Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-05
After Many Days.

particular, and had swung wide the door of
his room, which he found ajar when he
paused upon the threshold, amazed at what
he heard and saw.
1t was his sleeping room, aud was richly
furnished. A Wilton carpet of pansies and
forgetme-nots covered the floor lace cur
Jains fell over the plate glass windows the
bed was luxurious, and all about the room
was strewed the bric-a-brac of taste and
travel.
And across the foot of the bed, in soiled
and ragged garments, her face buried in her
unkempt black hair, lay girl sobbing tenn
pestuouslv.
In minute Pleasonton recognized her as
the little maid of all work about the house
"a being he had never given thought to.
But alarmed at her violent weeping, he adj
vanced to the side of the bed and said,
kindly:
what is the matter 7"
She sprang up like flash.
What is that in your hand ?" cried Pleas
nnton, in alarm.
As he spoke he caught the girls hand and
held it aloft.
Her slim fingers were closed around
small wide-mouthed vial, containing pale
powder, and upon the label was the word
" Arsenic"
1t had been left in his care by a medical
student, and she had taken it from little
side room, where were kept brushes and
towels.
"What are you going to do with this %
" | am going to take it."
"Good heavens, child what for 2"
"Because this is a dreadful world" she ex-
claimed, "and want to die. !"
1t would be impossible to express the We
hemence of her word and manner.
Pleasonton looked down at her with his
astonished blue eyes, and she gazed back at
him, with dauntess orbs as black as night.
=" How old are you ?" he asked.
Fourteen"
"What do you know about the world ?'
he asked, turning away with a sigh, and
placing the vial above her reach.
81 know more than | want to" she an-
Swered "My mother is dead / have no
one in the world to love--not a friend any
where-and cannot live sol"
Standing on purple hearth rug, he looked
at her where she stood-a small object, not
looking at him, but gazing through the
plate-glass window into space.
He had been educated to a prejudice
against these kind of people," but Blanton
Pleasonton was cast in a large, generous
mould.
The child was dirty and distasteful to him,
but he recognized her need, and sought to
minister to her condition as kindly as if
she were the daintiest patrician Of his ac-
qualntance.
at is very hard to be alone and unloved,
he said gently; but it is weak and wrong
to try and kill yourself"
al don't care for what is right and what
is wrong | am miserable just the same,
she answered bitterly.
Blanton Peasonton did some hard think
ing for few moments.
as Mrs. Bell unkind to you ?" he asked
at last.
She beats me every day, nearly, becaus,
| don't do my work. | have more than
can do. | cannot rest at night my shoulder
and feet ache so. have to get up befor,
light in the morning, and am so sleepy m,
head aches all day. went to sleep OH tn,
back stairs yesterday, and see there Sh'
beat me over the head and shoulders with
hard brush"
She pushed up her sleeve, showing thin
white arm, black and blue above the elbow
Pleasonton exclaimed with horror and in
dignation. Then he walked twice acros
the floor.
"What is your name ?" he asked, STOP
ping before the child
"Raphaelia Gray. Mamma used to cal
me Rae
"Well, Rae, do you love children ?"
81 love little babies" she answered, be
ginning to cry more softly.
Il think will try to get another plac
for you. | know widow lady who needs
| ,;rI 20 taI,a oora &C hor l;ttIa oLil1 vaar lC
But You would have to be neat and clear
and very careful and kind to the child"
"I would be neat if had any time t
take care of my Clothes" she answered, turr
ing crimson at her tangled black hair, an
dropping an ashamed glance over her persor
"What were you sent here for Y
"To clean the stove"
"Well, do it as well as you can, and wi
see what can be done for you"
He took up the book he had come for, an
went down stairs and out of the house.
A feeling of the deepest pain and syn
pathy possessed him as he took the longe,
way to his office to pass Mrs. Amberley's res
dence. He enlisted the good lady's syn
pathy in behalf of his protege, and had hr
little difficulty in persuading her to try Ra
That evening he rang his bell, and sent fC
the child, who seemed pale and subdueC
She wore the same broken shoes and ding
dress, but her pale skin was exquisitely clea
and her jetty hair smooth
q" have found comfortable home for yol
Rae, aud you can go tomorrow"
She shook her head.
She'll never let me, sir. She took II
till was eighteen"
You seem to consider yourself sort
slave to Mrs. Bell" smiled Pleasonto
But have seen that ogress, my dear, an
she consents to your going so sleep sound
tonight. In the morning | will provide yo
with some decent clothing, aud take YOU
see Mrs. Amberley. There you need n,
be unhappy if you will try to be goo
girl, Rae"
lie was idly twirling hot house rose
, lie spoke; but his attention was sudden
transfxed by the look on the girls face.
"Why, my poor child, are you so glad {
, go ?" he stammered, for the want of som
thing better to say,
"Oh, sir, if you only knew ~
= "Well, well; ii has been hard world fC
you, hasn't it Rae But you'll have ii
little child to love now, and Mrs. Amberlt
will be good friend To you. Do the be
you can and when you get to be a woma
"a good, respectable, kind woman / hop
Rae--you will remember to lend a helpin
haud to some poor child who may be as u
: fortunate as you once We're"
That was all. His charity was eudt
when he took Rae, the next morning, to a
! establishment of ready-made clothing f'
: women, and directed the saleswoman to fu
! nish the little girl with two entire decel
suits, paid the bill, and conducted her
, Mrs. Ambereys house.