Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-17

uently Succeeueu; lur Sne stretched TWO
shabby little boots towards the fire and
leaned her head against a grimy beam
saying, with sigh of weariness:
'' 1t is very comfortable; but the heat
makes me feel queer and dizzy"
' You're just ubout used up; and I'm
going to give you a sup of hot coffee.
That i bring you round in jiffy. It's
time for supper. Hey, Sally?"
AS he spoke the man sat his pail in the
hot ashes, unfolded a parcel of bread and
meat, and, laying rude sandwich on
clean bit of paper, offered it with a hospi-
table
Z" Have bit. Do, now. You've had
hard pull and need something to set you
up"
Leaning forward to give and take, two
faces came into the clear red glow of the
furnace fire, and glow of recognition
flashed into each so suddenly that it start.
ed both man and maid into involuntary
frankness of expression.
Why, it's little Lettyr
" And you are my tramp
A change so rapid rs TO be almost
ludicrous came over the pair in the draw
ing of breath. Sho smoothed back her
hair and hid the shabby boots, yet sat
more erect upon her stool, as if she had Il
right there and felt no longer any fear. He
pulled off his cap with n pleasant mixture
of respect, surprise and satisfaction in his
manner, as he said, in a half proud, half
humble tone:
" No, miss; for, thanks to you, I'm a
decent man now"
Then you did find work and get onP"
she exclaimed, with bright, wistful look,
that touched him very much.
Didn't you get my letter." he asked,
eagerly. T." sent you the first dollar |
earned, and told you and the old lady |
was all right"
Lefty shook her head, and all the light
passed out of her face, leaving it pathetic
in its patient sorrow.
Aunt Liddy died week after you were
there, so suddenly that everything was in
confusion, and never got the letter.
wish she had known of it, because it would
have pleased her SO. We often talked
about you and hoped you'd do well. We
led such quiet lives, you see, that any little
thing interested us for long time"
" 1t was q little thing to you, dare
say; but it was salvation to me. Not the
money or the food only, but the kindness
OA hhS Oid anu luC lOOh VI fOut SWtcI
face, miss. I'd got so far down, through
sickness and bad luck, that there didn't
seem anything left for me but devellry or
death. Yes. That day it was toss-up
between any bad job that came along first
and drowning, like my dog. That seemed
sort of mean, though, and felt more like
being revenged somehow on the world
that had been so hard on me-
He stopped short, breathing hard, with
a sudden spark in his black eyes, and
nervous clenching of the strong hands that
made Lefty shrink, for he seemed to speak
in spite of himself, as if the memory of
that time had left its impress on his life."
" But you didn't do anything bad. Pm
sure you didn't; for Aunt Liddy said
there was the making of man in you,
because you were SO quick to feel little
bit of kindness and take good advice"
The soft, eager voice of the girl seemed
to work the miracle anew. for smile
broke over his face, the angry spark was
quenched, and the clenched hand opened
to offer again all it had to give, rs he said
with n characteristic mingling of fun and
feeling in his voice:
" don't know much about angels; but
/ felt as if I'd met a couple that day, for
they saved ME from destruction. You cast
your bread upon the waters and it's come
back when, may be, you need it most as
much as l did then. 'Tisnt half so nice at
yours; but perhaps a blessing will do as
we'll as butter.
Lefty took the brown bread, feeling that
he had said the best grace over it; and
while she eat he talked, evidently moved
III. hxy ln Of Ia
past and eager to show that he had man.
fully persisted in the well doing his angels
had advised.
" That was nearly two years ago, you
know, and I've been hard at it ever since
| took everything that came along and was
glad to get it. The hat did that, firmly
believe" And he laughed u short laugh,
adding soberly: but didn take to work
at first, for had been rover and liked it ;
so took long pull and strong pull and
a pull all together before l settled down
steady. The hat and the "-he was going
to say kiss" but lock at the lovely
little creature sitting there so confidingly
made him change the word to the
money" seemed to bring me luck; and
followed the advice of the good old lady
and stuck to my work till got to liking
it. I've been here more than u year now
and am getting on so well shall be over
seer before long. I'm only watchman for
n time. Old Dan has been sick and they
wanted some one they could trust, so they
chose me-"
1t was good to see him square his
broad shoulders and throw back his head
as he said that; and pretty to see Lefty
nod and smile with sincerest pleasure in
his success.
" 1t looks dark and ugly now; but I've
seen foundry when they were casting
and it was splendid to watch the men
manage the furnaces and do wonderful
things with great hammers and moulds
and buckets of red hot melted iron. |
like to know you do such things, and I'm
not afraid. 1t seems sort of romantic and
grand to work in this place, where every
one must be strong and brave and skillful
to get on"
That's it; that's why like it; don't
you see?' he answered, Frightening with
pleasure at her artless praise. You just
come some casting day, and I'll show you
; sights you wont forget in a hurry. If
there wasn't any danger and noise and
good hard work wrestling with fire and
iron and keeping II rough set of fellows
in order | shouldn't stay, for the restless
|, fit comes on sometimes and feel as if
must cut away somewhere. Born so and
can't help it. Maybe | could if | had
, something to anchor me; but, as you say
nobody would care if was in the river,
) and that's bad for a chap like me-"
Sally would care" said the girl. quite
| soberly, for she sympathized now with the
| mans loneliness as she could not have
done two years ago
, &" So she would but | II take her with
me when leave-not for the river, mind
you. I'm in no danger of that nonsense
now. But if 80 on a tramp (and may
r if the fit gets too strong for me) she shall
; 90 too, and we'll be Dick Wilmington and
his cat over again"
; He spoke in a devil-may. care tone, and
patted the plump tabby with a curious
l mixture of boyish recklessness and II man. S
, sad knowledge of life in his face.
nop,t cyo ~ ,,lan1ad fnolintr