Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-02-20
WHOLE No, 1852
lnvallds In Florida,

u January day, said hiss Wailace, h
she leaned back eonterledly In deck
chair, aud surveyed the distant banks
on either side Of the broad st, Johns,
and the euying white wake left by
iron wheels on the calm wafer,
"The air has the suggestion OF
chillness, az II It were a sprirg morn
Ing, hut the sun makes my very heart
warmer than 1t ever was at home--at
least In winter, A little more aud
might almost feel afiectionately dis
posed towards my fellow travellers,
though ] do not see prepossesslng
face among them, What if we should
find ourselves in no more congenis
society n, Onoro I"
Then we should have to make the
best Of our situation, and probably
find some noble and loyeable qualities
even In people who look as unin,erest.
ing as most Of these do" replied
PhGbc, her eyes resting upon tall,
pallid woman. who regarded Miss
Wallace with stares that were become
ing more and more disconcertng to
that young lady,
After while she advanced and
seated herself beside Miss Hayes, as il
impellcd By tho desire to converse
with some one, and asked questions
Of \ personal nature, where they came
fron and where bound to, etc F.; re
marking that Miss Wallace looked SO
much like friend of hers that she
could hardly keep her eyes away from
her, which indeed seemed to be the
case. Matte grew Indignant, aud
tried to silence the inquisitive female
by a frosty manner, but failed to effect
this, and the great black eyes contlnu'
cd to stare at her
"IIain't you got the consumption !"
then asked this curious traveller
Tha! being question no one cares to
have presented in point blank style,
Miss Wallace may, perhaps, be par
doned for replying tersely aud with Il
frown, "No, haven't. Have you?"
"Why, no, the woman answered.
health at all. / come from the town
of Stark, in this State-thats my
home-and I'm 4 takin this ere jour
ney for the good OF a young person
who's been stayin' at my house for
her health. She's a northern girl,
and of course 'twould be her death to
90 home now with her lungs so bad;
SO the next best thing was to go to
Pila,ky, where she's got friends that
can do more for her than l could, and
I come along with her, for she's too
sick to travel alone
"And did you leave your home and
children (for l believe you told us that
YOU had some little ones) to take care
of this young stranger g. said Phoebe,
with interest shining in her eyes.
"Well, what else could l do for the
poor dear And, BESIDES added the
gaunt woman, her sallow face bright
ening with a new expression, "dont
you know 1t says in the good Book
Il was stranger and ye took me in,
and something about its bein' noticed
by the Lo.d as done for Him when we
do for any of His people ? must 60
and see if she don't want some ice
water," she said otter pause, and
went into the cabin to wait upon
frail young creature, whom the LADIES'
had noticed with pity, wondering what
friends she had on board.
"Phebe," SAID Miss Wallace, with
little tremor in her voice, u am
sor"s snubbed her, / forgive her
stares, for she is one of the Jewels
the book of Malachi tells OF"
Her repentance was not without
fruits. tor she soon found an opportun-
ity TO comfort the invalid girl with
her cologne bottle and a few sym.
pathizing words, and addressed her
protector with kindness not unmingled
with respect From a Winter in
Florida, in Ne,c Dominion Monthly
for February.