Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-04
One OF a Thousand.

IL was pleasant Christian home from
which God had taken two boys, and the pa
rents mourned ceaselessy as they sat by
their childless hearthstone. The good, hon.
est old cook had made candy and cakes, and
dough men and women of most wonderful
proportions for the little ones; and their
love for her, and the honest grief of her
great warm Irish heart for them, made her
privileged servant; so it was not easy to
keep an upper servant when the lower was
permitted to domineer over her, and did it
too. But one came who bore all Bridget's
airs and whims without a murmur, yet her
language, her voice and manners were those
Of lady of education and refinement. She
rarely spoke more than was necessary, and
never smiled, but was always pleasant and
obliging. The master and mistress were
glad all went smoothly in the kitchen, and
gave it no farther thought, for they lived in
the shadow of their own sorrow and in its
darkness saw nothing else. But the old
cook had eyes, and shrewd Irish sense, and
used them both.
"That gerls quare like"
al thought you liked her 2"
Faith, she's good as the Blessed Virgen,
but she's quare."
How, queer ?"
ohO o u polh Dut utNtI
goes out of an evenin'. She dont have no
company, and never a letter from nowheres."
"Where is she from 2"
"Faith, but she niver is afther tellin' me-"
"She'll tell some day.
But the master and mistress began to
watch, and Bridget is right, there is some
mystery about her." they said. And they
tried to fathom it, and were Just as success
full as the old cook. But one day lady
friend asked whom she had visiting her.
No one Why, / called yesterday, when
you were out, and when | went up the steps
| heard some one playing finely"
She went to the cook She had been to
see crony q" for a Bit The second girl
had to confess that it was herself, and after
time her story was won from her.
She was an only child, and had married
young man of education and promise, and
they were very happy. His mother, widow,
lived with them They were all gay and
merry, and at all their parties had wine, but
never drank to excess. Before his marriage
her husband belonged to whist club, but
gave it up. But the second winter it was
voted to revive it, and meet, not at the club
house, but at each others houses. All went
pleasantly until nearly spring, when the one
bachelor member invited them all to his
room. The gentlemen laughed and said
they would have a bachelor party once more
His supper was fine, wine excellent, and
when all were excited he claimed, jokingly,
that he could entertain better without a
wife than any one of them could with. The
war of words led to fight, and her husband
struck his friend on the temple, killing him
instantly. He was arrested and put in a
lobby and before morning cut his own
throat with his knife. lie lived twelve
hours. His mother was feeble, and this,
perhaps, shortened life nearly ended
Her parents wrote her to come home, but
she never wished to see or hear from any,
one whom she had ever known. The very
thought of sympathy that should talk, talk
talk of it to her was torturing, and SO she
had come among strangers. But now she
would go away.
ave will never allude to il to you. God
sent you here to comfort us, to make us
thank God that our boys are safe from temp
tations and sorrows."
She stayed, blessing and blessed, but
after short time was led to write to her
mother, and her parents came and induced
her to go back with them.
Truly Shakespeare says 40 thou invis-
IDLE spirit of wine If there is no other
name to call thee by, let us call thee, Devil"