Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-11-26

Wlnter-tlue again SIN years lalcr, out
this season is wet and slushy. Once more
we are at Kirklington, long, struggling
village, which might have slumbered on
in obscurity forever, had not the North
western line been carried close by it. to
give it place in Bradshaw and Il certain
importance as junction and center for
goods traffic. But the activity was all
about the station. All the permanent
officials had houses and cottages there; in
the village lived only the field laborers
who worked at the neighboring estate, or
sometimes lent their hand for Il job of
navying on the line. These poor folk had
Il gruesome life of it, IL hand-to-moutl
struggle for bare existence against perpet
ual privation, accompanied by unremit-
ting toll.
A new parson-Haro'l Trelfry-had
come lately to Kirklington He was al
earnest, energetic young man, who had
won his spurs in an East End parish, and
had now accepted this country living be-
cause it seemed to open up Il new field OF
usefulness. lie had plunged bravely into
the midst of his work; he was forever
going up and down among his parishion
ers, solacing and comforting, preaching
manful endurance and trustluness TO all.
He is now paying round of parochia
visits, accompanied by an old college
chum, who is spending Christmas will
him.
Yonder," said Treffry, pointing to ,
thin thread of smoke which rose from
some gaunt trees into the sullen, wintry
air, wonder is the house--if, indeed, i
deserves so good a namc-lhe hovel
rather, of one whose case is the hardcs
of all the hard ones in my unhappy care
This man is II mere hedger and dtcher
one who works for any master, most offer
for the railway, but who is never cerlai.
of Il job all the year round. He has ;
swarm of young children, and he has jus
lost his wife. He is absolutely prostratet
-aghast probably at the future before
him, and his utter incapacity to do hi
duty by the motherless little ones. Jack !!
said the parson, stepping short suddenly
and looking straight into his companion I
face. 81 wonder whether you could rous
him. If you could only get him to maxi
sign; to cry or laugh, Or take the small
est interest in common affairs. Jack,
believe you're the very man. You nigh
rCI tI HUI tlhOhSh wv tiit
marvellous hanky-panky of yourselves
surprising tricks ii child takes to yol
naturally ut once. Try and make friend
with these. Perhaps when the father See
them interested he may warm a little
speak perhaps, approve, perhaps smile
and in the end give in. Jack, will yol
tryP'
Jack Newbiggin was by profession ;
conveyancer, but nature had intended hin
for n new Hou6in, or a wizard of tn,
north. He was more than half u profes
sional by the time he was full grown. Ii
addition to the quick eye and the fncil'
wrist, he had the rarer gifts of the suav'
manner and the face of brass. He hat
even studied mesmerism and cairvoyance
and could upon occasion surprise his audi
enco considerably by his power.
They entered the miserable dwelling to
gether The children-eight of them
were skirmishng all over the floor. The,
were unmanageable, and beyond the con
troll of the eldest sister, who WAS bu5iet
in setting out the table for the midday
meal; one other child, of six or seven,
bright-eyed, exceedingly beautiful boy
the least-were not natures vagaries wei
known-likely to be born among and be
long to such surroundings, stood betweel
the legs of the man himself, who had hi
back to the visitors and was crouching loa
over the scanty fire.
The man turned his head for II moment
gave u blank stare, then an imperceptibl
nod, and once more he glowered dow
upon the fire.
Here, little ones, do you see this gen
tlemanP he's conjuror. Know what
coniuror is, Tommy" cried the parson
catching up mite of four Or five from
the floor. No, not you; nor you, Sarah
nor you, Jackey "--and he tan through
all their names.
! They had now ceased their oambols nm,