Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-11-19


assistant book keeper by the great firm of
Watson q Co., that owned the mills. All
at once, Jack, l became interested in cot
ton. 1 used to haunt that great shrieking
bedlam of o mill. l investigated all the
processes the plant went through from the
time il enters the mill in great fluffy bales
till 1t goes out in smooth white muslin.
1 think the proprietors took me for dry
goods clerk or politician. became so
learned that knew all the grades from
paper cambria TO sheeting, and discourse
ed upon the tariff and the necessity Of pro-
tecting American manufactures like
member of Congress. 1 even made re-
searches into the art of bookkeeping. And
all, Jack, for the sake OF pale little facto-
ry girl with blue eyes-I, the last OF the
Vanderburghs How 1 used TO lean over |
that great gawky ink stained desk and |
watch the small figure in the shabby al
paca frock How used to intercept the |
little girl on her way back and forth to the
great mill, and watch her blush when her
great blue eyes met miner
"Had you made up your mind 10 marry
herr"
"God forgive me, 1 had not thought
about it."
"You scoundrelr'
"Ask Pearlie il am scoundrel, Jack ?"
"I have no doubt she worships you, you
most unworthy wretch. She looks like
Just such a sweet, foolish little darling"
Don't force the to call your attention to
the tenth commandment again"
"Go on"
~ am ashamed TO confess ii, jack, but
for two hours in my life was villain
only two, though, and 1 am thirly-tive
years old: the proportion isn't so bad, is
it? One morning it dawned upon me all
at once the mischief 1 had been doing.
And that very hour told little Pearlie I
was going away, and bade her good-by."
"What did she say?"
"Not a word only put her little hand in
mine for a moment, and turned back to
her great ledger with brave look, like
the true New England girl she is. Then,
Jack, knew myself TO be scoundrel.
But there was the imperial Judith waiting
| at Saratoga, worthy mate for the heir Of all
| the Vanderburgs.
"At four that afternoon jumped aboard
| the train bound westward. The mills were
| two miles below the station, and we must
pass them on our way. My heart ached
| terribly when 1 thought of the sweet little
| girl 1 was leaving behind me, and L chose
my seat in the car so that could see the
great building when we passed it, and per-
haps catch glimpse of her.
"As We neared it there seemed to be
great hustle and copfusion-people run
ming hither and thither, women screaming,
and the clouds of steam and of smoke that
usually fioated around the building SEEM
ed increased hundredfold. A curve in
The road brought us full in front Of the
mills, and in moment / saw that the lar
gest of them, the one where my little
Pearlie spent her weary days, was on fire.
Dense clouds of smoke, mingled with tiny
tongues OF fame, were issuing from the
windows, frightened operatives were rush
ing from the burning BUILDING, tramplins
each other under foot in their mad haste,
and the whole scene was one of unuttera-
BILE horror and dismay.
"The train was stopped. In moment
we were all on our way TO the burning
mill, among the first. All! Jack, think
what felt when heard a terror-strcken
group of men crying out, Where is Miss
Smith? She is nowhere 10 be found! She
was known TO have been in the office when
the alarm OF fire was given, and had not
been seen since. One prayer for safety
from lips all too unaccustomed to such ex-
eroise, and 1 was in the midst OF the burn
ing building. Up the stairs 1 rushed like
a mailman, burst through the door of the
office, and there, with her hands clasped
and her head lying on the open page OF her
ledger, lay the girl loved. In n moment
had my coat of, wrapped 1t over her
} head, and clasping her as closely as 1 could
lest those demonac darting tongues Of
, fame and falling cinders should touch her,
1 carried her down the burning, cracking
: staircase safe into the fresh air. What q
| cheer they gave us, Jack Then there was
; a dull rumbling sound, crash, and myri'
: ads of sparks went shooting up like stars
into the sinoke -clouded air. One of The
3 walls had fallen.
"But do not remember anything fur
: Their until woke up and found myself il
. bed, with little blue-eyed nurse bend
] ing over me with tender hands, one o
5 which kissed and captured and neveI
: lost sight of until had decorated ii with !
/ weddlng-ring. One day, Jack, when W.
( were first engaged, asked her why sh'
! made no attempt to gel out of The mil
when she heard the cry Of Finer Wha
e do you suppose she told me? That hat
gone away, and she thought IL would b
2 easier TO die there in the fire than 10 livt
i her life without me. Think of it, Jack
g Just fancy the fair Judith allowing hersel
e to be burned to death because her love
r had left her! All, my little wife, IN,
= country daisyi wish you could hav
: seen her when | brought her home, s.
= frightened at my magniticence, so over
1 awed by the grim-v isaged Dutchmen look
i ing down from their perches on the draw
Q ing-room walls. 1 was obliged TO re-assur
a her by telling her that if she persisted il
10 being so frightened, should have 10 dis
Il pose of my ancestors as Charles Surfac
5, did. Fancy the first settlers knocke
d down at auction, so much per head y
ct "But the imperial Judith ?"
d "The fire had burned all recollection {
le her out of my head. The pride of th
d Knickerbockers had also disappeared /
is the flames, and when learned my It'll
e, Pearie's sad and simple history think
ID loved her all the better for her humble
nameless birth. Her mother was ial
& mer's daughter, who married a strolin
ID vagabond by the name Of Smith. She a
xt terward had reason 10 think the name WI
IS. assumed, but she chung to him faithful
ne until he was found drowned under Ii
es mill ono day; and then she died herse
p in giving birth to Pearlie, or Margaret, I
Z. | tI,o,, .oIad har Tu1ith friau6 Jnalr SIi