Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-15
For the VERMONT FARMER
The Flower Fadeth.
BY AUNT FANNIE.

l thought Of these words of divine truth,
as | wandered home that beautiful October
evening, and stopped for a moment on the
walk to pick withered bud from its stock
yet think it was not the withered bud that
suggested the truth, but the remembrance Of
the pale, shadowy face had left. had
been up to the old farmhouse for some nice
fresh butter, and Johns wife had taken me
down to the cool cellar to show me her row
of tubs, all filled with golden butter. She
had displayed them with housewives pride,
and | had complimented her skill as it
really deserved, and we we're ascending the
stairs, when noticed her quick breathing
and pale face. l wondered if John noticed
too but he came in soon after with the
pals of foaming milk, carried them to the
clean milk room, and hurried out to finish
his work, so did not SEQ him again.
Annie soon rose with gentle "excuse me
O moment" but went with her to the milk
room, and with my own hands lifted the pals
from the floor aud turned the milk into the
bright pans ready for its use /; while she
busted herself placing them on the shelves.
| had lived in the old farmhouse many years,
and many pleasant recolcctions were con-
nected with that old milk-room, yet | could
not remember when my John had left the
milk for me to strain, as did Armies John.
Four years had passed since we lett the old
farm and came here to live. We did not
want to dispose of the farm so we had let it
year after year to the fine young far mer,
John Brock. He had married the gentle
Annie Brooks, the teacher Of our district.
school,
She was beloved by US all. Left at an
early age an orphan, she had adopted teach
ing as her business, aud by her loving, gen.
Tie ways had won the hearts of both children
and parents aud We were glad when our
farmer John chose her from among our girls,
and took her to the farm to live. Glad that
we could still keep her with us and we hoped
that the fresh air of the mountain farm
might bring the rose to her pale cheeks
But unused to the framework like our noun
tain girls, she had grown more wan as the
years PASSED, and that night walking home
in the October twilight, the remembrance OF
her pale face haunted me, aud shadow
seemed to follow me even to my own door
knew John loved Annie, yet was thoughts
less like many other farmers. IL is mother
had always done the work on tho large farm
at home, and he did not stop to consider the
difference in the life Annie had led, ant
busted with his teamwork, he did not notice
how thin the sweet face had grown.
The next morning John came down from
the farm with troubled face; "Aunie wal
sick and would go up and see her 2"
hurried up to tho farmhouse and found
Annie had not left her room that morning
She had su iferod through the night from I
sharp pain in her side,
We pass over a short month, for we cal
speak of it only with sorrow. Slowly Blu
surely she faded as the flower from our sight
and ere the ftosts OF winter came we laid he
in the old church yard to rest.
had no words of reproach for our John
for with her departure the sunshine had lief
his home. But lot our young farmers tax
warning from this true sketch. In you
selection for wives, choose one your mat
in physical strength or do not expect her :
do the work your mothers have done.