Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-02

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lures that they can endure such torture
and still live. oh, auntiel did ho ever love
me2"
mo, darling, do not think he ever did.
lie certainly admired you-as who does
not?-and circumstances threw you much
together; but what has Howard Langly,
the hard d-working clergyman, whose par
ish Is in the poorest portion of the city,
whose life is spent among the poor and suf-
ferlng, listening 10 their complaints and
ministering to their necessities, to do with
Maud Congdon, whose talent, wealth, and
beauty place her in position with which
his life of care and toll and sacrifice can
have neither contact nor sympathy?"
"And yet, auntie, l would fling houses,
lands, and jewels to the winds if by 80 do
ing could secure one glance of love and
tenderness from Howard's eyes, such as
fancied he used TO give me during the hap
py days gone by"
"But, Maud" continued the gentle lady,
"with all this passionate love for your
cousin, with all this wild longing for allec.
ton from him, what have you ever done
to show Howard that you sympathized with
his efforts or understood his labors? You
have never attended his church or offered
to assist him in his work"
"Ol, aunlie, stop My money has been
his to distribute as be liked, but 1 can not
stoop to tricks aud articles to win his love.
Would you have me emulate the admiring
spinstors Of his congregation, undertake
district wishing, seek interviews with
hi IN in his vcSlry-Toom, follow him about
among the poor, and surfeit him with a
ma wkish senlimenlally under the cloak
OF charity and religion? Oh, no, no; | can
not do that. But how can l live without
hm?"
"Ob, Maud, how wrong, how wicked you
are How liltl0 you understand life, with
all its responsibilities, its demands for pa
tience, self-sacriice, and unselfishness
| Can you never learn TO look beyond your
self, TO shake of this terrible egotism that
| perva des your whole existence, and in en-
| deavoiing 10 understand and ameliorate
the woes Of others, find medicine for your
own? Lift up your head now, darling,
and look out Of tho window. Do you see
that poor little shiyering boy who is shrink
ing behind the shelter of that opposite door
post, and looking so wistfully over here2
Let us call him in, and listen to his story,
nd try TO holp him. 1t is what Howard
would do"
"Call in your ragged boy, auntie, If you
| will. Is there any more pain in cold and
hun ger, think you, than l am suffering
uow?"
In few minutes Jenny was standing
in the midst OF the beautiful room, gazing
first into the brilliant depths of tho won
derlul sea.coal fire. and then at the bright
| loveiuess OF its youthful owner. The lit
tie street Arab was bewildered by the
" armh and luxury into which he had
been SO suddenly drawn, and irresisiib!y
attracted by the beauty of Maud, as she
asked his name in her soft low voice.
Then lie went over to where she sat look
in Z at him, and laying his band very gent
| ly on her delicate dress, he said, looking
earnestly into her eyes, as you got any lit
tie boysT"
Maud repressed an involun tary shrink
| ing as the dirty little paw was laid on her
knee but as she saw the piieous look in
his eyes, the tears came into her own, and
she answered him very gently, mo, Jem-
my; why?"
"Cos they'd lie 50 happy = aad great
| sigh broke from The quivetng lips OF the
wrctchcd little fellow.
"Aunle," said Maud, "I think l would
| like 10 kiss him if he were only clean"
"Well, Maud, have him washed. Jem-
my, would you like TO be washed?"
"Pd ruther not,' said Jenny, With
| frightened look.
"Why not, you dirty boy?'
1--WE isn't used to it, yer see, down where
| l lives. They does it to us somestimes at
| the House Of Industry They killed
| little fcller that way last week down there.
It's VERY cold being washed, and it's so
nice hersr aud the tears began to roll
down Jemmy's checks. The prospect of
being washed appalled, his very soul but
W hen he looked at his dirty hands and
soiled clothing, and at Maud's sweet coun-
tenance as it bent over him, he reconsider
ed the matter, and said, "If I'll be washed,
will you kiss me2"
"Yes, indeed, Jenny" replied Maud /;
"and we will have no cold water either.
Would you like to DC my little boy, you
poor little thing?'
Mauds heart was melting toward Jem-
my very fast, aud she saw the radiant ex-
preston that illuminated his face at her
suggestion, she forgot her wearinoss, pain,
and passions for the moment in the happi-
ness of the friendless little boy.
"May !, missus-really-reall
Poor little Jenny could hardly bring
himself TO believe that any thing so Won
derful could really happen.
"Really and truly" repealed Maud, smil-
ing down upon him. "And if you will 60
now and be washed, 1 will go home with
you and ask if may have you. Who
owns you, Jemmy?"
"Only mar, and she's got six of u.s."
"And can spare one easily" laughed
Maud.
An hour afterward Jenny and Maud
made their way down Broadway, through
Worth street to Baxter. Oh, the nauseous
smells, the sickening sights and sounds,
loathsome horror of the place! Jenny
lod her into one Of tho rickety old tene-
menls, and in the highest story she found
a wretched family huddled together in one
room, and haggard, sickly woman came
forward, whom Jenny called "mar." The
bargain was soon concluded, the hopeless
mother only too glad TO accept the kind
ness offered to her child, for whom she
could do so little.
AS Maud turned away and commenced
the descent of the dingy staircase, a tall
figure in close fitting clerical uniform
blocked the way, and looking Up, she saw
the strong, quiet features and beautiful
eyes of Howard Langly.
"Maud, what brought you here2"