Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-12

! brilliant show of geraniums in the window.
Hewitt may be excused the pride with which
he opened the door and ushered the stranger
into his home Golfers all have large fires,
| but Wills glowed over a hearth rs white as
snow. Golfers generally indulge in furniture
far above their station, but Wills mahogany
bedstead and chest Of drawers and eight-day
clock were spotlessly bright and clean. Strips
of gay carpet made the secured floor look pic
turesquo. Snowy china, bright tins and
brasses, patched quilt and cushions, and per
feet luxury of spotless pillows, gave TO the
small Apartment kind of bright and homely
| beauty to which no heart could be insensible
Not the least pleasant feature in this picture
was little. rosy, smiling, dumping of wo-
man setting round table before the cozy
| hearthstone. II was not lawful or usual for
| Will TO enter by the front-door when he came
home from the pit, and any wife might justly
| have got little cross at two such dirty in
trudcrs But Phoebe only made them stand
still while she ran for a strip Of sacking for
them to walk on.
Its to the back kitchen an the wasl-tubs
you'll go first, my lads" she said; but she
shook her head at Will, and nodded and smiled
at Rex in way that made both men feel as if
life might be a possibility-nay even n good
thing, in spite of all. An hour afterward,
when they had become white men again, when
they had drunk pot of strong tea. and eaten
between them n joint of meat and n pan of
Drowned potatoes, VIII was quite sure of it.
He drew his armchair to the chimney-corner,
lighted his pipe and watched Phoebe tidy
ing up" with full sense of content. Life
can he complete in very small measures, and
Wills cup was full
Happily, Rex and he had n hobby in COM
mon both were fond of music Will got out
his violin, played few dolorous tunes, and
then. with an air of intense satisfaction, hand
ed it TO Rex. Rex took it at first reluctantly,
but, after few bars, the mighty passion mas
| tered him, and he played and played until, in
his own enthusiasm. he did not notice that
Phoebe was crying softly to herself, and Will,
with Il hand ON each knee, was watching him
with the same soft, charmed expression that
baby sung to sleep wears.
After that Rex did rs he pleased with PhUbe
and Will Hewitt
Hes no just a common lad. a." said Phoebe
n few weeks after, TO one of her cronies.
Hell niver let me lift heavy weight or do
a hard job if he's round an rs for music
| and flowers. he's Just eXtraor'nar If he'd mob
but 90 to chapel he'd be a lad in a thousand
Perhaps among the pitmen lie was scarcely
so well understood yet n good deal of what
they called his ''quality-wnys" were forgiven
for the sake Of his unfailing kindness TO the
lille lads who spent their wrctched youth,
hanoss,d with ropes and cut by cords, drag
ging heavy coal-baskcts ont Of seams so low
that horses could not be used No one struck
the weary children. if they fell asleep or gave
out, in ReXs presence; for he had habit of
striking bnck for the children, and people who
felt ReX's hand once never cared about feeling
it again. He had days of sulking, too, when
he ate his hunk of bread-and- bacon at noon in
the great cOal-hall where the men gathered,
without n word or smile But, then, when he
did choose to join in a game of bowls or quoits,
or to fiddle to their rude and noisy dancing,
he was the very king Of good fellows.
One evening, when he had been working
| several months in the Lowther Pit lie came
home in unusually low spirits 1t was harvest
time, and all day long in the dreary darkness
| he had been unable to forget the windy wheat
and the happy laborers in the yellow meadow
lands He heard Phoebe laughing and talk
| ing in the front-room, and, supposing there
was company, lie almost mechanically took
more than usual pains with his appearance.
| Very glad was he of it when he went for
ward, for at the sunny window beside the
white muslin and the scarlet geraniums sat
very pretty girl
This is Bessie-my little Bessie. " said the
| proud mother; and Rex looked and wondered,
and wondered and looked. For Bessie was
| like none of the colliers' daughters lie had ever
seen. She was prettly clad ip blue muslin.
and the dress, folded carefully back, showed
| n snowy petticOat aud stockings. and neat little
low shoes tied with bows of blnck ribbon.
| There were real lace rufile and pretty pink
| ribbon at her throat her hands were white
and soft; her skin fresh and fair her whole
| appearance sweet, modest, and refined.
| Rex knew something of Bessie. Over and
over again lie had heard of the ''well-to-do
| aunt under-housekeeper of Lowther Castle" +"
through whose influence Bessie had been tax
en- into my lady's nursery. How it was he
could not tell, but the moment Bessie looked
into his face a new daybreak shone over his
| life That moment he loved her
Bessie had brought good news; She had
been promoted, and would have a day off
every two weeks. Rex could scarcely hold
his cup when he heard it. Such tea-table as
| that was can only be found in Loveland
| Then, after tea, he walked with Bessie and
| VIII over the fields to Lowther Castle. The
haryest-moon was in the sky they had lost
| sight of the Stag, and cinders, and coal-dust ;
they had come from land like the mouth of
he'll into one fragrant with ripe wheat
and dropping apples; and by-and-by they
| We're among the beeches and lawns of Lowther
Park.
Then viii kissed Bessie, and bade her ''be
| good lass and read her Bible :" and Rex held
the soft little hand n moment in his. If he
| had kissed her too. it would have been moth
ing out of the way. Collier customs would
have quite permitted the freedom, but il new
er entered Rex's mind to take it.
Next morning Rex was in one of his darkest
moods. The weather had suddenly changed
it was cold and wet, and viii declared he was
too sick TO go work. Rex went alone to the
| pit-mouth, and stood for shelter under the
| blackened sheds till the banksmen were ready
to send them down. Every one seemed cross,
and many We're complaining to the wasteman
of bad air. in the pit. Suddenly pompous
little man in the dress of a constable appeared
among them, and in an authoritative voice
asked for one David Hartly A rapid move
ment of the men put Dave in the background,
and his fellows with anything but civil re-
mark, said, Dave was down-pit." Nothing
daunted the man of law demanded to be let
down in search of him.
Put him down, an be DANCED to him -
said several men, in tones which might have
alarmed any prudent man.
Rex approached the officer You'll be a
wise man to stay above-ground sir"
'Tm no coward, by George It's my duty
to secure David Hartly and I'll do it if go
| to"
"Tve warned you. Do as you like"
The banksman expressed perfect willingness
to put him down, and perfect ignorance of
Dawes whereabouts in the pit-''though't
m'appen the CieicerS knew it was none of his
| business"
I'm go down with the gentleman" said
Rex, seizing the rope, and down they went to-
gether. When they got TO the bottom of the
shaft, Rex said; IF you have had enough of
this, sir I'll see you to the top again. You'd
better go back"
mo, by George! I'll have my man."
Every well yonder is one of the viewers.
l must go to my seam"
Rex thought no more of the constable until
noon. Then, in the great hall when the men
gathered, he heard them havoring their bread
and bacon with rude jokes about him. Dave
Hartly was meTriest of all whatever tronble