Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-27
The Last Customer.

out Of the route of any of the lines which
now, like a network, cross and recross
England.
But in the days of stage-coaches, when
the " llighhyer" or the Rapid " ratified
along its broad street, the passengers beheld
with delight the neat villas, the clean, com
fortable-looking houses, and rosy-cheeked
children that shouted merrily as the coach
went by. There was a dark side TO this
brightness. The great northern road led
through the town, and it was consequently
the halting-place of beggars and tramps Of
all kinds. The lodging-houses that gave ac.
commodaton TO these wayfarers were situ-
ated in dark, dirty alleys, unseen by the
passing traveller who could have little sus-
pected, as he gazed on the vine and jasmine
trellised porches, and the trim front gar
dens of the main street-lligh street-that
behind a scene SO fair lurked so much foul
ness and misery.
On New Years Eve, 1925, John Thur
good stood at the door of his shop, which
was rarely seen open at so late an hour /;
but a. number Of country people, many from
a far distance, had beer making their pui-
chases for the holiday season, and John had
been unusually busy. lie had put up the
shutters, and was taking last look at the
snow which was hurliug in big flakes down
the High street.
"Well, am thankful that this days
work is DONE" he said to himself, and going
in, closed the door.
lie had Just turned the key and shot the
bolts when he heard low, timid tap at
the door.
Now there was not shopkeeper in VIII
ton, who, had he heard that tap at that
time, but would have growled surlily, Go
along with you, whoever you are. \ pretty
time O. night TO be coming, annoying peoplel"
But John Thurgood had kindly heart.
Some folks who could not understand or
appreciate him said he was led more by his
heart than his head. And perhaps he was,
and better it was for the poor and distressed
Of Wilton that such was the case.
The rector excepted, no man was looked
up to with more respect by the townspeople.
Often would many of his poorer customers
get into his debt but if he found that their
inability to pay arose neither from idleness
nor dissipation, he never pressed them for
his money Like his Divine Master, whose
example he tried to follow as closely as frail
humanity can, he went about doing good,
aud his deeds of charity were done in secret.
TO feed the hungry, to comfort the afflicted,
to smooth the bed of death, his purse was
ready as his prayers Many OF his brother
shopkeepers envied his prosperity in busi-
ness, but they had not word TO say TO
his discredit. The highest accusation they
could have brought against him was bis
oyerfiowing goodness.
That low, timid rap did not fall a second
time on the door, for it was instantly opened
by John. Before him, with upturned eyes,
in which there was a strange look Of appeal
mingled with terror, stood decently-dressed
boy of about eleven years Of age.
"Well, my little lad, what brings you
here at so late an hour ?" asked John.
Please, sir" whispered the boy, is it
too late to have penny loaf 2"
"Why have you not come sooner, my
boy 2" he added, for he saw something was
amiss, and he put the question in some
what legal form.
Mother and /, sir have Just come to the
town; we have been walking in the snow
all day, and she is very unwell and she
thinks, sir, if she had something to eat she
would get better"
And where is your mother Just now 2"
- She is in house in Poplar Lane, ]
think the woman told me Poplar Lane"
Johns eyes were growing watery he
knew the house well. 1t was one of the
lowest haunts in Wilton.
There's the loaf, my dear. Hurry home
III not be long in following you"
The form Of the boy disappeared in the
darkness. John went to the back shop
where hung his great-coat, which he fune
over his shoulders then calling upstairs
Margery come down and bolt the shol
door, lass won't be away long" he snatche,
parcel of tea, and another of sugar from
the shelves, and away he ran.
Yes, the staid, sober John Thurgood, age,
sixtyseven, ran down the street, boundin,
over the snow-heaps and half frozen puddle
like schoolboy
Why did not Margery ask her HUSBAND
whittier he was going at so late an hour
| All but these late and sudden departure
of his were not uncommon. She knew wei
that mercy called him away, and she love
him the more, if such a thing were possibl,
the oftener he obeyed her summons.
John was soon at the house of the doctor
his fellow-worker in many good deed, an
in few minutes afterward both stood a
the bedside--if a bundle of straw may
called bed--of the dying woman. She wa
unconscious of their presence. In her han
was a piece of bread which her son ha
broken off the loaf and placed there bu
the arm was too feeble to raise it TO tn
quiyering lips. The doctor stopped to fe,
her pulse. As he gently touched the unr,
sisting arm, he looked sadly for an instar
at the boy, who stood bewildered in cornt
of the room, which was dimly lighted
the sputtering oil-lamp, and whispered I
himself, Poor boyw
John knew the meaning of the look an
the words. The end was come Steppin
over to the boy, he took him gently by th
hand and Snelt down. The boy Instant
did the same
A happy feeling shot through John
heart, for the quick movement of the bo
told him that some one, perhaps his mothe
whose tide of life was almost at its ebb, ha
taught him to pray.
Yes-kind, good John, although unknow
to you at that time, the dying woman ha
been true mother TO the trembling bo
that knelt beside you, and, in the midst {
her many troubles and Affections, had eve
turned his youthful thoughts to that al
loving Saviour, who blessed the little chi
dren, and promised that they should be pa
takers of His heavenly glory Short an
fervent was the prayer of the good man, an
when he arose he saw the doctor layin
across the throbless bosom of the woma
the arm which he had been holding. The
he knew that the boy was motherless, an
he led him away, unresisting from the pre-
ence of death, and giving the keeper OF th
lodging-house some money in order that III
body might not be disturbed the three, III
motherless boy, the doctor and John, passe
out into the lane.
When they reached the High street, I'll