The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-08-14
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u The liule depot.
The uAln VAS 70 lAksi said Essplng.
Yes, ma'am. Too bad, but can't be
kslpee Hsfass wIli give sui souetlnes
zen kno~s sympathyringly.
when i ibe next western bound train
aue1
Not till six o'clock. You've 6ve bouu
TO wsis. BE dreadful liresome, ma'am.
There's a uice family that live In t'otheF
psit Of the hopss--s'poss tote you In
there. know Mrs. ilolly'll give you :
bite 10 eat, aud sbe'H be proad to let you
rest on Der spare bed. Fine woman, Mrs.
Holly 10; know her. wont you 80 10
and zee her ms'sml
No, / hank you tir. dare say that !
shall be quite comfortable here.
Wall, jess as you please. Bot now !
must be going. Hope You'll git to your
journeys end safe. ma'Am. Good-by.
And farmer Brown left the room,
mounted bis wagon, and coon disappeared
down the dusty road.
bad been visiting ftieud who lived
In country settlement some five or six
miles from the solitary building dignined
by the name OF depot, and when the time
came for me TO return home she bad
placed me 10 the care OF q neighboring
farmer, who vas going 10 distant village
| .oR ,wautI mara tka afaffnn
During ms ride we met with su scci'
dent. Part OF the harness gave away,
and we were detained such a length OF
time, that, ~ the reader knows, was
TOO late for The train.
After farmer Brown left me, amused
myself by reading newspaper which
some one bad left lyIpg In the seat
Finishing this, | studied the design On
the wall paper, counted the panes OF glass
In the little window, aud wondered 81
the lidiness OF the whole apartment.
Country depots are generally such vile,
dirty placesl Wonder why this Is an ex-
ception said to myself. Then thought
struck me. o, probably the plsceis kept
clean by Mrs. Holly, over whose virtues
farmer Brown was 80 enthusiastic. Won
der IL this worthy female would give me
q glass OF walerfe
/ tapped on the door communicating
with tie other apartment.
Come 10, said CHEEKY voice, and enter.
Ing, found myselfin one OF the prettiest,
coziest rooms bad ever seen.
The most delicate tint OF buff was the
walls, cool mating covered the floor mus
Tin curtains, iestooned with ivy, hung al
the windows, aud here and there were
pictures, brackets, bookssnd flowers, and
all the dainty belongings that make I
room so honey aud pleasant.
And, most charming of all, there lay II
white drsped cradle a rosy baby, fas
asleep, with rings OF golden hair over bill
white brow, and 8 great, red, velvetl
rose clasped In bis dlmpled band.
Over him bent woman Of twenty-five
or three-a little mite Of 3 woman, with I
bright, dark face wildly colored, biz
black eyes, aud wondrous dark bait
wound its heavy brsids sbout her stately
head.
She rose with bright smile when
entered.
Excuse me; but may trouble you fo
q glass OF water?
no trouble al all ma'am. Pray be seat
ed. Excuse me, aud she left the room.
Presently ahe returned, bearing a sal
YER covered with snowy white napkin
containiug . glass OF water, a glass o
creamy milk, ssucer Of luscious straw
berries, and q plate OF yellow spong'
eske, light as yellow foam.
Pardon me, she said, smiling, II tax
TOO great liberty; but, you see Fsrme
Brown told me OF your being Obliged tC
wait 80 long, and thought You might b.
hungry.
Why, how very kind you are, J ex
claimed In pleasing surprise.
Not at ell II isa pleasure to me. |
you are hot and dusty, perhaps you'd lik
to battle your face. II so just step II
here.
And she led the way into little whit
bed.room-lhe very heart Of purity sn'
cleanliness.
I'm little while was different beinl
from the cross, dusty, hungry mortal wh
sat in the bot waiting room.
found Mrs. Holly perfect little gen
OF woman, and, after the manner OF oa
sex, we soon became as well acqnAinte'
as II We had known each other for years
Aud while was lying lsugnidly ou he
comfortable sofa, and abe was seated In
low rocking chair, stitching away at be
Q baby's dress, sbe told me tie romance {
J. her life.
have lived Ia this depot all bay days
, she began. My father was agent hert
, and be served The company 20 long 50
80 well, Whsn he died, they kindly ALLOW
ed me 10 remain 10 this place with u
came wages, too. For, you see, VI
seventeen. aud my father had loDg bcfoI
taught me telegraph aud aIl the oth'
work. About year after fathers dealt
| became acquainted with Jack-Jsc
lolisy u ny husband. and Mrs. Hol
looked up aud smiled.
Jack was one OF the beat engineers q
Z the road (sld i how, too), and everyoI
. coHsidered hiFn an honest, likely your
\ fellow He thongbl The world o: me, At
we becslas engaged. But you kno
the weakest OF them can make q stroI
man lremble.
a week, white girl beld ell his bes