Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-11-12
Misfellanu.
Mother and 1.
BY KATE TRUE.

Mo her and L are here every day in sum-
mer; in fact, rs soon as the trees leaf out
we come too"
A very pretty place it was "under the
maple" charming enough to be the
favorite spot " of any one possessing
the least admiration for nature. Two
old fashioned cushioned chairs sat side by
side, and near them little rustic table
with some newspapers, n copy of "Step-
ping Heavenward," and half-knit blue
yarn sock lying upon it. One chair was
empty, for Mother Bray was looking
after supper" and Father Bray occupied
the other, and gave the stranger a cordial
invitation to take a seat at his side.
The stranger accepted readily; in fact,
he looked so weary, this quiet resting
place seemed delightful haven. "What
Il lovely spotm he exclaimed, as he gazed
about him, " this is home indeed"
In front of them, a smooth lawn. with
shaded path leading to the gate at which
the stranger had fingered a few moments
since. On the right, separating the lawn
from carriage way, was low lattice
fence, almost concealed by luxurant
growth of honeysuckle known to the old
people as the perpetual bloomer and to
the children as n friend that always held
out to them tempting spray, and proved
itself public benefactor by filling The all
with its delicate perfume. Beyond
similar lattice, on the left, covered with
woodbine, lay the kitchen garden, the
equal pride and delight Of Father and
Mother Bray. Directly before the house,
or rather before the gateway, ran the
country road, much used, being the most
direct way to the all important mill
Across the roadway neatly kept gardens
and pretty homes attracted the attention,
while woods and hills stretched far away
The houses, five in number, were owned
and occupied by the children of Father
Bray, who boosted early and late of the
five homes with the best and happiest
grandchildren the world ever saw
While the stranger gazed about him
Father Bray gazed ut him, and at length
he said:
Travelled far TO day, sir?"
" Yes, sir, long distance"
Business in these parts, maybe?'
Not much" said the stranger, in a
careless tone, "only looking after speci'
mems"
"Oh!" said Father Bray, with vivid
recollection of two specimen hunters of a
previous season, who had filled the best
China basin in the strangers room with
all manner of creeping things, and whose
exploits with some turtles had caused all
the young Brays to go extensively into the
turtle business, but the old gentleman did
not allude to his former guests.
This is the sweetest place | have seen
in years." said the stranger, as he lifted
the blue yarn stocking from the little
table.
That's mothers work; she's always
knitting for some Of her boys, or some of
her boys children; mother never likes to
be idle"
The stranger held the knitting work,
carefully, almost tenderly, and seemed
lost in thought; at last he replaced it on
the table, and said to his new friend:
You have certainly something here,
good sir, which money cannot purchase
and which i'll my wanderings | have long
ed fora happy home"
Father Bray was one of those delightful
old people it is sometimes our good fortune
to know He could talk so cheerily of the
past, so happily of the present, and SO
hopefully of the future, it was pleasure
to hear him. He never treated you to a
chapter on the sins of the present time and
the virtues of the past; of the good girls
and boys in his day, and the vicious ones
OF now-ad days; on the contrary, he often
declared "human nature was much OF
muchness, Just about as it always was. "
" Mother " was his model woman, and a
lovely woman she was still erect, although
nearly seventy, rosy-cheeked, bright
eyed and kindly-faced; she spoke to you
in sweet, gentle voice, and looked SO
charming under her white muslin cap, you
could forget yourself, if a stranger, ano
call her Mother" rs sincerely as hel
own proud children. just the same, veal
after year. "Mother Bray never seemed
old or seemed to grow old; in fact, somt
of the Younger members of the flock haC
been known to treat certain urchins to /;
sound drubbing for the unheard- of imper
tinence of saying old Miss Bray"
1t was pleasure to hear Father Bray
speak of his wife; since the day Sam, the
eldest, had nestled in her arms he haC
called her " Mother;" boys and girls be
side their own gave her the sweet, holy
title, and even the rector OF st. James, ;
man who froze all the fun stiff whereve
lie appeared. called her not only Mothe
Bray but declared she was a Mother il
Israel.
Far away in the neighboring towns sh
was known as skilful nurse, "a trustee
friend, and a good Christian if there is on
on earth"
Quite as handsome, but little NOR
feeble, was her husband, who pointed ou
his age in the old Bible as seventy-two
and told his friends he chad re ,ched hi
threescore and ten and was now walking
on borrowed ground" Nothing, eXcep
his Bible, pleased the old man so well a
a good listener while he preached from hi
faVorite text, Mother" Hand in hanc
heart answering to heart, they had joul
neyed on since the long ago, when she,
blushing bride, had taken him for bette
or worse" The years with their joys an
sorrows had bound them closer, and TIL
husband of seventy-two far surpassed as
lover the bridegroom of twenty-four. A
his essays on "Mother" ended wit
this sentence uttered in the most emphati
manner, Il tell you no one on cart
knows half her goodness; but there, W
are foolish old pair of lovers, mothe
and l."
Tonight, while the stranger rested, th
old man pointed out the homes of h
children, and in reply to II question of h
guest as to the means he used to Undue
them TO remain near them, he said
81 owned all the land about here, sill
and it always seemed a pity to me to Sc
families breaking up and wandering ava
from each other; SO mother and ] "
talked it over, and agreed to treat all IL
Lord sent us precisely alike; and as me
mostly want good homes for their wiv'
and children to start out with, why, "
thought we might help them; SO whe
Sam wanted to settle down we gave hii
the land, and money enough to build
comfortable house. Mother kept an a
count of it, and put it down in what 81
calls the 'chldren's book, and thrt
years aflerward we did the SAME by oil
first girl, and so on all but one. His shal
is waiting for him, if he ever wants it;
not, the Master knows best
How many children in all, sir?' sal
the stranger, in n husky voice.
Five about US here, sir, one wande
er and three with Cod"
The maple leaves tluttered soft inte