Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-30

IcHlnney, clearly defined against the roSY
sky of June sunrise.
Ihen-l shall love him all my life for
that-as we stood utterly desolate and des-
tltute, Brent Ellis. who had worked like n
giant at the lire engines, came, all black
ened and streaming with sweat, and said,
Marry me, Meta, this hour, so that may
nave right TO shelter all of you. | have
little fortune of my own my father can
not touch, and it will keep us from want,
if no more"
But Meta only thanked him gently, and
clung more closely to our mother. We
began TO realize the scantiness of our raj
ment in the daylight, and were glad to
accept the offer of IL neighbor for tempo
rary shelter. Others came forward, and
We had soon an incongruous assortment
OF cast off clothes at our disposal, and az
rayed ourselves as best We could, present.
ing ludicrous appearance enough, if any
OF us could have raised spirits sufficient to
laugh.
But we were not exactly hilarious. Utter
and entire destitution seemed to have fall
en- upon lis at last, after our long fight
with that traditional wolf who had prowed
so near our doors for the last five years.
We salted our cups of charity Offered
coffee with our tears, and were blind to
the charms of hot cakes Hospitality press
ed upon us.
Neighbors fiocked in to offer advice and
consolaton,and we were touched by gener-
GUS offers of home and food from several,
until we could "look up home" Wherep
What could we look fOrP Cur only home
lay in ashes; our sole possessions were en-
tirely consumed!
For three days we were numbed by
despairing sorrow. "We," means the
three women, for Freddie seemed to look
upon the whole business rs pleasurable
change in the monotony of his existence.
lie had not been SO well fed-indeed l
may say well stuffed-in five wears; for
all the neighbors called him in, whenever
he passed, to offer tit-bits. He had IN en-
tire suit of clothes that were outgrown by
one of the richer boys, and fitting Freddie,
clothed him better than he had been
clothed since his father died, and, best of
all, he took holiday, nobody having
sufficiently recovered their wits to send
him TO school.
AS soon us the ruins of our home were
cold enough TO admit of visiting, parties
of boys began to dig in the ashes for half
burned property, and Freddie narrowed
our sensitive feeling fifty times day by
rushing in with buttons, scraps of metal,
and ruined treasures of every description.
Meta and | summoned up sufficient en-
ergy on the third day to visit my employ
er, who agreed to take my sister for a
short time rs salesWoman. We came
back to our temporary home somewhat
encouraged, to find Brent had been there.
and fully enlisted mamma on his side.
While she was repeating his arguments,
and Meta listened while smile of quiet
happiness ut her lovers constancy, Fred.
die burst in.
Come quick! quck!' he cried. "We'veg
found big iron box under the chimneu-
place. | can't lift it, it is so heavy1 y,
comeI'
He was fairly dragging mamma from
her seat, and hastily throwing shawl
around her, she followed him, Neta and
myself bringing up the rear.
Truly enough, there was large box
under the chimney place, in u hollow,
brcked all around, which had evidently
had IN opening we had never seen. Ii
was large and heavy, requiring the united
force of the family to pull it from its rest
ing place and carry it TO the barn, and put
it down on the floor. There was no kew.
but strong lock, and after due delibera-
tion we sent for Il hatchet, and, by dint
of much perseverance and strength, burst
it open. \
Within-as by that time we half es /
pected-we found Uncle Gordon's boarded
treasures. Bonds to the amount ,of ten
thousand pounds; one hundred and gwen
ty pounds of gold; case of uncut gems,
not very valuable; package Of private
letters, an old-fashioned watch and chain.
and miniature portrait of q lady, opening
out field for our speculations rs to some
romance Of the past we had. never suspect
cd in our uncle's life.
lhere was no one to dispute our moth
er's claim to the property, all safety de-
posted in bank before sunset, and our
troubles seemed at last to be over.
John Ellis, whom hate most cordially, \
and shall while live, called upon mamma
in few days, and most gracefully with |
drew his opposition to his sons marriage.
We took his condescension &or exactly
what it was worth, but were more than
happy at the thought of tewarding Brent's
faithful love.
Our new house, butt on the site of the
old one, Is but a rce'my two story cottage,
but home-like SID cozy, and our house
warming was tho welding of Brent and
Meta, where Freddie and | ofliciated AS
groomsmAn and bridesmaid, and clear
mamma seemed to throw off twenty years
OF her age when she put on lavender
silk dress and wound her heavy hair in q
ceronet upon her head in heRor of the
bridal. ~
Brent would have no part of mammals
money settled upon his wifi but he was
u loving adviser as 10 its investment for
our support, and we make occasions for
tcward the house keeping
treasures Of the young couple to keep up
of II fair division of the in
come.
Freddie plumes himself greatly upon
tive fact that his bright eyes discovered
The hoard that so improved our fortunes;
and IT has become II habit with us to date
all events in our family history us having
occurred before the fire" or after the
fire -