Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-14
VOL. 75.-3S22. NO. IA.

Poor Thirza, we said 80. She passed from
sight tlred fingers, weary brain, and break
fast that must be. Who knows how many
heart aches she has woven into those bits Of
braid She is crossing the river now. and
reaches the other shore in safety, up the
steep bank she is toiling, but there is neither
peace nor rest for her.
There will come time TO you, O woman,
brave of heart and strong in well-doing,
when you shall cross the last river and find
awaiting you welcome such as "eye hath
not seen, or ear heard"
1t was almost breakfast time when we at
last descended, and as we fingered over our
coffee the spirit OF chattiness fell upon
grandma, and the promised story was ours.
must not dress it up with fine words,
for it is not my way, child, but in a homely
way, can tell you and you can laugh at
my green specs, or weep over the story; for
my part, can't keep the tears back when |
think of her sunny face as knew her, and
think of her now.
"You see, Thirza was an only child her
folks were comfortable-to-do farmers, and
sent her off to school when she was young.
She was always smart from little chit, and
always handsome. At fifteen she seemed as
much woman as most girls of twenty-three.
She came home from school then TO find her
father dying slowly with cancer, and her
mother nearly heart-broken. | couldn't be-
gin to tell you how that girl worked she
did everything; looked after the farm, nursed
her father, made two or three trips to New
York with him TO have operations per-
formed, cheered up her mother, bought her
"a pxspo with her twn savings, and frightened
up the whole house with herself aud ner
songs
Her father died in year, and then her
mother followed in three months. Thirza
mad the old home and few thousands, for
much Oh the old mans money went to the
doceors' Hhe taught our school that summer
and run the farm, besides keeping on in her
studies she mad learned at school.
Inc fellows lar and near were crazy over
her' some liked her beauty Others wanted
her money and one poor young fellow who
worshlped her Tor herself carried off the
prize. ne did not want her money, he said,
and think ne proved 1t, for most OF it was
IN STOCKS winch were worthless, but he loved
ner all the same she had a few hundred
lett, and with TINS they rented better farm
and stocked 1t, selling the old one for enough
10 heip them get tar start. Together they
worked, out somehow the brunt OF 1t fell on
Ihirza, and IN three years he was an invalid
on her hands all his folks died of con-
SUMPTION the oid fashioned, lingering kind,
and he was took in the same way.
lneir only child, boy, was born the
second year, ana ne was the delight OF both.
Inc 1ather never earned penny after the
nrst three years ne walked about the place,
petted the boy, 1ound 1ault with the farm
hands, and grew frettul and peevlsh.
Ihlrza dld not seem 10 mind 1t; she was
always gentle TO nun, and sometimes at
hlght nave seen her rocking johnny to
Sleep Win her chair close 10 her husband so
ne need not 1eel lonely. She knows German
songs and some other foreign things which
suppose you know all about, but l don't;
well, She USED 10 sing these 10 the child In
such sweet way, 1t was better than going
to meetln. John, her husband that is, used
10 call her Sunshine, and she used to call
MN "Colonel Dare, because he was such
bold, determined lover
Poor John went at last, holding her hand
In his, and blessing her with his last breath.
she was an angel OF light to him. never saw
girl more sorrow-stricken, for she was only
girl, you see, but few months past six
teen, when she married him, and here she
was wldow with a chlld 10 care Tor.
Her one thought seemed to be for the
child. II make good man OF him, will
be content with my life work, she used to
say to me.
"Some of us advised her to sell the farm
which she had now quite paid for, and find
quiet place where her money would sup
port Johnny and herself. But no. This is a
good home, she said, u will work for it still
longer, and then the dear child will have
fathers memory ever about him. As l said,
he had never earned cent since he was
first taken sick, but Ihlrza worked like
slave; she never rested; her butter was the
best in the market, her egg basket was al
ways full, and her crops seldom failed.
Two weeks before John died she sold some
cattle and paid the balance of the debt on
the place, so her way was now clear to work
and lay up something for the child. She
worked as if she were driven; up early and
late; braiding hats by night churning, spin
ming, knitting, weaving, and sewing in win
ter, and in summer working out of doors or
in, as seemed necessary She has done this
for years, for that boys sake, and now he is
twenty-one. Last week he brought suit
against his mother to obtain the property
she had earned. He declares she has no
right to anything but her thirds and he
claims all the rest
How can be :" | exclaimed Indignantly.
"Why, you see the law is on his side, and
lew nouIns ago ue Sol acquainted Win
girl he wants to marry; her folks are
miserable set and put her up to it. So much
for mans tender care John always called her
pet names, and loved her, but never did her
the justice to secure her her own hard earn
ings. Yesterday, the boy told his mother
he would give her thousand dollars to
leave the farm, and give it up to him. 1t
is her home, and dearer than all the world
to her."
This time l uttered Poor Thirza," al
most like benediction.
"What can she do, poor woman ?"
Nothing" said grandpa, looking up from
his paper, "no more than others have done
before her. only to submit she raised the
young viper, has given him good educa-
tion and all the money he wanted to spend,
and this is the reward. Change the laws if
you want justice. 1t is the hurt, Thirza
says, that is the worst to bear, she had
built so many hopes of Johnny when he
grew up, but now he is her toe."
yer atlehu " .ne case
Oh yes, ne Is our Town cieis, ahu talks