Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-21
Mother and I.

spot OF any one possessing the least adlnl-
ration for nature. Two old-fashioned cush-
ioned chairs sat side by side, and near them
little rustic table with some newspapers, a
copy of 1" Stepping Heavenward," and half
knit blue yarn sock lying upon it. One
chair was empty. for Mother Bray was look
ing after supper" and Father Bray occupied
the other and gave the stranger cordial
invitation to take a seat at his side.
The stranger accepted readily; in fact, he
looked so weary, this quiet festing-place
seemed a delightful haven. "What lovely
spotl" " he exclaimed, as he gazed about
him "this is indeed a home
In front of them a smooth lawn. with
shaded pathway leading to the gate at which
the stranger had fingered few moments
since. On the right, separating the lawn
from the carriage way, was low lattice
fence, almost concealed by a luxuriant
growth of honey-suckle, known to the peo-
pie as perpetual bloomer," and to the chill
dren as a friend that always held ont to
them a tempting spray, and proved itself n
public benefactor by filling the air with its
delicate perfume. Beyond similar lattice
on the left. covered with woodbne, lay the
kitchen garden, the equal pride and delight
of Father and Mother Bray. Directly before
the house, or rather before the gateway, ran
the country road much used, being the most
direct way to the all-important "mill."
Across the roadway neatly kept gardens and
pretty homes attracted the attention. while
woods and hills stretched far away. The
houses. five in number were owned and oc-
cupied by the children of Father Bray, who
boosted early and late of the five homes
with the best and happiest grandchildren
the world ever saw
While the stranger gd2ed about him,
Father Bray gazed at him; at length he said ::
Travelled far to-day, sir ~
"Yes. sir long distance"
Business in these parts may be y
Not much," said the stranger, in a care
less tone only looking after specimens
"Oh !" said Father Bray, with vivid
recollection of two specimen hunters of a
previous season who had filed the best
china basin in the strangers room with all
manner of creeping things, and whose ex-
ploits with some turtles had caused all the
Young Brays to go extensively into the
turtle business but the old gentleman did
not allude to his former guests.
This is the sweetest place have seen in
wears" said the stranger. as he lifted the
blue yarn stocking from the little table.
"That's mothers work" said Father
BRAY; she's always knitting for some of
her boys or the boys children. Mother
never likes to be idle.
The stranger held the knittiug-work care
fully. almost tendery, and seemed lost in
thought At last he placed it on the table
and said to his new friend:
"You have certainly something here good
sir, which money cannot purchase, and which
in my wanderings | have longed for-a
happy home"
Father Bray was one of those delightful
old people it is sometimes our good fortune
to know. lie could talk so checrily of tn,
past, so happily of the present, and so hope
fully of the future, it was pleasure to heal
him. He never treated you to a chapter OF
the sins of the present time, and the virtue
of the past; of the good girls and boys il
his day. and the vicious ones of nowadays
on the contrary, he often declared that hu
man nature was much of a muchneSs jus
about as it always was" Mother was hi
model woman, and lovely woman she was
still erect, although nearly seventy. rosy
checked bright-eyed and kindly-faced; sh
spoke to you i'll sweet, gentle voice, AM
looked so charming under her white muslii
cap, you would forget yourself If a stranger
and call her Mother as sincerely rs he
own proud children. just the same, yea
after year. " Mother Bray" never seeme
old or seemed to grow old in fact, some q
the younger members of the flock have bee
known to treat certain urchins to a SCUM
drubbing for the unheard impertience G
saying old Mrs Bray"
1t was pleasure to hear Father Bra
speak of his wife; since the day Sam, tn
eldest had nestled in her arms he had calle
- hp, and o,ir hasi1a tbai
own gave her the sweet, holy title, aud eve
the rector of St. James, a man who froze a
the fun stiff wherever he appeared, Gale
! her not only :" Mother Bray" but declare
, that she was " Mother in Israel"
Far away in the neighboring towns 81
d, was known as skillful nurse, truste
friend, and "a good Christian, if there
. one on earth"
> Quite as handsome, but little moi
feeble was her husband, who pointed out h
age in the old Bible as seventy-two, and tol
. his friends he had reached his threesco
and ten, and was now walking on borrowe
> ground" Nothing except his Bible please
the old man so well as good listen'
. while he preached from his fayOrite tex
Mother" Hand in hand, heart answeril
" TO heart, they had journeyed on since I'll
. long ago, when she, blushiug bride, ha
= taken him for " better or worse" The year
u with their joys and sorrows. had bour
I them closer, and the husband OF seventy-tv
" far surpassed as a lover the bridegroom
!, twenty-iour. All his essays on Mother
y ended with this sentence, uttered in Il
70 most emphatic manner, "l tell you, no OF
:, ON earth knows half her goodness; b.
= there we are a foolish pair of lovers Moth
:, aud l."
\ Tonight, while the stranger rested, Il
u old man pointed out the homes of his ch
Z dren, and in reply TO a question of his que
- as to the means he used to induce them
!, remain near him, he said
u u =" owned all the land about here sir, al
u it always seemed a pity to me 10 see famili
T. breaking up and wandering away from ea
y other, so mother aud | we talked it all ov
l. aud agreed to treat all the Lord sent us p
y cisely alike, and as men mostly want 90
|" homes for their wives and children to st;
', out with, we thought we might help them,
u when sam wanted to settle down we ga
u him the land and money enough to build
4 comfortable house. Mother kept an accou
~ of it, and put it down in what she calls t
~ 'chidrens book, and three years after
~ ~ did the uame by our first girl, aud so ON,
I" but one-his share is waiting for him, il
WANTS lbf II llhNs tll' NhuhNI hhhNN btNNs
W How many children in all, sirY'
lo "Five about here, sir, one a wander
" aud three with God"
vi The maple leaves iluttered short int
lude, and once more the stranger spoke:
Would you mind telling stranger sor
ot thing of your life Peace aud prosper
er are so clearly yours would like to find yc
X pathway"
m "There is not much TO tell, sir" the
ld mau said. 50 was married to the best G
U.s. in the next town, aud settled down here
Is work, We made our way slowly but sure
I'd adding TO our house ms the Lord added
ne our flock. If we have been more prosperC
~ than some, it's all mothers doing and as
ill peace, she is the best kind of q peace-mak
Id Now and then, when the boys were sm
We aud things went contrary, why used to
lg grain cross and nervous-lke, for | ha'
Id temper of my own; but, bless you, mott
GO she'd Just look up at me, with those SORE
oi full looking eyes, and it always made me I
IN mean and hate myself. She brought
children up so, sir her pitiful looks, and