Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-04

gance to which he was born; and because
of his very courtesy. to underrate his cour-
age and the real manliness of his charac-
ter.
But there WAS one in whose eyes he was.
from first to last, hero. Jamie Strong
was yet more delicate than young Shafts
bury. He had something the matter with
one of his ankles, and could not Join in the
only son of his mother. and she was Il
widow. Her husband and her other three
children had all died of typhoid fever. and
been, one after another, carried out of the
little, lonesome cottage at the foot of the
hill, where the sun seldom came; and now
Jamie was the last.
He would never be strong enough to do
hard work. Sowing. ploughing, moving,
harvesting-he could never manage any
of these; SO for his weak limbs his quick
brain must make up; and Widow Strong
had determined that he should be scholar
"a minister, if it pleased the Lord to call
him to that; if not, Il teacher.
SO she quietly struggled on to keep him
at school, and to earn money to provide
for future years of academy and college.
She sewed, she washed, she picked berries
she did anything by which she could add
a dollar to her hoard
Jamie understood and shared her ambi
ton, and studied with might and main
He was used to harshness and rudness from
stronger boys. and he had grown shy and
shrunk into himself To him the COMING
of my little gentleman was as grace from
heaven. Here was one who never Knocked
at his feeblenesS and povertv-who was
always kind, always friendly, and did
many 4 little thing to make him happy.
Young SALISBURY was quick to perceive
the loyal admiration of the other; and
there grew between them the tie of IN in
terest that had never been put into words
1t had been n damp and strange sum-
mer-intensev warm, even in that hilly
region. 1t had rained continually, but the
rains, which had kept the fields green and
made vegetation SO unusually lush and
ripe, had seemed scarcely to cool at all the
fervid heat of the air. Wiseacres predict
ed much sickness. Indeed, several cases
OF slow fever were in the town already.
One day my little gentleman looked
about in vain for his friend Jamie and final
l. asked for him anxiously, and found that
the boy was i'll oftyphoid fever At recess
he heard the boys talking OF it.
Hell never get well,' one said His
father died just that way, and his three
brothers. You see its damp down in that
hollow. and the sun hardly ever touches
the house. | heard DIR. Simonds say it
was ten to one against anybody who was
sick there
When school was out, Robert SALISBURY
hurried home. He found his mother sit
ting dressed all in white, in the music
room. playing 4 symphony on the piano,
while his father sat :. little distance off,
listening with half-cloSed eyes. He wait
ed until the piece was over, and then he
told his story and preferred his request.
The doctor had said it was ten to one
against any one who was sick in that little
damp house in the hollow and he wanted
Jamie brought up the hill to their own
home. He watched the face of his father
and mother as he spoke; and it seemed to
hlm that refusal WAS lowering upon their
lips. and he said earnestly:
. Don speak. just yet. Remember that
ne Is his mothers only son, rs am yours.
If lay sick where there WAS no hope for
ne, and some one else might. perhaps.
save me by taking me in. would YOU think
hey ought to try it. or let me dit?''
Mr.. SALISBURY looked into his wifc's
Eyes.
" Robert is right" she said. with the
sudden sweet smile which always seemed
o make the day brighter when it came to
Ter lips. If the poor boy can be helped
~ being brought here, we must bring
lm.'
" will 90 and see" Mr.. SALISBURY
lns wered ut once
:" And |, too, papa" said my little
gentleman.
" Not You, l think l fear contagion
or you.'
% think there is no danger for me, liy-
ne on this high hilltop, in these great.
llry roomS-but even if there We're. | am |
ure yon would let me 90 if vou knew how
much Jamie loves me-
" Come, then" his father said. ou,tIv
lie had been, all his sons life. prrachinr
o him OF hcro>m, and sclf-sacritice and |
eviction. He dared not interfere with
lmost his first opportunity for any real
Xerclse OF them. SO the two went down
he hill together
1t Glanced that they met DR.. Simonds
oming away from the house, and propos-
d to him the question of the REMOVAL
would not do, the doctor declined =,
ncc-the disease had made too much
rogre>s. To remove him now woulI he
lore dangerous than to leave him where
e WAS
hen | must 20 and see him." Rob-
IT said. rc>oluicly. You know he has
My his mother. and | must spend MI
lie time | can spare from school with
i'm
" But | will send IN excellent nurse my
1n. DO You not see that | connot have
~ expose YOURSELF" ,
: Send the nurse toe. please, papa; but
, not Keep me from going. He will not J
ne for the nurse, and he does care very
lch FOR me. l do not believe in the ;
NIGER and know how glad he will be
see me- C
Mr.. SALISBURY hesitated This boy was |
the apple OF his eye. Must he indeed ;
gin so soon to look danger in the fnrr $
+ the sake of others? But dare he will i
'ld him. when the boy felt that honor t
nj duty called? 1t ended by his walking I
with him quietly t
1t was something to See how Jamie's
&c frightened. He had been very dun :
III stupid all day, his mother said, and ',
me OF the time his mind had been wan :,
ring But now glad. eager light came :,
to his eyes, and Il smile curved his i
lrched lips. He put out his hot hands.
" ON Is it You, my little gcntleman?" !,
said. Il had rather see You than any d
inc else in the world" y
. Well, then | will come every dav rs o
on as | am through school,, Robert ',
answered. II
. DO you know what you have donco~ W
father asked, when ut last they stood IL
tSide the house together. &c
YES papa. have promised that It II,
Or. sick. helpless little fellow all the e'
mort can give him. have promised
TO by him as | should want him to do
me If We're Jamie Strong, and he
bert Salisbury
VIZ Shaftsbury was silcnccd This. in III
'd, was Il rule of living he had taunht '"
'nld he venture to interfere with its "
ervance? v
30 my little gentleman had his way Oh
took every prccaution which his moth ~. .'
anxiety suggested, suchas roino homo ~ ~
lunch before he went to the little cor IN
e where the sick boy laid and lonorI pr