Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-12

crept back into our hearts again and, little
later, the ghost of a smile fitted over John.
nys face, as he lay quiet in my arms.
Margaret stopped and kissed him with O
fervent "Thank God !" Then It suddenly
occurred to me that, in all this while, bad
not once inquired for little Joe.
"Your boy is well, Margaret p l said in.
quiringly.
She bent her head lower, as she answered
steadily, my boy is all right now, ma'am"
"As stout and healthy as ever, l suppose,
l went on, thinking of the sturdy baby who
had once or twice accompanied her to my
house. II am 30 glad for you. wish we
could take this poor little man home in as
good condition"
She shivered, her face still hidden in John.
nys curls. thought her manner somewhat
peculiar and unnatural, but in my happiness
l soon forgot it.
Johnny's recovery was rapid. Gratefully
we watched each new symptom of returning
consciousness. Daily we felt that we were
receiving a fresh gift from the hands of 0
bountiful God. All 1t is so easy to believe
in his goodness, when he is giving us oui
hearts desire.
As l recovered from the effects of the IA
tigue and anxiety, I noticed that Margaret
had grown pale and quiet. Naturally reserv-
cd, she now bestowed upon the baby all the
words she had to spare. She called him pei
names, lavished upon him loving caresses,
and never seemed quite happy when he was
out Of her arms.
One day l took from the drawer the piece
of "checkered stuff which she had admired
so much.
"You may have this for your joey"
said. II will cut it for you by one Of John
nys dresses, and show you how TO make it. u
A curious little spasm passed over her fea
lures. One second her gray eyes looked into
mine with a mute, appealing glance. Then
she dropped them.
For moment, we were both silent, from
sheer cowardice. / would not believe the
story which the sad eyes told me, and she
had not the courage to put her sorrow into
words
But she was braver than L. She spoke
first
my little Joe is dead" Then she covered
her facO with her hands, and gave way to the
grief which she had kept hidden 80 long.
For her boy lad never recovered, as they
had hoped. 1t had been n deceptive improve
ment, and the end had been swift and sud
den.
'They wrote how he pined for me one day, ;
she said tearfuly, 'but after that he didn't
know nor mind. l couldn't get home tc
him, ,--he went too quick. II had, couldn't
have done nothin' only kissed him good
by. So-so"-
Only kissed him good-by! Her evident
struggle for resignation 10 the inevitable was
too much for me. All the while that she had
been so devOtedly watching my baby, heI
heart was breaking at the loss of her own.
my poor, poor Margaret :" cried. "How
could you bear il ?"
81 don't know how l bore it. 1t was nc
use to fret you, and-and-I couldn't bear to
hear my own words telln' it, I'd think in the
mornin', III live this day through somehow,
and / always did. It must have been the
good God helpin me-"
Margaret never knew the keen self-reproach
which her words gave me. She thought il
was only sympathy which prompted me to
take her homely face between my two hands
and kiss it. did not tell her what was in
my heart. She would not have understood il,
If had.
Soon after this, we came home 1 with my
merry, laughing boy,-now nearly as well as
ever,-to "the best man in the world, whose
loving care had made my home what it was
| to me Margaret to her two graves.
Verify, ought to be the happier woman to
day. Perhaps l am and yet into her pa
tient face has grown a look of quiet strength
which my glass never gives back to me in
mine. Surely the good God helps her still,
brave Margaret
The next Christmas, Margaret handed me
a little package, saying hesitatingly,-
"Since little Joe couldn't have it, and my
cousins boys are grown too much for it, and
I'd rather, if you don't mind, that it went tc
Johnny"
opened the package. 1t was the little
plaid which had bought for her in Boston.