Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-11-13
A Touching Incident.

Nearly all the ornaments in this room
have story attached to them," | said to Il
friend as she WAS admiring an exquisite
| little bust of Charles Dickens that stood on
! top of one of the book cases in my library.
One sunny day last autumn little
Italian boy came along to my door with a
basket of plaster Paris wares on his
head.
They were very pretty, and the chill
dren almost went wild over them. as coun-
try children always do over any unusual
display.
You have no bust of Dickensp' / said
to the little fellow, after | had looked over
the articles and had bought lovely vase
80 Deekens?' he said. in his funny,
broken English, looking puzzled at first;
but presently smile broke over his fair,
bronzed young face as he went On Deck
ems 6uStO-write storirs-Litlle Nell
Then. pointing out of the window. he
said Snow bome-I bring hin not then.
snow 60 away, come again; then l bring
Dickens, lady,
e" We were preparing grapes for pre-
serving, and when Minnie gave him Il
nice, large bunch which, running out into
the garden, she had picked from the trel-
| lis purposey for him, and | had given
him few pleasant words, the qualification
he showed Was touching to see.
- lie SoRo intinitan,ente Obltrdto as
we might say. am ever 50 much obliged
to you he said, The tears glisteniny in
his shining black eyes. God bless Ia
dees he continued. smiling, and turning
round TO bow again rs he passed out ct
the yard.
We spoke of him several times during
the winter, and planned, idly, as we then
thought, where our prospective bust OF the
great story-teller should be placed.
| lone pleasant morning in May, as
was assisting John in getting my flower
beds ready for the bulbs and seeds. /
heard the latch in the dooryafd gate rattle,
and turning around, saw another plaster
of-Paris vender coming up the walk, smil-
ing pleasantly, as he placed his long tray
of pusts and vases upon the ground.
My thon 5hts Immediately flew to the
little Italian boy who had called in the
autumn previous, and seemed grateful for
he bunch of grapes my sister had given
him, and had promised to bring US the
bust of Dickens.
But this young italian was not the
same person; although he resembled him
very much. he was good deal older.
- hat bring re bust of DICKENS to re
lady he said bowling as | approached
| him.
- But you are not the one who was to
bring it,!
- No, no, lady, he replied very sadly;
he vas my brodder He now in Heater.
lie died, ii vas so cold. But he say many
times, SOM day Re co Id snow 90 away and
| sal carry re busto of Dickens TO 20 lady
where ~ grapes grow But he died, and l
hat come to carry it,
- How did you find the placer we
lsked, rs we brushed away the tears we
could not suppress 1T the touching little
recital
Oh he told me, my brodder. to come
by r. church wiz re clock and re yellow
house and | sal come to re house with
many grape vines-one in re apple tree,
wiz ze seal under it,
- How much shall pay you for the
Dickens?' asked, rs handed the bust to
my sister and started to 20 for my porte
monnaie.
- Noting, noting; you speak so kind
to my little brolder, and she, pointing &c
my sister, did gif him re sweet grapes,
and he vas SO tired and SO homesick-and
he come not agaIn-oh, | sal now go!
And the poor Italian with tears streaming
down his olive checks, hurredly turned
away.
Before we could speak II word of COM
fort to him he had replaced the tray upon
his head and trudged along alone with his
g,ief"-A. Il. Preston, in Youths Com
panion.