Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-09-22

death. His recovery was very slow, and !
his convalescence irksome mo prison walls |
could have been glOomier than were the
home walls that held him prisoner. Day
after day the patter of his wife patient
little feet fell upon his ear; he could hear
them up stairs and down, now here now
there, her voice always kind and tender,
her hand ever ready to minister to her
dear ones, her words full of consolation
and love and cheer.
John Jones was not wholly unimpressi- |
BILE; slowly the scales fell from his eyes
the light came, and he was as one born
into a higher and better life. He drew his
bony hands across his eyes; often the signs
made him catch his breath suspiciously,
and he marveed much that he had walk
ed beside this little woman Cor fourteen
years and not known that he was mated
with "an angel unaware" His voice grew
softer, tenderer; his great talony hands
touched her forehead, and her hair loving
| ly as would woman's-touched her rs
though he we're afraid she would fade
away a white mist.
| Weeks afterwards, when he was able to
ride out, the old, whimsical buggy, that
had done service in the days of his church.
going parents, was made comfortable by a
soft. wooden blanket and an armful of
understanding oat straw. John didn't tell
where he was going, but he looked wise,
and his mouth had II jerky look about the
corner, that seemed to say, You just let
me alone, | know what I'm about"
II was evening when he came home
He was still rs wise as when he went away
His cup of tea was waiting, and his toast
and the tender little pullet fried nice and
brown. He seemed really happy-jolly.
He trotted the baby on his foot that night,
and called his wife Jenny" as in the days
when he won her, and he let Johnny play
horse with his boot, and there was II con
tented, rich expression on his face, thai his
wife couldn't help wondering what had
made such change in him.
The next morning the crazy old rig was
called out again, and the soft blanket
spread in it, and John Jones took the lines
in bis emaciated hands and drove off in
the same direction as he did the day before.
When he returned he was accompanied by
broad -shouldered, od-looking German
girl, whom he introduced to his wife as
''our girl"
She looked with amazement upon "our
girl" and then stared at John. He soon
explained things to her satisfaction
1.-The upshot o the matter is, Jane, thai
I've abused you long enough the Lord
helpin' me. I'll never see you make u
drudge O. yourself ag'in. 1t is burnin'
shame for any great lout like me to expect
Il frail little body like you to be man, an
dog, an wife, an mother, an nigger, an
me savin' an hoardin' up money an
means to leave to the Lord knows who |
beg your pardon, Jane; an now you'll tell
this girl, Barbara Grootz, how you want
things done, an let her take your place
an work in your stead, an you'll live
hereafter like human man S wife ought
Ito"
By the time this speech was made, the
poor, weak fellow was blubbering like
Poor little surprised wife She flew to his
neck and laid her head on his bosom, and
cried like a baby, rs she said, John
Jones, you darling
mo. not bit of a darlin' Just an old
bear, II regular old heather, TO sacrifice
the best little woman under the sun, inch
by incE, the way that's been going on for
years. snutfed he, as he fumbled over hor
f"eo in an aiuiless, loving way.
Then "our girl" Barbara, went into
Jane Jones harness, and ii fitted her to II
fraction.
"Now we've turned over new leaf, 90
and dress up, Jenny, bless your said the
new convert.
So, with the memory of Lang Syne
warming her heart, Jane unearthed her
wedding dress in the afternoon, and put it
on, with pretty, old fashioned collar,
and brushed out her nut brown hair That
once upon a time curled beautifully. Per-
haps she felt foolish and girlish, and out
of her sphere, but she looked sweet
enough to make up for all discrepancies.
/ She sat sewing, putting II new band on
, Ruby's new skirt, when the children came
home from school. Her back was turned
, the door. Tom came to II dead halt as he
stepped on the SILL and then ran around
, to the lean-to to find his mother. No
mother there, but the smiling pink faced
| German girl, who was pairing potatoes to
bake for supper.
| Tom bawled out "Is mother deadP o,
l want my mother!' and circled around
| the house and peeped in shyly with wet
eyes.
; Was that lady in soft gray merino
dress, wearing an embroidered collar and
gold ear drops, his mother Surely ii
was, for NetLie was feeling of her face and
was sparkling over and saying, "Is this
you, molherP Why, where have you
beenp'
"Oh, MAJ" said Tom, holding her
around the neck AS though she might fit
away the next minute; why. where did
, you go, and when did you come backpn
Poor little ones, how proud they We're
of the household drudge in her new and
beautiful transformation!
, But this is not all. Before the first cold
blast of winter came, steps were taken to
, save and tighten the labors Of the feminine
portion of the farmers household. An
q addition was-built to the house, new siding
, was put on anu painted white. New win
dows were added, and green blinds and
/ spouting, and big cistern close to the
| kitchen door, and wide, long, roomy
1 porch. Closets were put in all the rooms
, the old, verminy bedsteads split up and
t used for kindlings; new chairs were
d bought, including new rocking and sew.
. ing chair for mother; new sewing ma
Il chine, that was love of Il friend; the
r dooryard was paled in, and the calves anC
colts kept where they belonged; and ever
g green Il ees and Towering shrubbery, and
n rose bushes made beautiful in the new
+ yard. An easy chain pump took the place
n of an old moss covered bucket that held as
= much as a churn 1t was packed off tC
n the barn to put clover seed in. and the
:. heavy windless was borne away forever
|. from the little arms that had tugged at it:
d ponderous weight with sick wearnes'
Q many and many year. The big wellrop'
. made nice swing under the oak for Tom
n Belle and chubby Harry.
n Now that the no longer enslaved mothe
# has leisure to minge with her growins
II children as teacher, and companion, an,
10 friend, they grow more lovable and intel
n ligent, and they cling to her like vines
l. They see so much in her to admire ant
1t emulate.
,e And John Jones. That spell of feve
# was the Aaron's rod th;t. smote the rock q
10 the soul and opened it for the oulgushin!
of love and sympathy, and charms, an'
J: graces of the hum IN heart; and to-day
d growing broader, and ruddier, and ripe
ii and better there lives no happier farme
i'd than the dear old renovated John Jones