Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-05

been sick, and there was the doctor, and
Mrs. Jones' Martha Jane to be paid for
minding her and the shop. After this Dick
took the greatest interest in the savings
and the winter months increased them as
if be had brought u blessing.
One night in spring they took the bag
from under her pillow and counted what it
held. 1t was thirty dollars.
"And I'll begin TO make kites tomorrow,
Mrs. Briggs" said the boy, "and you'll see
the custom that will bring, If little
shaver sees the kites, he'll spend all he has
for EN-, and then he'll coax his mother
for more to buy the stick-dates and chew
ing gum. know boys"
"You're II clever boy YOURSELF" said
the old woman, and patted his hand.
1t was plumper hand than il had been
when it picked the crusts from the gutter,
and he wore clean, whole garments,
though they were very course.
"How wrong the neighbors were," she
said. "That boy is the comfort of my
lfe."
So she went to bed with the treasure
under her pillow and slept. Far on in the
night, she awakened The room was ut
terly dark-there was not ray Of light
but she heard Il step on the floor.
"Who is there?" she cried.
There was no answer, but she felt that
some one was leaning over her bed. Then
II hand clasped her throat and held her
down, and dragged out the bag of money,
and she was released, 1alf-Suifocated, she
for moment found herself motionless and
bewidered, conscious only of u draught of
ar from an open door, and Of some confus-
ed noises.
Then she sprang to the door and hurried
into tie shop.
"Dck! Dick" she cried. Dick Dick
help! wake up I'm robbedn'
But there was no answer; the door into
the street was wide open, and by the MOON
light that poured through it she saw, as
she pcered under the counter, that Dicks
bed was empty. The boy wns gone.
Gone! Gone! o that was worse to poor
Granny Briggs than even the loss of the
money! for she had trusted him, and he
had deceived her. She had loved him and
he had abused her love. The neighbors
were right; she was Il fool to trust u
strange street boy, and had been served
rightly when he had robbed her.
When the dawn broke the wise neigh
bors came into poor Granny's shop to find
her crying and rocking to and fro; and
they told her they had told her SO, and she
only shook her head The shop took care
of itself that day. Life had lost its interest
for her Her occupation was gone, but
not with her savings. Money was but
money after all he had come to be the
only thing she loved, and Dick had robbed
her
1t was ten o'clock. Granny sat moaning
by the empty hearth. Good-natured Mrs.
Jones from upstairs was seeing to
things" and trying to cheer her up when
suddenly there came rap on the door.
and policeman looked in.
Mrs. Briggs" he said.
Here she is" said Mrs. Jones.
Yes I'm that wretched critter," said
Mrs Briggs.
Some one wants to see you at head
quarters" said the policeman. There's s
u boy there and some money"
"Dick!" cried Mrs. Briggs. "Oh, l
can't bear to look at him!"
But Mrs. Jones had already tied on her
bonnet and wrapped her in shawl, and
taken her on her arm.
"The wIetch" she said. I'm so glad
he's caught. You'll get your money
back"
And she led Mrs. Briggs along-poor
Mrs. Briggs, who cried all the way, and
cared nothing for the money. And soon
they were at their destination, then, and
not before, the policeman turned to the two
women.
"IIe's pretty bad" he said. They'll
take him to the hospital in an hour, | sup
pose you are prepared for that. He's near
ly beaten to death, you know.
Ibid you beat him you cruel wretchP'
said Mrs. Briggs. 1" l wouldn't have had
that done for twice the money Let him
90 with it, fits amy comfort to him."
L beat him" said the nun. Well
women have the stupdest heads. Why, if
hadn t got up when | did, he'd have
been dead. lie held the bag of money
tight, and the thief was pummelling him
with loaded stick; and the pluck he had
for a little shaver-I tell you never saw
the liko!m
:, - You shan't take grannys money from
b her, says he, and fought like II little tiger
It fits your money, old lady, he's given his
. life for it, for all that know.
# Then poor Mrs. Briggs clapped hei
n hands and cred
+ "Oh, Dick! Dick! l knew you were
n good. must have been crazy to doub
e YOU" and then she wrung her hands ant
n cried: "Oh, Dick, for such paltry bit o
t money" and 50 she knelt beside the pale
still face upon the pillow, and kissed it
e and called it tender nal les.
u And Dick, never guessing her suspicious
of him, whispered:
n IL was so afraid he'd get of with it i
v he killed me, granny, and you in such higt
l. hopes last night.
:, lie did not know what she meant by
d begging him to forgive her. 1t woulC
have killed him if. he had, for he was very
y near death.
/. Bnt Dick did not die He got well al
S last, and came back to the little shop; and
though Granny Briggs had her savings
}, she never went to the Old Ladies Home
; for long before she died Dick was one o
Il the most prosperous merchants in the city
and his handsome home was hers, and SHE
1t was very happy in it.-PrinntiUe Metho
djS!