Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

ugly ana so helpless, buDl cried Wnen MS
father spoke so roughly of him, but his mother
wiped his tears with her coarse apron and
said "Never mind, poor boy. | will buy
you something nice next time go down TO
sell my lace" for she used to make lace and
sell IL to the fine ladies who went by in the
diligence. So one day she bought him a
wooden toy representing a goat, carved by
Pete, who lived along the Black Lutschine,
and who made his living by such work.
Rubi thought the goat was not as natural
as it might be its head seemed too small, and
its legs too long, but he did not say so to his
mother, for although he was only deformed
little Swiss boy, he had finer feelings than
some other better folks, and he was very
thankful TO his mother for her kindness, al
though he did not think much of his present
as work of art. He kept constantly look
ing at the i'll shaped goat, and wondering il
he could not carve il he should try
He was so persistent in asking that finally
his mother got the necessary tools for him,
and he not only succeeded but he soon be-
came very expert. He worked daily in his
fathers absence. He would often say,
"Dear mother, if can be as good wood
carver as some have been, then should not
be burden to you"
"You are not burden to me- Rubi," she
would reply; "you are the comfort of my
life !" then his mother would kiss him and
thus these two seemed dearer to each other for
the very helplessness of poor Rub and his
dependence upon her love.
One cold autumn day, Christen aud Jose
were near the deep gorge between the Jung
frau and the Wengernalp, and they were
caught by the severe storm. Oh what
storms those Overland giants can get up
among themselves Christen was brought
home with broken leg, trying to save Jose,
who fell. "There will be no one to support
you now," groaned the father; that poor,
helpless Rub will be more of burden than
ever, and you, the mother, will get blind
over your lace work if you have to support
us all"
Not so, father" cried Rubi :" | have a
| little money here have saved up Take it,
use it, it is all yours" The father did not
know how the boy earned the money; he
thought it had been the gift of some traveller
who had taken compassion on the poor de
formed lad. The money which had been
paid from time to time at the wayside by
those who had purchased Rubi's carvings
was soon exhausted, because it was only pc
destrians who used that mountain path, and
Rubi had little chance of selling his work
| Then how hard the poor mother had to toll
and Rubi cried every night to think that he
was only burden, and could not support
his mother as he hoped.
One day there were footsteps heard with
out, and in came Hottinger, the rich dealer
IN carved work. In his hand he held a del
icate carving of chamois climbing over
the rocks. "Does the boy who carved this
live here ?" he asked.
"No," said the father from his bed in the
corner, "none live here, but my wife aud
and that poor, helpless creature yonder. II
only my handsome Joseph had been spared
he could have showed you, sir, the road ovel
to NIeiringen it is there, | suppose, tn,
man lives who carved yonder piece"
"No, father, no." cried poor Rub it is
who carved yonder piece"
"You," exclaimed the father; sir, tn,
boy must have gone crazy. He never carveC
a thing in his life Alas is that to be added
to my misfortunes ? Is the boy to be al
idiot like Jose Horner's children over a
Brienz ?" and he looked at his broken lel
aud groaned, while the tears ran down hi
cheeks
at is very strange" said Hottnger, " TO
the man of whom | bought this told me tina
the boy who lived here carved it, and hav,
come to order some work of him."
The mother was not at home but had gon
to sell her lace, and the father would no
listen to his son. He thought Rub was get
ting crazed, or idiotic, as so many of tn
Swiss are, and he would not allow any OF
ders for copies of the carving to be left will
them, for, as he honestly said he would no
cheat the merchant into thinking that tn
orders would be filed.
As you see, Christen was very honest
| irht for rI fallntu hut q ~ -
a very obstinate one. Hottiuger left to lool
elsewhere for the artist; Rub hobbled on
of the chalet after him.
40 sir, please, | am not an idiot. Fathe
tires of the sight of Inc because am ugl
and misshapen. | am not like handsom
Jose, my brother, hut did, sir, did cary
the piece in your hand" and then Rub
cried from very excitement and eagerness +
make the merchant believe him. But hi
tears and his twitching and trembling oc
casioned by his earnestness did not make hi
appearance more prepossessing, and the ma
was only the more convinced that the fathe
was right and the child was ont of mine
lie thought that the beautiful chamois coul
never have been the work of that miserabl
deformed boy.
. While still the child sat on the roadsid
crying as if his heart would break from tn
disappointment, he saw his mother comm
up the mountain path in the distance. The
his eagerness TO keep the merchant until sh
should come made his manner more Graz
than before, for he knew that if his mothe
reached there before the merchant left sh
could tell him that it was he who had don
the wonderful carving Poor Rub caugh
the merchant by the arm, but it was nc
hard TO shake off child so deformed. The
he put both arms around the merchants lie
so that he could not free himself withou
hurting Rubi. The merchant looked angr,
and the poor boy released his hold an
threw himself flat on the grass with such
, sad and pitiful cry that the merchant stoppe
TO look at him. But it seemed as ii tn
child's heart was broken, and he did nc
even offer to pick up the little copper coin
the merchant threw down before him.
seemed as if the last hope OF getting wor
was gone, and all his dreams of helping SUI
/ port his mother were over. lie must Away
be the poor, helpless burden that he ha
always been.
The merchant was so touched by the loo
of deep distress on the face of the boy thf
he could not leave him, and before he ha
made up his mind as to what he should
Rub's mother came up.
She confirmed what the poor little crippl
had said. Yes, Rubi had indeed carved III
work that was so much admired. tn
e mother was so proud to hear her poor lit
cripple praised that she raised him up tel
derby in her arms, and said He will y,
get work TO do like the workmen in ii
great cathedral
= "Oh, no, MOTHER" he cried, "no one wi
trust in me, no one believes in me; onl
you, mother, had thought to earn som
thing to help you. But | shall always be
burden; the gentleman spurned me; ever,
body hates me only you, dear mother"
lie put his thin arms around her necl
Z and she held him her tears mingled wit
! his, and she wiped them away with h
: rough, coarse hands, for she had know
hard work and much trouble, this poor Swi
mother, and she was the reverse of gay an
fashionable women, for her heart was so
and her hands rough and coarse.
"Nay, my lad, but the rich merchaI
praises thy work and he will order more"
!, And the mother was right; Rub had o
!. ders for as much work as he could do. Il
helped his father more than his handson
brother Jose had ever done. There wei
b none in the family who earned so much fC
their support as the poor deiormed lad, an
he was az patient and as humble as befor
even though he was known through the va
ley as Rubi, the great caryerin wood, instea
7 OF being spoken of as that helpless burde
|. the cripple Rubi.-Christidn Inieliigencer.