Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-02


a hard winter for the poor so many are
out OF employment, and early as ii is, the
weather is bitterly cold. We shall have a
hard struggle 10 combat the wretchedness
and disease that cold aud hunger bring in
their train, and great efforts must be made
TO bring assistance 10 the poor creatures"
"Coud help you, Howard7"
"Do you really wish to2" And an
eager, questioning look came into his eyes,
accompanied With glance of admiration
such as he had never bestowed upon her
before.
81 will try, If you will tell me how"
"Was it kindness to that poor boy that
brought you TO Baxter Street to day,
Maud ?"
ayes, Howard" smiled Maud. at was
affection for Jenny, pure and simple, that
spraug into existence upon an scquain-
tance of half an hour, which made me for
sake the sacred precincts of the Avenue
and come TO Baxter Street to-day. Have
your approval, most reverend Sir"
"God bless you, dearr
What a wealth OF tenderness went into
those four words! Then, with single
clasp of the hand, he stepped aside to let
her pass, and Maud went on, with Jenny
clinging TO her skirts. What had happened
TO Baxter Street? Whence had como the
light that lit up the loathsone tenement
until it shone like a palace? what made
the filthy sidewalk seem a path through
fairyland? and whence came the glory that
gided the horrible surroundings with such
n al raj
Maud saw the illumination, and she thought
it came from the light in Howard Laugly's
eyes.
thus Jenny went to live in the Fifth
Avenue with Maud, whom lie worshped
with all the strength of his grateful little
heart. lie ad coat now full of bright
buttons, like that Of the wonderful Jeems,
ice used TO tell him about. His principal
duty was to open the great doors of the
vestibule for the entrance Of Miss COngdon's
guests. Aud the one who sought admis-
sion oftenest and received the warmest
welcome Was the Rev. Howard Langly.
Maud's hrSt expedition 10 Baxter Street
was not her last. The barriers or indolence
and selishuess that incloscd her heart had
been shaken by the appealing touch of
Jemmy's little hand, and melted away al
together through the eunobling influence
Of Howard's grave and earnest teaching.
More and more chilly grew the search
ing winds. coming steadily from the north;
louder were heard the sad stories Of priva-
ton and suffering among the poor and
cold aud grim and bitter, the winter settled
down upon the city. Faithfully and earn
esily Howard worked day 10y day, endeav-
oring TO alleviate, so far a. lay in his pow
er, the misery hc saw around him; and
Maud shook hersefirce of the many claims
that society made upon her. to follow him
in his wanderings and assist him in his ar
duous work. Side by side they breasted
cold and slee. and snow TO carry comfort
and consolation to the wretchcd homes
where disease ami de.ti!ution were holding
their horrid carnival. Together they set
themselves 10 work 10 arrest the progress
of the war OF destruction waged against
their helpless ellGw-beings by starvation
aud sickness, stalking together hand in
hand. Many a hungry mouth they fed,
many shiveIlng form they clothed, and
many bitter and despairing heart they
checrcd and comforted. But to Maud and
Howard it seemed as If little had been ac-
co mpiished by their earnest efforts in COM
parisou with all ttere was TO do, aud their
hearts were oneu heavy with the thought
when they returned 20 their homes in The
gray twilight, weary with their days ofk.
When Maud reached her house at eve
ming after her visits among her poor fri, nds,
Jenny was always waiiirg al the door
ready to iCceive her, full Of eager ques-
tious and overwhelming in his loving at
teniions. Then he would follow her to her
room, aud after convincing himself that
she had every thing about her that could
Contribute 10 her comfort, would creep
quietly down stains and wait patiently for
her to arpear.
Jenny, you liple Gre-worsbiper," ex-
claimed Maud one evening, as, rested aud
refreshed hy a bath aud a fresh toilet, she
entered the drawing room and found the
child standing upon tho hearth gazing
earnestly into the depths of the brilliant
fire. "What are you thinking about?"
"Thlnking how nice and warm and COM
Portable it is here, and how dreadful it used
to be out in the streets all alone in the
cold - aud Jenny shuddered at the recol-
lection of his old sorrowful life, and the
tears came into his eyes. 'Oh, Miss Maud,
you are so good 10 me, and l love you SO r
Then he came close to where she stood,
and softly kissed the hand that hung at her
side on a level with his lips.
"Dear little Jenny! Have made you
happy, little boy, since 1 have had you
-,
him and drew him tendeIly to her breast.
Thus Howard found them locked in each
others arms, with the dusky shadows OF
twilight gathering around, and the ruddy
tire.lght cleaning on their happy faces.
Tenderly he bent over them, and gently
raising Maud, transferred the cInging hold
of her yielding hands from the neck of the
boy to his own broad shoulders.
evil you give her TO me, Jemmy?'
"No," said Jenny, sloutly; and as How.
ard led her TO sofa and seated her by his
side, tho boy followed them, aud buried
his head in her lap.
"IIalf of her, then, JemmyH" smiled
Howard.
ayes, half-perhaps," said Jenny, his
regard fer Howard struggling hard with
jealousy in his generous little soul.
Aud thus, with Jemmy's arms around
her neck and Howard's round her waist,
Maud sat, subdued ana silent with the
sense of her own exquisite happiness, until
Jeems the magnificent, in all the glory of
holiday attire and preternaturally shiny
boot legs, broke in upon the quiet scene,
aud announced, in his solemn tone, "Din-
nerp
"Oh, horror p shrieked Mrs. Grundy-
"only the assistant at st. Jerome's."