Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-09


sang the splendid voice, over and over
again, as if the singer revealed in the words
or had grown absent-minded as he sang
them, and back again down the street went
the shabby car, the voice still singing away
in the distance.
Half an hour later it came again, the same
voice with different song, strong, slow,
stately:
g Give to the wind thy fears,
Hope, and be undismayed,
| God hears thy signs, and counts thy tears"
"Just listen, mamma I" Eddie turned his
ewes towards the sad.faced woman busilv
sewing at the other window. "That means
God knows when we're hungry, and my leg
aches so, and you can't get any work, don't
it"
Yes, dear" With one hand she brushed
away the quick tears which came too often.
"Then if he knows all about it, wouldn't
cry, mamma. Ilark that's another one
".Ioyfully, joyfully. onward move,
Bound to the land of bright spirits above
"That's the incest" whispered Eddie. at
sounds just like the angels"
When the car came again il brought
ar other song, which Eddie liked the best
of all.
There is no sorrow, nor any signing,
Nor any tears there, nor any dying"
"That's heaven, isn't it, mamma, where
papa's gone spose he's real happy all
the time, and sings just as the man does.
| wonder who the man is, mamma ?"
Judge Holland wondered too, though he
chafed at the sound of the free, sweet voice
and the words that made him think in a
way which he did not like:
"while in affections furnace
And passing through the fire,
Thy love we praise
That knows our days
And ever"
GOOD morning. The tone was gruff,
and Peter Bond, driver and conductor in
one, looked up in surprise from the pail he
was fastening to the end of the car, to see
the Judge standing beside him.
You are the man who sings, | suppose"
"Well, it's likely you've heard me. | felt
as if | shouldn't disturb anybody,-it's so
much like the country out here, and"
You are now on the road 2" said the
judge, interrupted
Yes. sir
And as happy as you seem p
81 am contented, sir, and | try to be
happy. | lost this arm (pontng to his
empty left sleeve which hung useless), in
the factory where | worked two months
ago. | lost my place and was afraid I'd
have nothing to do, but they gave me this car
because | could manage it well enough, and
can make enough to support my family"
How large family"
"My wife-she's in consumption-and
two boys. We lost our baby six weeks ago,
sir, and somehow it helps me to sing the
hymns and think about heaven instead of
that little grave-for the child isn't there,
after all. Times up sir, good morning." and
touching his hat respectfully he swung
round the brake and started off again, leav-
ing the judge standing in the street.
"Prop me up, mamma, SOS can see the
horse-car man when he comes along, and
away down the street rang out the CHEEKY
voice.
"1here let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven;
All that thou sendest me
In mercy given"
I'D like to know the horse-car man,
mamma" said little Eddie, as the sound
died away. 81 wonder if he's got any little
boys, and if he sings to them"
Judge Hollands house was closed for the
summer. The lonely man travelled from
place to place in search of the rest which he
could nowhere find. Not even the waves of
the Atlantic could entirely drown the tinkle
of the horse-car bell or the vague memory of
the words,
When other he,ners fail and comfo,ts fac
Help OF the helpless, Oh, abide with me-
In October he was back again. For a
week he hoped to hear the voice again. but
it did not come. Then he went out to the
! corner"
"Where is Peter Bond ?" he asked of the
strange driver who had taken his place.
:. He's in the comnauv's oftica now cir
nromoted a wbile AGO Has coning omi
with me though. this afternoon II Won
want IN saa him There's a sick cbild do.n
Wonder" ro;nt;no to tbe cotta,a :. a, ;nc,
| ihev saw. md he Comes ont 40 otten % he
can TO see him"
Lndge UolIa,d want 10 tbo oo,tono TOO
| that afternoon He heard the stronp bean.
| tiful voice as ba reached the door
| 1900 " ~ Wv '
MY Gays are glldlng swiftly by.
$50 on" said the Judge. entering and
taking without another word the chair that
was offered and Peter Bond sang on. one
hymn after another. But most of all the
child loved " The New Jerusalem"
81 can most see it," he said happily,
when you sing like that"
have been singing it to him all sum
mer," explained Peter Bond but he never
tires of it,"
Amt you glad you're going ?" asked
the little fellow, as the quaint hymn, which
had so fascinated him. was ended.
The Judge did not answer. His head
was bowed. He had not heard that hymn
for years,-not since his mother died She
had loved it, too,
You're the minister, amt you ?" asked
Eddie, my papa was, too. wish you'd
pray just as he used to-"
| The Judge fell ON his knees beside the
child. clasninq one little wasted hand
| AZ ,,,,,ir -, ;, h., "a L.,laI,, ,,p.a,,
| hv'V' pay nc s"iu piohehiy' Tray
~ nc
then words sung softly echoed through the
little room