Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-07-31

longn neglected TASK ~ lasl,ahd i'izHle
through her tears, said that she hoped
be would indeed, Tho pressure Of ca
lamlty makes some people feel their
nogIcct Of religious observations
very kecnly, and Anthony actually
boughta new key, lloweyerlt was only
tried 10 the bible clasp, for II was hay,
Ing time aud storm Threatened, And
tho children grew up, aud the daugh'
tcs married, tho sous sought their
fortune esewhcre,and still Aunt Doro'
thy's Bible had not been read through,
Poor Anthony had never been
lucky, but in his old age he seemed
to become the prey Of misfortune,
Ills daughters died. Ills sons dis
appeared and were heard OF no more,
Ills health failed-rheumatism cramp
ed his right arm, and his wife grew
feeble aud ailiug, Bit by bit oil their
possession were sold, At an age
when other men only seem elderly
he was quite broken down and at
last, ,pennicss and hopeless, husband and
wife were sent together TO the poor,
house And being so old, and having
been respectable etownsp,oplc.morocver
being just able to nurse each other,
they were merciiully allowed n room
together, contrary to the usual rules,
There, at last, they were stranded,
with few clothes and Aunt Doro-.
thy's Bible IN Anthonys old trunk.
And there as they sat sadly enough
upon the frs. Sunday afternoon,
listening TO the church bells ring An.
,hony said feebly
'Lizzic, we've got time enough now
| reckon III read Aunt Dorothy's
Bible
lie arose aud opened his trunk, and
took tic Bible out and laid it on the
little rine table, and furled the fly
leaves.
at won't be long, Lizzie" he said,
"before our names are here il any one
takes the trouble to write them down.
All, well, it don't matter if no one
does. Lizzie, these leaves stick to-
gether as Il they were--whv. they
are wafered-- some Of them | say,
Lizzie, look at me do look crazy?
"No, Touy,l hope not" said the
old woman, nervously.
"Whats that ?" asked Tony hold
ing out his hand with something in it.
money said the old lady. ga
bank note--a two dollar note. Why
Tony'
"Ilere Is more and more y cried
Tony. "Why Lizzie, see here's a
letter !"
lie put on his glasses. ''lts from
Aunt Dorothy he said. "Listen''
And he read
"DEAR NEPHEW: You always were
unlucky. know that the debts OF that
dredful man married will leave you
without what you expected all your life,
I've been carefaul woman, and I've kept
the money poor father left me. 1t Is
mine-all my own. 1t shan't 90 for any
mans debts, and so I'ye sealed it up in
the Bible for you. I know you're no
great hand to read Scripture, and no doubt
you'll be some time finding it. How
ever, you must get it some day, and I'm
cheating no one. / don't owe penney,
and If laws were right, marred woman's
money would be her own. Take 1t, with
my blessing May it change your luck.
DOROTHY DOUBLE.
Slowly and anxiously poor Tony
read every word. Then tears minglins
with his old wife's. They counted
out the money carefully, over and over
again. Five thousand dollars. Thanks
to that good old aunt, they might
leave the poor house and live respec-
table for the rest Of their lives.
"Well put it IN the bank tomor-
row." said the old man "we might
be murdered tor so much money.
Well beg holiday and take it over;
nobody will suspect poor house folks
of having five thousand dollars about
them. We shan't be molested on the
way"
Next morning, bright with happiness
the poor old man went to ask for half
a days freedom. and having obtained
it, the two went toward the town to-
gether. The day was cold the road
long but they did not feel cold Or
weary. On the way they talked.
They would buy a little house a
little bit of land. Some one would
farm it on shares for them. They
would have servant if they needed
one. All their poverty was over.
"It l had only read the Bible through
before, it never might have been so
bad with us" said Anthony stink
of that
"Don't blame yourself, Tony said