Mr.. Blanc
paid me my quarters salary to-day. l viii
give you the money, and trust in God to hell
you to do right
She gave him the money and her address
and said simply, Don't thank me now
Thank me by trying to he n Christian-b!
living rs you will wish you had. when you
come to die. think had better remain
here all night, you can remove all traces o
being here, and then we need not mention
this to any one.n
lie hesitated moment and blushed, anC
said:
"Would-would you mind praying with
me here? 1 think it would help me-"
Mona knelt down and prayed earnestl!
for the boy-prayed that the God OF tn,
fatherless would watch over him. lie tool
her hand and said:
"Good-by! l shall always remember yol
as COED angel sent to save me from ruiz
here and hereafter"
After ne was gone she went back to he
"bed." It was long before she went to sleel
again. The sun was shining brightly mex
morning when she awoke. Mr.. Bland came
in few minutes later and was surprised be
You'd measure to find her there. She ex
planned it to him and said:
II guess I'll go home now and get som
breakfasts wouldn't you?"
Mona told her mother merely that sh
was locked in the store. When she asked
her about her salary, she replied that the
did not need 1t just then, and SO she had in
vested where it would pay good interest
Mona often thought of Charlie and wonder
ed if. he was doing we'll. One day, abou
three months alter her adventure, she re
ceived note fro m him containing ten dol
lars. The note was as follows:
DEAR LADY Enclosed send you tel
dollars of the money you gave me. l hav
not touched card since that night. l neve
drank, so have not had that habit to over
come. have Joined the c. Street Church
and my dear old mother is happy. PR,
night and morning that Gods blessing ma
rest upon you. Affectionatoly yours,
Mona was glad, so glad, that she had bee
instrumental in saving soul fro I'M dealt
Time passed, and he paid Mona all the mon
ey she had let him have. Three years had'gon
by, when package was left at the store 70
Mona. She opened it, and found an elegan
gold watch and chain, with u note begging
their acceptance as a slight expression of hi
gratitude to her. He told her he was to 81
for Europe in n week, on business for tn
firm of which he was member; and aske
the privilege of bringing his mother to sc
her before they sailed. Mona dispatched
note by the boy, granting his request,and nsN
evening they came to her home. Mona hard
: Iy knew him. Ills mother kissed her an
said: "Charlie has told me all, and II til
gratitude of mother will in part repay yoI
be assured it is yours"
e They passed pleasant evening, and
Mona IL seemed almost impossible that th
tall, bearded man could be the same fail
faced boy she had seen before. They sale
for Europe the next week, and Mona accom-
: panied them to the steamer. DO you thinl
rs she saw that proud and happy mothe
! and her manly, upright son, that she regre
ted her kindnossp"
o, ifmore OF us would exercise the san
Christian charity iii more of us were reaC
to lend helping hand to needy BROTHER il
) stead of bidding him "stand alooi, for | al
hOlier than thoup
Cranberry Rot and scald.
1t has been suggested by several CORE