Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-01
An hour ago he could have saved this man,

An hour ago he could have saved this man.
soul and body. Now
II am afraid it's Of no use. " said Mr. Holt
"The poor fellow has given his life for you"
Nicholas drew back TO make way for the ply
sicians.
He stood under the cedar. Sarah spoke to
him and touched him, but he did not see nor
hear her. The blood Of his brother cried
against him from the ground. He remember
ed Jack, when they were at school together.
What warm-hearted gallant little chap he
was. How he fought all his battles for him.
All the years between were wiped out. He
thought of one day, when their mother took
them home on half-holiday. How happy
they were how they hung about her and
when they fell asleep, how she was kneeling
by their bed, her arms about them both. The
very last thing. they heard her whisper, MY
boys-my boys" He knew now that he could
have saved his brother, and did not.
There was n sudden stir about the pros
trate body. Old Mr.. Holt uttered a fervent
Thank God I"
DO you feel better now, my dear sir p
asked Doctor Peters.
Mr.. Harbour kneeled down beside him.
"Jack :" he cried, "Jack :"
Jack opened his eyes, and shook his head.
Never mind me-" he muttered Don't dis
grace yourself with these people, Nick"
Mr.. Harbour glanced around quickly 1t
was disgrace, damning and lasting. 1t was to
acknowledge his convict father TO give up
Sarah, the life which he had planned for the
hourly, steady companionship of this man.
But his face glowed with the old love Of his
youth.
"This is my brother gentlemen" he said,
my mothers son.
There was a moment of startled silence
Sir, said Mr.. Holt, your brother is a brave
man." They had all something hearty and
cordial to say. Jack was the hero of Kerrs
Ford.
BLESS my soul, sir, said the old gentle
man. drawing Nicholas aside, presently II
understand your trouble. My boy Tom is
precisely in the same case. l cured him.
No better man now in Detroit. Sober. God
| fearing"
Cured him-how z"
kept beside him, night and day. Never
let him touch the accursed stuff. Oh, it can
be done And, of course, it's your duty-a
much nearer duty than the people of Kerr's
| Ford"
The way suddenly seemed easy and plain
enough to him For two years he followed it,
needs not to say with what pain and prayers,
and sometimes utter hopelessness His chief
helper was Sarah Clevedon. He had thought
poor, drunken Jack, would be the bar be-
tween them he proved the strongest bond to
bring them together. She recognized, as no.
body else did. the man he once was and yet
might be, and Jack, when with this gracious,
simple woman. woke to his old self again.
Rose windows, and caste, and social posi-
tion slipped strangely out of the clergyman'i
sight during these two years of work for hi'
brother and for God and when, at the end OF
them he asked Sarah TO be his wife. he did
not even remember his convict father, nol
any other consideration than that they loved
| one another
There is no more sincere man in the minis
try now than Nicholas Harbour as the people
at Coalport and Kerr's Ford will testify. Hi,
brother. Jack. comes to pay him yearly Wis
IT, He is in business, a free handed, merry
fellow. who will never be rich. people say
But his cure is thorough. He joins in all o.
Sarah's admiration and exaltation of her hus
| band.
Nicholas is like st. Augustine" she said t'
him, the other day. Il was afraid once HI
would be spoiled by the world. But you cam'
Just in time to save him, Jack"
Saved him : st. Augustine: l canno
understand you," exclaims the puzzled Jack
Nor does her husband quite solve her mean
ing. --Rebeoca Harding Doris, in Sunday ~
tfrH0oH.