Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-18

| tain urchins TO a sound druDDlng iOr the
unheard Of impertinence Of saying "old
Miss Bray"
II was a pleasure TO hear Father Bray
speak of his wife since the day Sam, the
eldest, had nestled in her arms he had call
ed her "mothor;" boys and girls beside
their own gave her the sweet holy title,
and even the rector OF st. james, man
who rroze all the fun stir wherever he ap-
peared, called her not only "motber Bray"
but declared that sho was "mother in Is
rael."
Far away in the neghboring towns she
was known as skilrul nurse, a trusted
friend, and "a good Christian If there is one
on earth"
Quite as handaome, but little more fee
BILE, was her husband, who pointed out his
age in the old Bible as seventy-two, and
told his friends he chad reached his three
score and ten, and was nov walking on
borrowed ground" Nothing except lis Bi-
BILE pleased the old man so well as a good
listener while he preached from his favor
ito text, "Mother." Hand in hand, heart
answering to heart, they had journcycd on
since the long ago, when she, blushing
bride, had taken him for "better or worse"
Tho years with their joys and sorrows had
bound them closer, and the husband OF SOW
enty-two far surpassed as Il lover the bride
groom Of twenly-four. All his essays on
"Mother" ended with this sentence uttered
in the most emphatic manner, 81 tell you,
no one on earth knows her goodness; but
there, we arc a foolish pair Of old lovers,
Mother and l."
Tonight, while the stranger rested, the
old man pointed out the homes of his chill
dren, and in reply 10 aqucstion OF his guest
as to the means he used to induce them to
remain near thtm, he SAID:
al owned all the land about here, sir, aud
ii always seemed a pity to me TO see idmil
les breaking up and wandering away from
each other; so Mother and /, we talked 1t
all over, and agreed TO treat all tho Lord
sent us precisely alike; and as men mostly
want good homes for their wives and chill
dren II start out with, why, we thought we
might help them so when Sam wanted TO
settle down, we gave him the land aud mon
cy enough to build comfortable house.
Mother kept an account of 1t, and put it
uphu III W nat SUI CdilS lDt ,
book - and three years after we did the
same 10y our first girl, and so on, all but
one-his share is waiting for him, if he
wants it; If not, the Maker knows best"
GLOW many children in all, sir?'
''Fiye about here, sir, one wanderer,
and three with God
The maple leaves fluttered short inter
ludc, aud once more the stranger spoke.
"Would you mind telling stranger
something of your life? Peace aud pros
perily are so clearly yours, would like TO
lind your pathway"
"There is not much 10 tell Sir" the old
man said. al was married TO the best girl
in the next town, and settled down here 10
work. We made our way slowly but sure
ly, adding TO our house as the Lord added
to our flock. If we have been more pros
porous than some, it is all Mothers doing I;
and as to peace she is the best kind of Il
poacomaker. Now and then, when the boys
were small, and things went contrary, why
l used 10 get grain cross, and nervous
like, for I had a temper of my own; but,
bless you, Mother she'd just look up at
me, with those sorrowful looking eyes, and
it always made me feel mean aud bate my
self. She brought her children up so, sir,
her pitiful looks, and her pray crs, did moro
for them than sharp words or n rod. As to
money, the credit is hers for it all the lit
tie man earns don't amount to much, but
the little a woman saves seems to count up.
What with her teaching the boys TO save
school bills, aud patching and making to
cheat the tailor, and turning this and twist
ing that, she always made things como out
right. Why, sir, when l was mourning be-
cause / could not sec my way clear 10 send
Will to college, when l found he was set
about going, she told me not to worry, sho
and the girls would manage it somehow
and they did. sir they sold butter, eggs,
milk, poultry, aud took summer boarders,
working early and late; and Will can hold
up his head with any of your learned men
now. He's got about all the practice he can
attend TO, and is called the hest doctor about
h0re. lie owes il all to his mother and Sis
ters, sir. The children all helped them
selves, and that made things easy. by the
time our youngest boy was ready for school,
l made something handsome by selling a
mill site TO a city company; and since then,
ono way and another, it's been pretty plain
sailing. l wasn't for letting them have it,
| but mother said yes, and / have always
been glad. Our town has grown wonder
fully since then, and these grandchildren
of mine won't he obliged to run away TO
find work. I've always said men don't
| give their wives half credit enough for
their work. 1t seems mean way Of look
| ing at things for man TO expect wife to
| live on less money than one Of these SER
wants our city friends are bringing hero ev-
| cry summer-but there, there's Mother
calling me TO tea she always taps on tho
window that way for me. Walk right in,
sir, and take a cup of tea and home made
bread; It's long way yet TO the tavern,
and Mother never feels put out with un0x-
pected company.
| Tho stranger hositated a moment, and
then accepted the invitation with thanks.
Father Bray introduced him in his own
fashion, saying; "Here's a stranger, Moth
er, TO take bite with us l can't justly
call him by name"
"Josephs, sir" said the stranger, with a
polite bow.
'Yes, yes, Mr.. Josephs, Mothori tell
him we always have room for stranger at
our table"
"InGeed we have sir, you arc heartily
welcome"
"Hannah," said she, addressing her as
sistant, "bring plato for tho gentlemani"
and Mother Bray's hospitality was reused
when tho stranger said it was a long time
since ho had tasted OF homemade bread.
A very pleasant little tea party Of three,
and very social one-for the stranger ask