Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-06
Judith's Temptation.

Of welcome the old copper teakettle sang
upon the hearth Aud Mrs. Stedhursts
/ geraniums in the window, with their velvet
| leaves and spikes Of vivid scarlet blossoms
to Judith they seemed iairer than any
conservatory, crowded full of fan palms and
/ camelias and trailing jessamine.
Judith Black had been very poor. She
| had been adressmaker but times were hard.
| She had striven TO get work, but applicants
were many. and the cup Of starvation had
been perlousy close TO the office where Ed
ward Stedhurst saw her and engaged her to
/ help his mother about the house-work.
" shan't like her, Ned" said Mrs. Sted-
| hurst. when the new girl had gone mp TO her
own room for the night and mother and
son were together before the kitchen fire.
Why not, mother 2
Because she's too pretty aud she has
such a naughty. queenly sort Of way. |
shouldn't think Of asking a lady to scrub
the floor and feed the pigs
That's nonsense. mother" said Edward,
half vexed half laughing. " She cant help
her face. can she2 II is none of the
scraggy faced, small-poXmarked girls, who
were o exacting as to the wages they would
receive and the duties they would be called
upon to perform, that | wouldn't have 'em
in the house on any terms. Judith was the
| only one who was willing TO come for any sort
of work, and willing to accept moderate
wages
She'll suit you" said Mr.. stedhurst,
who had come in while the discussion was
going on. Take my word for it, mother,
| she'll suit YOU
Judith Black stayed for a month, and
then Mrs Stedhurst engaged her for an
| other month
She is neat" said the lady, "and she is
quick to learn. believe her to be perfectly
trustworthy"
III only Ned don't fall in love with her"
humorously suggested Mr.. Stedhurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love with her
| If he wants to z" said Mrs, Stedhurst, val
| iantly.
My dear, my dear" demonstrated Mr..
Stedhurst, what do you know about her p
"What do you know about any girl, for
that matter ?" said Mrs. Stedhurst. She
is certainly very pretty, and very faithful,
and very honest"
Honest" put in Mr. Stedhurst, dryly, abe
cause she has DO temptation to be otherwise.
." Now, Phineas, you are too bad, said
Mrs Stedhurst, impatently. 1.-The eurrant
iellv has never been disturbed in the closet,
and have left the sugarbowl twice on the
dresser with thirty-three Jumps OF sugar in
it, and thirty-three there were, and counted
em after she had gone TO bed
" Not very great temptations those said
Mr., Stedhurst, smiling.
mo" said his wife; Z" but straws tell
which way the wind blows
About month subsequent to this conver-
sation, Edward Stedhurst came to his father
FEATHER" said he, ." was twenty-one years
old in October
YES" said Mr. Stedhurst.
"And you were year younger than that
when you were married
IL believe so, Ned"
"Have you any objection to my taking a
wife ?"
None in the world--if it proves that she
is the right sort Of a wifc. answered the
old gentleman.
Father, have fallen in love with judith
Black" confessed Edward,
Just exactly what have feared al
along" said Mr. Stedhurst, with shrug oi
his shoulders.
"Why do You use the word feared, Ia
. ther 2" questioned Edward.
8 because, my lad, she is almost a strange
+ to u.s.
"Father, would stake my life on he
truth and honesty said the young man.
! Because you are in love with her, m.
= son. Edward, look here Have you spokel
= to her yet
+ q" Not yet, SIR
5 "Will you do me favor
Edward smiled little
"That depends on what it is, father"
"Will YOU wait week before you ask he
to become your wife Win you wait on
! week without asking any questions
u If you desire it, sir
: AT the end OF that time will tell 70
!, what think upon the matter"
u And Mr.. Stedhurst went out.
e The next day he brought down an armf
= OF old coats, vests, etc, from the garret.
judith" said he, these things are g
y ting moth-eaten. They belonged TO an o
y uncle of mine who died ten years ago-i
y odd, old misery fellow, who boarded ever
~ thing up, and died in a cellar at last.
81 81 want them cut into carpet rags
VI Yes, sir" said Judith Black, in the so
a low voice which was habitual to her. Al
~ when her days routine Of duty was dor
&c she went to work diligently with Mrs Ste
- hurst's shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen the ne
III afternoon Just as the clock was striki
a. a. three. Aud as she worked she sang soft
20 Dundee"
20 Picking up an old waistcoat of ging
.i,'e colored cloth she chipped of the but,ol
81 and mechanically turned the pockets insi
"' out to cut them. There was Il piece
folded brownish paper in one of them. ,
IL dith took il out without thinking much
.rt it and unfolded 1t.
nd To her surprise she perceived il was
ha | twenty pound note.
m In her astonishment she uttered little C
av all alone though she was. Aud then she
/ membered what Mr.. Stedhurst had 81
re about the misery old one who b
II " boarded up his little gains and died in I
NJ cellar at last" This was doubtless one
6e the old mans hiding paces--and he d
Is. and made no sign.
or And this priceless bit Of paper-was
Id not hers by right of discovery
nv Her eyes cleaned aud her fingers TIRE
or bled convusiyely as they tightened upon
nv She needed it so much. She was so pool
ot so pinched for money, And these st
~. hursts, to whom it would naturally reve
of were rich and did not need it. They wol
Id never know. Nobody would know,
Ar, For minute the temptation battl
fiercely with her better nature. For IN
ute only, and then she rose up aud We
10 straight TO the door Of the tool-room--we
ad with dropping eyes aud scarlet stain
ps either cheek.
Ii "Come in" said Mr.. Stedhurst, as S
lie knocked at the door, and she entered.
ms "Mr. Stedhurst," said She In voice III
nv would falter a little in spite OF her resoluti
ay TO control 1t 4" here is some money, a tween
w pound note | have found it in the pock
Of one Of these waistcoats."
"Ah," said Mr. Stedhurst, putting do,
m. his plane, and taking the crumpled bit
er paper. "And why didn't you keepit? II
p. II not occur to you that would never kn,
ed anything about 1t 2"
ny ayes" said Judith, slowly, 1T did occ
is to me, SIR"
"Then why didn't you keep II ?"