Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
After Many Days.

A CHRISTMAS STORY.
"Never, so long as live, will forgive
her, and when am dead not single penny
of my money shall ever benefit her or any
one belonging to her."
For the thousandth time old Job Grey ut
tered the same threat-the same in spirit, if
not in words 1t had become almost part
of his daily life, and appeared to inten.
sify as the years passed. One would have
thought, as the grave yawned more closely,
he would have softened. But it was not so.
His purpose remained unchanged and his
will unbent
"Why, Job," she exclaimed, pausing in
making the mince pies that were ever
the crowning glory of the Christmas table,
"what upon earth is the matter now 2"
And it would have been wonder to
those more deeply versed in the mystery of
the human soul than Susan Grey. Her hus
band had waxed rich; the world had gone
well with him, his acres had increased, he
was the owner of bank and railroad stock
his cattle and horses and sheep were many,
and he was not without worldly honors.
Yes, business had gone well with him, and
why, upon that golden morning, he should
have turned back the ledger of life for nearly
twenty years W lOOh uion Oue udTk, Hduut
ing page, could have been accounted for by
none but himself.
al was thinking, Susan" he said, and
despite all the gall OF bitterness within his
heart he could not entirely keep his voice
gathering in his eyes, al was thinking of
the day when our one child forsook her
home to go away with scoundrel."
Tho rNonr tpothar xpho ho1 pavar roo oo1
to love their offending daughter, drew her
apron over her tear-laden lashes and sobbed.
"He loved our child dearly aud was very
poor, Job, but always treated her kindly
always as long as he lived"
"He stole her away. She disobeyed her
parents, and could
"Don't Job-don't curse her. Poor child,
she has suffered enough, and we all have
wandered like sheep from the right path.
But what could make you think Of her to-
day of all others ?"
al had to do so. We are growing old
without any one to care for us, and when we
die all our wealth will go to strangers un-
less"
"You leave it to some society"
"To have it fought over and squandered.
No, no never cent will any of them finger
and grow fat upon"
"But our daughter p
"Hush As she made her bed even so
must she lie in it. Didn't she steal hun
dreds of dollars from me 2"
"Thank heaven, they were married. Oh
the consolation that has been to me. But
wouldn't think of it to-day, Job to-mor-
row is the blessed Christmas, and we ought
to prepare ourselves to meet it in a proper
spirit. Certainly we have very much to be
thankful for
"Well," he continued, "this picture of
our Mary-take it away, or it will drive me
mad"
"The woman raised it from the floor,
where it had fallen, tenderly brushed away
the dust, kissed it, and having laid it safely
away between the leaves of the Bible, he
continued
Happening to come across the face once
so dear to us, l thought of what our home
might have been had she married as we
wished; how she and her husband and
bright-eyed, laughing children, would have
made the old house ring tomorrow"
His wife had sunk into the rocking chair,
sobbing aloud, and even he was moved as
she had never seen him before, as he went on
at can never be now, Susan, but you
might yet have somebody to save your old
footsteps-one who would, perhaps, grow
into our hearts, become as a child to us, and
to whom we could leave our property when
we are called beyond the river"
"Jobi' she almost gasped in astonish.
ment, "what do you meanY"
81 mean," he said, hastily and as one un
certain even of himself, we might adopt
some girl"
"Gracious But old Martha? She has
been with us these many years, and, like
| ourselves, is about worn out. You could
| not have the heart to turn her out now."
"No, Susan. She shall be cared for even
unto death. But she is failing fast. You
cannot but have noticed it, and il am not
deceived she has something heavy upon her
mind"
at must be her son."
"No, he is dead. But yesterday brought
her the news-blessed news, should say
| though ever since she has wandered around
| ing her hands, No; she shall be taken care
of. But how about the child, Susan 2"
al dou't know what to say, Job, it has
come upon me so sudden. | will think il
over, aud we will talk of it again this even.
ing. | haven't time now. As you say,
Martha has become useless, aud | have so
ro,y Yon Lnoa, vo, ;nr;,aJ ,ha a~,,;s;o
and his wife TO come home with US after
| church."
"Yes, yes, and I've got a considerable
amount OF choring around TO do myself"
All that day there was great stewing,
cooking, aud baking in the home of Job
ey, 'u. s,an ~ aas "eds ts, aonnu Mi.h
ssas ,h.n p snal snd aver @ ana " anon hsy oid