Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-18

All this Mrs. Packers bright eyes took
In at glance. and her pity for the boy
made her at once antagonistic to the vel
dressed, comfortable looking gentleman
who now addressed her.
Mrs. Packer. believe. he said suavely
stepping within the door as if he had come
to stay. the boy followed in wooden
stolld way. stopping beside the parloI
table as if he had been wound up to 90 just
SO far and knew nothing whatever about
it
What stupid boy! thought Mrs. Pack
or, as the gentleman (who introduced him.
self rs Mr.. Belford, and who was the
veritable pleasant, talkative agent who
had beguiled Mr. Packer into subscribing
for the Bible) took the package ami opened
it upon the table, saying, blandly:
Here are the first twelve numt ers of Van
Horen's Subscription Bible.
Twelve numbers! interrupted Mrs.
Packer, aghast. But we can't take 50
many at time. My husband said there
would be only one IA month, and we don't
want them any other way, forgetting how
she had so shortly before inveighed against
that same monthly plan.
However, sne was no match in argu-
ment for Mr.. Belford, and he not only
left the twelve numbers, but promised ten
more on the following day, and nine 9TH
ers by Saturday morning.
When Mr.. Packer came home that even
ing, his wife, with tragic air, led him into
the parlor.and pointing to the pile OF
books, said,
There's Second Samuel already, and
we'll be up to Obadiah by Saturday night
What do you say to thatp
What could he sayP What could he do
but pay the S3l promptly demanded of
him by the amable Mr.. Belford, and COL
lected in spite of all remonstrancesP
When Joe, the pieced out boy, brought
the nine numbers on Saturday, depositing
his heavy bundle with sigh of relief,
Mrs. Packer sat down and had good cry
right before him, unmindful of his won
dering eyes.
Why, ma'am. what be the matter with
you? he said at last.
Oh! I'm so wicked Joe, the little lady
sobbed. always thought I'd take SC
much pleasure in splendid, big Bible,
and now fairly hate the sight of those
gray, paper covered books. They II never
do me any good or anybody else, be-
J leve.
Ma'am-if you wouldn't mind-said Joe
tmidly, know where they would do q
powerful sight of good. I've times and
times wished he'd jist one O. them books
with their gre't, big, easy readin'; jist the
thing for old blind eyes.
Why, Joe, what do you meanp asked
Mrs. Packer, aroused from her grief by
the boys earnestness.
On il Varf nlan alnpn with
me, said Joe, yer'd see for yerself, better
thin can tell yer. Come where Granny
is do come.
Moved by Joe's pleading, Mrs. Packer
donned her bonnet and shawl! and went
out with him.
Where is Grannyp she asked. when
after pointing the direction in which she
was TO go. the boy humbly fell to the rear
In 'ospital for old women; Indignant
females it says up over the door. bu
Granny says there amt no sech there
they're all us comfortable and contentet
as yer please. There it is now, and he
pointed to the solemn looking building
that did duty as home for Aged and Indi
gent Females.
The doorkeeper seemed to know Joe
we'll, and gave him a CHEEKY nod as the
passed in. Up the straight. uncarpetec
stairs they went, Joe leading now anc
glancing back admiringly, as though ht
t were proud of playing usher to so pretty
| a lady. Turning to the right on the up
per landing, they entered a long, many
windowed room, with rows of narrow
cots down each side Some of these wer,
/ occupied, but others we're neatly made
: while beside them, in large, straigh
backed, uneasy looking chairs sat OLE
women, wrinkled, bent and worn, till i
seemed wonder that they should be her,
, at all; unless. perhaps, they had gottel
S into habit of living which they could no
overcome.
r On one of the cots lay Joe's Granny
3 Her poor old withered face frightened ul
5 at sight of her boy, and she put out
l trembling hand to greet him.
f Come to read to Granny againp sh
asked, eagerly; but Joe, who was awk
A wardy trying to present Mrs. Packer
Y ignored the question.
. What does he read to youo inquire,
n Mrs. Packer kindly.
The Bible, answered the old woman
: reverently touching the book which la,
!. beside her on the bed. My eyes are bet
d ter than some, and could read it for my
i self if could only hold it; but it's to
Y heavy for my poor old hands. Joe doe
pretty well (and she patted his arm en-
couragingly. while he entered the hal
n inaudible protest. Oh! no, Granny,
/ stumble aWtUt over the big words y bu
all the poor creatures haven't got so goo
r. II grandson to read to them, and some G
I them are so deaf they couldn't hear if yo
should shout ever so loud. But then
, it's mercy-they are just the ones wit
:, 4 the best eyes. But the trouble is mostl
l with our hands it's amazin how many G
; us poor creatures have rheumatism an
palsy, and such; and Bibles with larg
l. enough print for our old eyes are to
IS heavy for our poor hands. But the Lor
u always does manage somehow, so mayb
u it'll all come right. Joe's been tellin' m
1t about the great, splendid Bibles they hav
1t where he works; all in pieces like. Seem
:! to me if only had Matthew now. and tn
II Psalms, | wouldn't have anything NOR
to ask for in this world.
u Yes, and if only had Isaiah, interrup
y ed quavering voice from the next co
e whose occupant had been an intereste
h listener to Granny Fry's remarks. Br
J. thoy're dear, dear, Joe says; not for poe
e creatures like US. Them mas 'em us don
O prize 'em and l hant read word fc
k nigh two weeks.
of Didn't tell youP whispered Joe benin
J. his grimmy hand.
IS You poor dears! said Mrs. Packer,
r. great lump filling her throat till she coul
" hardly speak. l haven't had Matthe
or yet. but | have Isaiah and the Psalm
10 and you shall have them before am a
=, hour older. Come, Joe, quick.
Joe needed no second bidding, and b,
d fore Granny Fry could recover from he
d surprise they were out of the room an
IN fastening homeward, rs if their lives d.
n pended upon their speed. Do you thin
id we can carry them all, JoeP Mrs. Packt
ar said as they entered her little parlor, whc
Ie looked so homlike and cosy after the gre;
,r bare room they had left. Do you thin
rs there will be enough for alp Why did',
,e you bring me morep
ar Dear me, ma am, said Joe, but respec
r. fully, how you do change. A little wh
IS ago you was cryin' because there was
n. many of 'em.
d Yes; but that was before l knew, sal
i'd Mrs. Packer, remorsefully.
While she was Sna,kino, uha boJ boo