Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-19

Rose and the rosebuds, looking so smil-
ing and happy that | said at once,
: You have good news to tell me-
Mrs. McChilly-dear, kind Mrs.
McChilly--(Mrs. McChilly sat bolt up
right in her chair and closed her lips
hrmly as her name was mentioned), has
paid the doctors BILL Mrs. Rose began,
: And promised, she having so many
business acquaintance, to look out for a
situation for me- said Mr.. Rose. And
she is going to love us and be our friend
always as long as we are good, said the
children, beginning to sing the Sweet
By-and-Bye so loudly that we did not
hear Mr.. Aubrey come in; but there he
was, his face glowing and his eyes spark
ling (Mr. Aubrey was the grandson with
whom Mrs. McChilly had quarreled) +;
and he cried out, God bless her! my
mothers mother; | knew she couldn't
St@J a1a 80 i0n?' DhU . fo.rei VvIr -IiIU tsII'i
kissed Alice (Alice was the young
girl with whom he had fallen in love
without the old lady's permission.)
And all OF a sudden there was Mrs.
McChilly among them. being welcomed
with loving words and hugs and smiles
the eldest rosebud had a glass OF
lemonade ready for her-and saying,
Dear, dear, what is little money TO
gratitude and affection like thisP'
"' Nothing, answered Mr.. Summer,
who was there all of q sudden, too,
with his wife and baby, looking as
handsome as he did when / first saw
him nearly two years ago, and as for
Mrs. Summer, her eyes were like stars
and her cheeks like roses, and she stole
softly to my side, while he was tossing
the baby and singing a merry song to
it, and whispered: A promise has been
my Christmas gift, promise worth ;tll
the gold and jewels in the world And
then Susie Bracket danced in and slyly
held up letter from somebody far
away, that might see and rejoice with
her. And Nathaniel-what ridiculous
part of the dream that about Nathaniel
Bracket was. Really, l don't think
can tell it,"
"Oh, but you must, l cried.
"Indeed you must" they all cried.
"Well, il l must, l must" said the
widow, with sweet, little nervous
laugh. 81 thought Nathaniel followed
me into the d:ning-room, where l had
gone to take last look at the supper
table-oh, it's too ridiculous" -.
Nothing of the Sort" said Mr.. Sum
mer. 81 don't believe it. I've no doubt
it was the most sensible thing Nathaniel
ever did-in dream"
"And please go on" begged his wife d.
"And he took my hand,n the widow
went on, land said-oh! ] can't tell you
all | dreamed he said, but he ended by
saying: And so, of course, I must
think of you no longer-a poor, Grip
pied fellow like me-" And l said"
"What did you sayp" cried Nathaniel,
springing to his feet and looking eagerly
toward her, totally forgetful of the rest
of the company.
Nathaniel Bracket, you are an
idiotw
".Just as | expected" murmured poor
Nat, sinking into his chair again.
60 If you have lost J our arm-your
right arm,' the widow calmly pro-
ceeded, you haven't lost your head,
and that head, as [ happen to know, con-
tanned the usual, perhaps little more
than the usual, amount of brains, and if,
as hear, a thousand or two will give
you an interest in Tom Aliens business,
why what is to prevent me, having q lit
tie money at my command and no one
to take care of but myself, lending it to
yOu-for the sake of your sister, of
whom | am very fondP Or if you won't
look at it in that way, why can't be-
come partner, very silent one and
you manage for me, taking q fair equiva-
lent for your servicesP" And that's the
end"
"Neverw shouted Nat, springing from
l, - ln, +ol
steps toward her, "The dream never
ended in that way, Nathaniel made some
further remark, I'm sure he did"
81 believe he did," said the widow,
knitting her pretty brows, though in
thought, while a rosy blush overspread
her face, but dreams grow so shadowy
at the last and this became SO very in
distinct after l had spoken of going into
the printing business myself that | can
scarcely remember"
"That Nat Bracket said" prompted
Nathaniel, "' God bless you for darl-
ing! and I'll accept the offered load on
condition that you'll add to it a Christ
mas gift-a gift above all price-your
precious SELF"
well, well, how did you ever
knowP" exclaimed the widow in pre-
tended surprise.
Cant imagine" said Nat, his eyes
sparkling with fun for moment, and
then, as she rose from her seat, he came
and stood before her and said, entreat-
ingly, "But / don't know what answer
you dreamed you made"
"Nor |, +" laughed the widow.
but l do" said Mrs. McChilly, with
an emphatic rap of her cane;"I do
Mrs. Nathaniel Bracket"
And we all shouted and clapped our
hands like a parcel of children, and
then we all (not one of us, I'm sure,
could have told why) cried little and
were quietly feeling for our handker-
chiefs to wipe away the tears, when the
old lady spoke again, looking down on
the Rosebuds, who were still sleeping
Il will be friend to these little ones
and their parents" she said, "a good
friend. That part of the dream shall
come true. AS for my grandson"
Here he is" screamed Mamie, with
a hysterical laugh, as she flung open the
door that led into the dining-room.
And there he was, to be sure, with
his sweetheart on his arm, and in an in
stant they were both kneeling before
their grandmother, with one of her
wrinkled hands in blessing on each
bowed, young head.
Mr.. Summer turned from the pretty
tableau and bent and kissed his wife,
and softly whispered something to her
that made her "eyes like stars indeed,
as she exclaimed in voice trembling
with joy, MY part of the wonderful
dream has already come true"
"And mine came true this morning,
said !, us | took the letter from my
pocket.
And mine" stammered Nat, as his
only arm stole around the widows
waist, can it come trueP"
ut can," said Widow Wint .pippin