Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-28

All WHO nave Oeen the recipients
kindly deeds from 'Aunty Lee and wh
would like to reciprocato now in her da
OF misfortune. are invited to bring thei
supper to Oak Grove on Thursday at {
O'Clock, and talk the matter up over I;
neighborly' cup of tea"
AT the time appointed had a carriag
come to take my hostess and ME and M,
basket of cake and buns fresh from tn
bakery, to the beautiful grove. As W,
were driven along WAS surprised TO Sc,
so many people, lunch baskets in hand
speeding in the same direction.
" Almost everybody in town is going
said Mrs. Evans, high an low, rich an
poor"
As was being assisted 10 seat a gentle
mntherly little woman spread soft shaw
over the back of the chair intended for
me, and quickly folded another shawl fol
my lame foot TO rest upon.
:" This is Aunty Lee." said Mrs. Evans.
and the sweet faced little woman and
looked into each others faces with a little
curiosity. perhaps, as we'll as sympathy.
and shook hands cordially. 81 don't know
what all these good people are to do with
Elijah and me-" she said with a smile thai
was as genial as sunbeam, :" but the
minister would have US come, and he and
his wife drove around for u.s.
The minister assembled the platform
inst then, and after tenderly yet impressive
y invoking the divine blessing, he looked
down benignly upon the face upturned to
his and with touching intonation of voice
asked Who is my neighbour" He
went on to tell how Aunty Lee had answer
ed that question in regard TO herself
When first became acquainted with
Mr., and Mrs Elijah Lee," he said, Il
was finishing my theological studies here
in the village with DR.. Mills. and they
had just married and settled down in their
little house yonder, which they had in
herited. One day was sent for to preach
on trial in the adjoining town of Luxboro
My only coat WAS worn threadbare and
extensively patched and had no way of
procuring another. Feeling sorely grieved
and dispirited | started out for a walk ;
and for the sake of telling my troubles to
some fellow-creature, and with no thought
OF receiving any aid in the premises,
turned into Mrs. Lees house and read to
her the invitation had had from Luxboro
and frankly told her why could not 90 at
present"
Leave it to the Lord" said the good
woman, and forthwith she proceeded to
take my measure with piece of tape
" Go home," she continued, write your
sermon and come here again Saturday
morning"
81 obeyed. subsequently found that
the woman had actually taken piece of
cloth that she had laid by in the house for
il cloak for herself, and, tailoress rs she
was by trade, had cut and made me a coat
from it. preached my first sermon in it,
and shortly accepted my first call
:" Oh, dear" whispered Aunty Lee from
her seat by my side, hes paid me for
that coat every New Year Day, since,
and it wasn't much for me to do after all.
Major Sanford the richest man in
town, was the next to take the stand. The
old people smiled and nodded their heads,
out The young folks looked at each other
and wondered what he could be indebted
to Aunty Lee Tor.
When | was boy" the major began,
Il was bound out in H TO very,
very bad master, from whom determined
to run away. | availed myself of an op-
portunity to escape one Saturday afternoon,
when | WAS sent TO pasture to salt the cat
tie. came straight over tie mountain to
this place. wanted to get out of the
state as soon rs possible. so l came direct
ly to the bridge down here at the river,
which is, you all know. the New Hamp-
shire boundary. Just after had stepped
upon Vermont soil | overlook, on the road.
MIR. and Mrs. Lee, young people then.
They had n basket and spade and had
been digging up wild flowers to transplant
| in THAR cy,rIon Althnnrh
stranger, they accosted me- kindly. Motto
ME my trouble. Before | knew it had
blurted out the whole story. and had been
invited by her to 90 home with them and
stay over Sunday. | was, of course, only
too grateful to accept the invitation. AT.
ter suppr we set out the plants, and then
Mr.. Lee took me with him down the hill
to the bank of the brook AS we called it
then. and into his little machine shop. l
soon evinced my fondness for tools, and
confided to him an invention that had, in
"A crude form, long had possession of my
brain. Being natural mechanic, he saw
the utility of my invention at a glance.
| The subject was not mentioned on the
morrow, which was a quiet, restful day to
me. Mrs. Lee loaned me a clean linen
suit belonging to her husband, and went
to church with them. The next day Mr..
| Lee went over to H and made terms
with my master because Mrs. Lee said she
could not allow me to feel like rum
away Then Mr.. Lee took me into his
employment and gave me a corner in his
shop where | could, at odd moments,
work at my model. My invention proved
success and made my fortune as You all
know | am thankful, my friends, that |
am able to repair the damages done to the
dear little homestead, and to rebuild my
old friends shop" and Major Sanford SIT
down, wiping his eyes with his handker-
chief, while his delighted audience ap-
plauded vociftrously.
Dear heart" said Aunty Lee to me
.' what was he talking about? He's paid
US over and over, and he's tried and tried
to make Elijah go into partnership with
him, but he wouldn't and | would not let
him.
Then followed one minute speeches by
the score. They kept me three months
when | was sick and homeless, said one
II made their house my home for weeks
when | was out of work." said another
Fen homeless working girls were mar
| rleu In lnelT phTlOT anu went Out iuto tle
world with their blessing. There was a
great number of touching little speeches
from those who had received flowers and
delcacies in illness and warm garments
in times of need.
And so from them all flowed out contri-
buttons of money, the greater part of
which was safely placed in the bank for
the benefit of The Lees when old age and
falling strength should overtake them.
Dear me-" said Mrs. Evans to Aunty
Lee. you've been a lendn to the Lord,
and he pays the int'rest arter all. never
could understand before; but do now
There are none of us so poor that we
cannot give such as we have. A smile or
a kind word even will come back TO US in
kindness" said Aunty Lee; and we all
brushed away the tears that we could not
suppress while those touching speeches
were being made, and went to our homes. |
OF the poet Whittier, this story is told
q" During the rebellion he was riding in
the cars, and met friend who had just
made Il contract with the government for