Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-31

permit us. Perhaps my father can thinl
oi some plan by which to aid YOU"
d Al Inc same moment Col. Everard. who
nad followed the man to the wagon wher,
lhe SICK man lay, re-joned his daughter
,, and said to her, Lina these good peopl,
! must have a lift. They've been sion
ping here all this while, miles awav from
their destination, and with barely enougl
provisions to carry them through, shouIt
they get away from here in the course o
week. and all for pure charity. 1t seem,
8 they picked up young man Who was or. or
dered by his physician to travel and rouol
II some losing his eyesight, they said
ahu hired hm to team for them. He fell
SICK. | don't wonder. those crow-baits
wouid-but never mind, he's gentleman
l take, from black auntie showing, and
mere he Is down with Il low fever of some
sort. The old auntie has more wit than
the rest of them-doesn't belong to this
lots sent out in their company to some
people IN the lower county. She tells me
he raves in his delirium about paying the
last dollar and being free; and then bpgs
like child for white chrysanthemum
You might give him those you havo in
your breast-knot; I've heard Of cases
where the qualification of such little fan
cies hal produced the most soothing eff
fecls. shall take the man off their hands,
and let these worthy folks go on. They've
done their share. take it !"
Like one stunned Lima stood for a mo-
ment with her eyes riveted upon the
wagon. Then turning away from her
father she walked rapidly toward the sick
mans rude couch.
Step up onto de cheer, honey, said
the black woman. "Bless your putty
face is you got chrysanfums? Dell law!
how dis pore young gem'n hab gone on
bout dem AZ posies. 'Peared like he'd
lef' his jularkey somewhars an some pus-
son dun got away wild de chrysanfum
po'ies she dun give him. I've been that
pestered bout him, honey, 'peared like |
could make n chrysanfum flower fur de
pore chile Lar, honey, is you gwine TO
ketch de 'sease? Dat de berry bressid
way he shuk all ober wild de trimbles
when he was first TUX wild it,
For Lima had stepped upon the chair at
the side of the wagon and looked in upon
the sick man. His eyes met hers, then
wandered to the knot of flowers.
my darling" he whispered, "where
are we? What flowers are these? What
day is thsP"
He held out his hand as if to touch the
white blossoms rs he spoke. The Young
lady's tears fell upon the white, wan fin
gers as she placed the flowers in his hand
II have found you at last" he said.
" 1t was weary, weary waiting; but was
in honor bound. The debt is paid, and
am free to seek my darling. Are these her
flowers? Is this
"Oh. my love-" cried Lima, clasping
the thin, white hand in hers, ",don't you
know meP l am Lima, your own true
love. ] have waited and hoped all this
weary time, for l kneW you would come.
these are our flowers, Bertram-yours
and mine-dear; white chrysanthemums,
like those we gave each olher the night
we parted, two years ago, in dear old
Northbridge, at Aunt Annes. We shall
never part again. Bcrtram; for you are
mine now-and this is Thanksgiving
day"
Dell law! mostah," cried Aunt Polly |
fastening to the colonel. Come to |
young missy dis minnit l dun spec dat
'sease am ke,chin'. De pore chile am tux |
wild de trimbles, sames de young gem'n !
was tux, an she outen her sinss dis bres-
sid mnnit."
The colonel ran to his daughter. Tn
tears were streaming down her checks.
but her face was radiant.
Papa" she said. in voice of tender
est melody, " it is Bertram Earle, NoI TIL
bridge fricnd-the man | love. and VIII,
loves me-"
The colonel gazed into his child's eyes
with wondering look. In her answering
look he read only the unqueStoning trust
OF pure heart, confiding to her parent, in
full assurance of his loving sympathy her
sacred secret.
There is but one thing to be done,
then" he said. But his eyes were moist.
and his voice shook. Turning to the
owner of the wagon he requested him to
put his oxen to the vehicle and drive them
TO The Oaks with the sick man. Il Will
relieve you of his Charge" he said, "and
will take pleasure in adding to the stock
OF provisions for your journey. You shall
never be the poorer for this Kindness
"Wal now, Missouri, responded the
camper, ~ allow that is clever of you,
and | shouldn orter misdoubt as how
good beds and doctor stuff mout chirk up
poor Yank, sod he'd tough it through.
~ MN ofGl w SotC ii
allow he'll be better off ther nor here.
Wagon kivers is skeary roofin' when No
vember rains sets in. Me an my ole
woman is pow'ful bleeged TO you for this
yer lift. Aunt Polly, pile in ther, an keep
the bed kivers over pore 4ank. an sort o.
{ ase him up wher' the roads rough. Gee!
Haw! Git!' And the lank and lazy oxen
slowly plodded on with their suffering
burden.
Lima tarried TO take kindly leave of the
women who had proved themselves worthy
of all gra eful appreciation in their lienv
en born charity, and to empty her pocket
book into the laps of the shy y,half-frighlen-
ed children.
The merry guests returning TO The
Oaks. from their rides, were informed of
the arrival during their abst nee of an
eastern friend, by private conveyance
from the river; and of his precarious con-
dition. With the true instinct of charity
and genuine neighborlness, the friends
quietly bade adieu to their kind hosts.
leaving them at fullest liberty to devote
themselves to the minisLrations required
by the sick man. But if the arrival had
The effect of bringing tho festivities Of the l
day to in earlier close than was antci-
paled, it did not put an end 10 all (eStvi-
ties ut the hospltable abode. For under
the care of Mrs. Everard, aided by coun- '
sells of the best of physicians, the sick ,
man was restored to health and in the re- {
joicings thereat the merry Christmas times
seemed doubly merry at The Oaks.
When Col Everard became acquainted
with his daughters lover, and judged for
him elf of the young mans character and
worth, he showed hi hearty appreciation ,
in his own characteristic way. ,,
"P Poor and proud, yes, and becomingly
qnoh the colonel, talking over
with his wife late conference with young ,
Earle. "A true man is he, prince of II {
fellow, and good enough for any girl. G
Been earning q tip-top salary and living /
On Sc ond hand nothings. should judge.
paying off some debts his father left him
IS his only legacy. Just ms he has the last
iollar paid, his eyes give out, and he's Or
iered to the backwoods for his health. 6
There's luck for you, as our excellent S
hearted friend from the Carolnas would I
say. Well, here he is, poor as church s