Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-11-05
VOL. XXXVI.

| :
the child, Keziam
Kezia did look, and saw face, hands and
apron woefully soiled.
I've been diggin' up the back yard
with this ere shingle, tryin' to find Can
tain Kidds money, what he buried but
| didn't find none," said Josey dsconso-
lately, "an' now l don't know nothin
more to do"
Something in the wistful voice touched
the sisters heart. Poor little Josey! he
was restless and dissatisfied, too, wanting
he cid not know what. She coaxcd him
into having his face and hands washed,
and lying down. for II nap.
Then her father came in from the field
-" just to eat his dinner, and hurry back
to the same dreary work again. How
could he be contented with such life?"
kezzle wondered, watching his cheerful
face. But contented he seemed, grateful
too, as he bowed his head at table, and
fervently, though in few words and
plain, asked blessing upon " this portion
of Gods common bounty" Common
indeed;" said Kezzies rebel,ious heart;
then, shocked ut the thought she tried to
| crush it,"
The early dinner cleared away, Aunt
Rachel began 10 display her purchases,
and comment upon them.
That's for Josey's aprons. 'Tain't very
fine, but he does tear 'em to pieces so, l
thought I'd try to get something twould
wear well, An here's the calico for our
dresses, not very pretty, neither of EN-;
but we only want 'em for common, an
thesell wash well, and-Oh, here's the
stuff to ine that quilt when it is done"
oh, dear! | wish it were finished
now,' said Kezzic; Pm so tired of it,"
Why, / thought you liked 10 make
patchwork" said Aunt Rachel. looking
over her spectacles in surprise. "rm sure
it is easy enough
But it is such common work"
"Well, s'pose it is" said Aunt Rachel,
refectively; " but the most things has to
be done in this world is common things
Folks lives-most folks, any how-is
about like that patchwork quilt, madc up
of Il little piece of this an little piece of
that, an all of it common goods"
The girl looked up at the peaceful face,
and the good, honest eyes that were peer
ing over the spectacles.
You don't look as if you cared in the
least" she said,
Aunt Rachel laughed, little cherry
laugh.
Why should l care? The common
things has got to be done just as much as
the uncommon, an it don't make any diff
ference which a body does, rs know Of"
but some people can do so much good,
Aunt Rachel; founding hospitals, and"
Where did they find emp" interposed
Master Josey. did they dig for em!"
| NJ hot ., lo't
Rachel, emphatically mind you don't
get another apron dirty tryin' to dig up
one in our back yard | tell you what it
is Kezzie, more'n half the folks that gives
away great sums to that kind of thing is
them that has held tight on to their money
an kept it all while they lived; an when
they're dyin' an can't carry it no farther,
they will it to some great charity concern
It's leetle too much like the man in the
parable that had the one talent He COW
cred it up an kept it to himself, an
wouldn't let it do nobody no good as long
as he could help it; an then, when his
lord come, an he lays it down, an says,
Take that which is thine"
Kezzie fitted her thimble to her finger,
took up her sewing and began to stitch
away resolutely. She did not feel like
talking much, but she tried by steady,
hurried working, to drown the tormenting
question that kept whispering itself over
and over again. She was no more ready
to answer it then than she had been in the
morning, and she longed to forget it for a
little while. Vain effort 1t would not
be put aside. Kezzie gave it up at last,
and when the sun had dropped lower in
the sky, and the maple tree at the door
was flinging long shadow over the grass,
she threw down her work and went out,
wandering down through the garden, and
beyond it into the orchard, until she
reached favorite seat under IN old apple
tree.
Should she be Robert Kensett'S wife?
They had known each other from child
hood, and his kindness, care and love had
made mitch of the sunshine of her life.
Everybody liked him her father, Aunt
Rachel and even little Josey, and She
yes, she liked him too, dear Rob! But
lhen-Kezzie paused there. A world of
ambitious though was in that girlish head.
She had dreamed vague, grand dreams of
n brilliant future that was possible for her
somewhere; of life-she scarcely knew
what but something entirely different
|
of this quiet little village. Her life had
been stupidity peaceful and even, so far;
to bind herself here; to settle down to the
old weary round, not even for Robert
Kensett's sake; and he could offer her
) nothing else, she knew.
How those dark eyes would look when
she told him! How could she ever bear
to meet them with such words on her lips !?
| She covered her face with her hands, and
leaned her head against the trunk of the
old tree, as if already she saw the glance
she so dreaded
She did not know how long she had
, been sitting there when she caught the
sound of little feet, and Il voice called
Kezze!'
"Oh dear! can never be let alone?"
were her first impatient words.
"Oh Kezierw repeated Joscy in a
strange, brcathless tone that made her
drop her hands and look up quickly.
What is it?" she asked, in sudden
alarm mt the child's startled face.
It's caved in, Kezier, it has that new
well they was diggin' down at the mill!
It's all tnmbed in on the man that was
) maxim it, an Robert Kensett, too; he's all
buried up an can't get out! They can't
, see him at ALL and Bill Jones says he don't
'spect he'll ever get out!
J "Oh Josey, DON'T" she cried, in quick,
sharp way, her face growing very white.
That is not so; it can't be- Some one
, has told you wrong, dear"
, No, they didn't neither" said JoSey,
, growing indignant at being doubted.
; AT least Robert Kensett was not
; there" she continued with trembling
voice speaking more to herself than to the
| child; he could not have been there; he
5 had nothing to do with the well" But
she turned and walked toward the house
, so rapidly that Josey's little feet could not
keep pace with her. On the piazza she
met her father, and the blood seemed to
| settle cold about her heart at his plying
glance.
| " What is it, ialher?' she asked, in a
7 voice that fell strangely even upon her
, own ears. Josey told me something. l
( hardly know what"
, 90 T'hot po,u ,u,l tbnu Nunrn 1iupinp nj