Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24

fervent and holy thanksgiving, dominic"
"Yes, soul saved; lost sheep gathered
again within the fold would be as a bene-
diction. No. shall not fail to remember,
and will add works to faith. Strange
what could he the matter with Martha"
An hour later Job Grey came in from
his work and found loaded table waiting,
lamps lighted, and a hickory fire blazing
and cracking cheerily upon the sitting-room
hearth.
"Bless me, Susan, you are beginning
Christmas early" he said.
81 thought you'd be tired and hungry,
Job, and we might as well be comfortable"
$50 am. What, wafiles |" he exclaimed,
as his wife placed upon the table huge
dish of the delicious preparation, crisp,
golden.brown, rich and covered with the
freshest of butter, whitest of sugar and
daintily sprinkled with nutmeg. "Yes,
knew you liked them, job" replied his wife
quietly, though her old eyes sparkled with
pleasure and the red flush on her cheeks
could scarcely have been accounted for by
the heat of the fire.
"Like them, you dear old soul ? There
is nothing like better. And such nice
ones | don't believe you ever made better
in all your life, and | know no woman can
beat you, Susan"
Pleased with the praise, Mrs. Grey told of
her visit to the parsonage; that the minis
ter said he would try and find out what was
the matter with Martha, and comfort her.
and that they had also talked about their
proposal to adopt girl
"And what did the dominic say ?" ques
toned the husband.
"Oh, he approved the plan, and wondered
why we had not thought of it before"
Thinking was easy enough; the right
kind of girl is the trouble"
"The dominic believes he knows one that
will suit us-the child of widow-aud he
would drive over and see about it."
"That accounts for his being on the road
so late. | saw him going alone as came
in, and feared some one must be dying.
When will he let US know ?"
Tomorrow"
al wonder who it can be Oh / guess
know. It's that Smith child, and smart
youngster. Well, whatever the dominic
does is always about right, but we needn't
have anything to do with the girl unless she
suits u.s.
"Of course not. 1t is not every one /
would be willing to take into my house,
much less my heart"
"Early to bed and early to rise" was
with them the custom OF lifetime, but
the husband slumbered heavily, and the
good wife scarcely closed her eyes. The
anxiety Tor the morrow, the disturbance
caused by the old servant the responsibility
attached to the adoption and bringing up OF
child, and the conversation had with the
minister combined drove away slumber, and
hafora ha Ia,, ha
But Martha had arisen even earlier. As
her mistress entered the kitchen she found
her bending over the fire, shivering, bon
neted, shawled, and her dabbled dress tell
ing that she had been abroad.
LAND sakes she exclaimed; "where
have you been, Martha, and you sick y
The woman looked at her sharply, even
tiercely, but made no direct reply, though
her mistress caught muttered threat about
doing something even II killed for 1t, and,
looking upon her as one bordering upon in
sanity, refrained from further questioning,
and was careful not to cross her.
But as the morning progressed Martha ap-
Peared her former self, though more reticent.
She took her usual interest in what was 60
ing on, attended to the household duties,
and never gave sign of the cause of her
recent trouble, save it might have been in a
casual word dropped about her not being
wanted very long"
That was the ray of light that solved the
mystery of her actions for Job Grey and his
wife. She must have learned their purpose,
and presumed she would be discharged.
Poor, old thing said the husband, go
and comfort her, Susan tell her she shall
never want home as long as l have roof
over my head. She has been too good and
faithful servant"
Mrs. Grey did as her husband requested.
The woman stared at her defantly for an
instant, and then broke down entirely and
sobbed bitterly.
"The good news was too much for her.
said Mrs. Grey to her husband when she re.
turned. "If had only known the cause of
her trouble at first how much suffering
might have saved her, poor thing"
Certainly Martha seemed cheered, and as
soon as the breakfast things were out of the
way aud her master gone to his out-of-door
employment, she sought her mistress and
said:
:" So you are going to adopt a child in
your old age ?"
Yes, Martha, we are talking of it."
"Who 2"
"Dominie Armstrong says he knows a
girl that will suit u.s."
"And he is right Listen to him."
Martha turned away again, and even more
earnestly than before did up the work.
81 have everything in ORDER" she said,
when called to go 10 church, but have got
to stay and attend to the dinner"
"What, not going, Martha 7"
"No, not to-day. | am not well, and there
is too much to be done"
She retreated within, carefully closed up
the house, and went up stairs, remaining
there for long time; in fact going and re.
turning until dinner absolutely required all
her attention. And Job Grey aud his Susan,
and the dominic and his wife found every