Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-12
A Good Little Samaritan.

A Good Little Samaritan.
Miss Betty Van Dyke had curled herself
up in the corner of the capacious window
sill in her mothers kitchen to watch Fifine
flute the 1ounces of her India muslin. Miss
Betty was as pretty and fresh as a rose her
eyes were of heavens own blue, her hair
like threads of gold, her cheeks Z" like a
Catherine pear, the side that's next the sun" +"
Fifine was nothing more than bundle of
old bones wrapped in piece of parchment
she was native of Lorraine, and had lately
married an Englishman, familiarly known
as " George" whom she had loved for years.
Miss Betty was romantic, and it so de-
lighted her when George at last yielded to
the idolatry of poor Fifne, that she coaxed
her father into leasing bit of scrubby wood
land, with tumble-down house upon it, to
George, so that he could have a garden and
potato patch, and raise some chickens, and
take nice care of poor Fifne.
But, truth to say, George had so studied
the character and attributes of the noble
Indian that he modelled his life upon it, so
far as resigning all domestic duties to poor
Fifine. He gave over to his spouse the en-
tire supervision Of the garden, potato-patch,
embarrassing, and even the wood-splitting.
"
for hours on rude bench he had placed
near the water, and there he would smoke
and mediate until Fifne had tidied up the
house, and fed the chickens, and hoed the
potatoes, and washed couple of dozen
pieces for one of her patrons, and split some
wood and got dinner upon the table then
George would come and eat dinner with FL
fine, and tell her all he had been thinking
about while sitting there upon the bench
under the tree.
Fifine was very happy. She knew that
George was superior to her in his mind, but
he had told her time and again that it was
right he should be her superior, and he loved
her all the better for it.
But Miss Betty had her misgivings, and
one day, when she was curled up like a
lovely kitten upon the window-sill, she said
to Fifne, "What does George do, Fifne,
toward the support of the household? 1t
seems TO me that you are always shaving and
toiling. What does George do ?"
Then Fitine shrugged her shoulders, which
had become somewhat crooked and bulgy
from the heavy burdens they had borne all
these years, and elevated her eyebrows,
which were rather scraggy and gray, and
said, with a world of feeling in her voice,
"What does he do, my angel? He gives to
me the happiness which is my all he gives
to me the conversation which is beautiful ;
he tells me of what is going on in the big
busy world; he pities, he consoles-ah, my
little one, he l0reS me %
Miss Betty blushed and was silent, and
thought foolish child, that, after all, this
was everything She left Fiine to iron the
tucks and furbelows with which Mrs. Van
Dyke delighted to adorn her daughter Betty,
and went out under the grapevine, and
walked to and fro, and thought that if some
body--and she trembled and blushed at the
thought of his name-if he would read to
her again, would talk to her again, would
tell her of the big, beautiful world once
more, if he would love her-ah, what would
she not be glad to give in return She
would work for him-ay, she would work
her slim fingers to the bone, only, of course,
he wouldn't let her; he was too noble and
generous and thoughtful. But if the neces-
sity should arise, how glad she would be to
do even like poor Fiine, if only he would
love her in return
But, alas the superiority of mankind was
here also preeminent. He was the new min
ister the Rev. Reginald Roake. The con-
sistory had thought it best to get young
man, so that he could board around among
the parishioners, and thus save the rent of a
parsonage. Captain Van Dyke, Miss Betty
father, had thought it best to economize in
every way that they could, and had even
taken the young man to board at first. He
told his wife they'd scarcely miss what the
parson ate, and the church must be helped
along as much as was prudent and possible.
But The captain, after few months, sud
denly changed his mind. The young minis
ter was very fertile in Imagination and
quick in thought; his sermons were speedily
prepared, and the long summer days had so
many sweet, rich hours to fill Miss Betty S
duties were also light; her mother was still
active and robust there were two sturdy
young women in the kitchen, besides the oc-
casional artistic work of Fifne. The cap
tain's sight was keen and strong; when he
was out sailing in the bay he could see a
couple OF figures bending together over some
book in the summer-house, or wandering
among the rocks or along the sands upon
the shore. The captain would come home
hot and vexed, and take his wife to task for
this misdoing.
81 don't want any beggarly parsons hang
ing around my daughter" said the captain.
The good lady would look very much
shocked, and really tremble in her heart at
the captains temerity, for she thought it
was almost tempting Providence TO cast a
contemptuous word upon the clergy but she
sighed in secret with her daughter when the
captain managed to transfer the preacher to
the care of wealthy aud comely widow in
the neighborhood.
4" He can poach all he pleases in that do
main" said the captain and shortly after,
he was delighted to see the reverend gentle
man riding out with the fair widow, and
gathering grasses and ferns in the pretty
woodland haunts about Granville.
We can't keep parson SINGLE" chuckled
the captain at his dinner tables 60 the women
won't let him alone, do what we may. But
the widow Benson owns her own house. and
that will save rent for parsonage"
The morsel upon Miss Betty's fork re-
manned untasted, aud the captain in this way
spoiled many meal for his daughter
And 80 the summer waned and Septem.
Der was at hand-Septembe with her soft
blue haze and rich warm sunshine; and
though the widow had brilliant garden OF
her own, she was fond of the wanton wild
flowers that grew so luxuriously in the
woods Of Granville. She and the young
minister filled the house with great clusters
OF golden-rods and asters and big purple
poke-berries. One day the pony-phaetol
stopped before the door of Captain Van
Dyke, and the widow was led into the sit
ting-room, where she found Miss Betty al
most hidden by a mosquito netting which
she was busily patching.
"Come, child" said the widow, "put
away that rag, and run get pretty dress on.
I've promised myself this many day we
should take this ride together and declare
to you it shall be the rares. one you eyef
had in your life. The day is made richly
to order for II the balmiest air, the gold
enest sunshine-not a cloud in the sky
Run away, and make yourself look as pretty
as you can"
You are very kind,' said Miss Betty.
with little trip of jealousy on her tongue ;
but ! must mend this netting for poor n
fine. She is sick with fever, and the