The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-06-18
CLEAN-WASHED'

| Mutiituh, iStcu! ncaTu STOdil
and little Helen Hawthorn sprang from
her low seat by the warm fireside, th,
rich glow deepening on her fair check
and sudden excitement leaping into
the dark grey eyes.
''Nonsense, dear" answered tht
mother, after q moments silence. 81
was your Imagination. My little CIR
is fanciful Tonight" and she bent to
stroke back the thickly clustering curls
from the low, white brow, as she press
ed fond, fervcnt kiss upon it.
1t was pretty picture on which the
freight danced and flickercd-thc
warm, luxurious room, with the tai
elegant woman in the midst, and the
little, daintily dressed child by her side.
Without, the wind swept by, hurling
great masses of snow OH its wings, and
dashing through the bare, lcafIess
branches of the trees.
The child shuddered as she listened
to its moan.
"I am quite sure heard it, mamma.
Suppose any one were out on such a
night. 1t would be dredful. Let me
open the door moment Just a mo-
ment."
And without waiting for refusal
trembling on her mothers lips, she
darted forward and threw open the
great outside door.
In another instant, the bell sent a
sharp peal through the house, for on
the very threshold lay PROSTATE body.
already half buried in the shrouding
snow.
Five minutes later, and the lad had
been carried to sofa, and restoratives
and stimulants passed down his throat.
"Will he live, momma2 Do you think
he will live?"
But, in answer to her question. tie
lids slowly lifted themselves, and the
great black eyes rested wonderingly
on the child's face, bending so anx-
iously over him.
Had the death he thought SO near in
deed overtaken him, an d was heaven
he had reachsd? lie feared to waken
from his dream, and find himself again
homeless and starving and cold.
But his wonder only deepened when
the reality was brought home to him
when he discovered that it was life, not
death, and earth, not heaven, and tha'
he was not to be driven out again into
the cold and bitter night.
Through its long. silent hours he lay
motionless in this warm resting place.
picturing. in the darkness, the child's
face, until it became stcrcotypcd both
on heart and brain.
The next day he told his story. lie
was poor lad, orphaned and friend
less.
"They discharged me from my last
place." he said, "because / carried a
book about me, and the boss said il
would teach me TO dream instead Of
work. was only trying TO lcai 4
something in my idle minutes, though
| couldn't find much time, and l didn'
take my employers. However, hi
was hard man, and l had to go.
started West. The little money hat
gave out. Tho storm overlook me.
struggled on as best conld, until !
grew faint and sick, Somewhere II
the distance l saw light. l struggled
towards II. You know the rest. Nov
| am strong end well again, the storm
is over, and l can only thank you in
few poor words for your generou
kindness, and 90 away"
"Papa will be home this afternoon,
answered the child. Gle is the owne
of all the mills about here. 1t yor
would like, l will ask him to give yo
a place; and there Is school at night
for the hands, so you can study, too"
"If would like?"
1t was all he said, but little IIelcl
Hawthorne needed no other words
She knew that great lump in hi
throat had chokcd his further utteranc
and that he had turned away ashamed
to hide his tears.
Tue next morning saw her promis
fulfilled, and Alex Vernon stood ono
more a man among men. lie foun
place in the night school, too. Nc
g did his young patroness forget him.
:, some way she discovered tho books
2 needed, and lent them to him, until
]. grew TO associate her with every goo
y thing of his new life. One mornir
y. she sent for him.
~ am going TO Europe with MANN
Alex" said she, "io be gone a gre
!. many years. When come back,
A.. nj