Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-05
VOL. 76.-3S73. NO. 13.

his red shirt, and once he took me and
father out rowing. Tom, your mother saved
my life"
"Saved your lifer' echoed Tom, who
never in all his life had heard OF his mothers
doing anything before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried on
in search of the missing garments. And
meanwhile his mother betook herself to
making cup of tea for her protege. II was
wonderful how little warmth Of human
feeling had reused this woman TO life and
activity again.
When Tom returned, laden with various
articles of apparel the two were quietly sip
ping their tea together at the old round
table.
He did not return alone, however. Fol
lowing him came tall, gray-headed gentle
man.
"Heres father !" cried the girl springing
forward. "Oh, father, this good lady saved
my life"
Lady The widow Minton wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pronounced
the words
"Well, my DEAR" said the old gentleman,
good humoredly pinching the plump cheek,
she has done it very thoroughly. You
certainly don't look very near death just
now"
Whereat the story, with due enlargement
and variations, was told him with pretty
pout. The father smiled, but also he fur
lively wiped away tear.
| "Well, madam" said he courteously, ac-
cept my cordial thanks for looking after my
| little madcap Belle. She's my only child,
you see, and as full of pranks as any Dozen"
Belle playfully put her hand over his
mouth. 81 won't have my character ira
duced where they've be IN so good to me-"
she cried. "And oh, father, isn't this beau
tiful place-such a nice view of the water
| mean to come down here every day and do
my sketching,"
"I'm afraid" said the sire, shaking his
head, " that this good lady will have cause
to wish she had thrown you overheard"
"Oh no, father; she likes me, and l like
her. And I've fallen in love with Tom long
ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something strange
and new stirred in his mind. Compliments
did not sweeten his thoughts as they did his
mothers, for Tom had never seen better
: days, and felt as If he had been made a Jest
e Of.
/ A week passed, during which the young
t girl strolled almost daily to the cabin. When
. she was there Tom seldom entered the house.
t lie had grown shy and sulky he sat on the
q shore darkly brooding, or went off silently
: to his fishing
e One morning Belle and her father de-
t parted. Belle kissed the withered cheek of
e her friend, aud that was all. For when men
IS ton had been made of helping her substau-
e italy, the widow had drawn herself sharply
up, all the lady shining in her eye.
e :" may have seen my better days" she
y said but haven't come to that yet. And
d if needed any reward I've had it now, "
As she added as she felt the soft blood mant-
lie ling in the cheek that Belle had kissed.
a Long after the two had left, Tom went
n. about with cloud on his face, and in his
Of ear were those mocking words " Pm in love
an with Tom" A disgust for his fishing life
at and for himself and for all their miserable
III surroundings of poverty filed the lads
ly heart with an unwonted bitterness.
If Mother said he one day, as he sat
nd darkly brooding over the hearth, "you said
bit you were a born lady; why didn't you make
ss a gentleman of me 2"
he 81 hadn't any money left when you came,
by said the widow briefly.
ye "Then it's money that makes people gen
Id tlemen and ladies'"
he al don't know" said the widow, puzzled
ed "they somehow mostly have it."
Ig, One day Tom came and told her he wa
an going to sea- There had been a man dow
las looking for hands, and he had taken Tor
7 a gladly, for Tom was handy fellow at a
ict lnOot any KIM Ol Sed CTdlU anu WOulu SOU
make good seaman.
, a "And you must just bide here patientl
he till | come back, mother; for if there's be
ad ter days anywhere | shall bring 'em with In
IRE be sure
ay After that the sea looked bitter and coldt
RS, than ever, and the solitary woman lived
y. sort of hermit's life. No CHEEKY voice
ard gossiping neighbor lightened the drear
gh cabin, no children pratted about her; an
on only Belle the bright, blithesome-hearte
lassie, seemed to remember to cheer h,
tn, with letter now and then Belle was ava
of now visiting some distant friends, but
cts her kindly heart she kept corner, it scenes
hat for the poor old woman who had saved h,
ply life
ide Three years-four-passed away, an
ing daily of summer afternoon you might hay
led seen the widow sitting in her doorway, eag
hey and hollow-eyed, looking out for some posS
BILE ship that might be Toms. Tom WI
hat not good correspondent but occasional
she up at the little post-oifice wandering epist
an, awaited her trembling hand. She was gro
one ing very old and feeble now but Tom W
getting up in the world-Tom was first ma
IS | of his ship-Tom was success-Tom W
mr. a northumberland oh, above all things, To
on was coming home
ON Not every one watches in vain, thoue
cii we may HOb Always pc lpohllS III but TlS
ned direction. 1t was so with the widow.
the she sat Christmas Day, with strained ey
and gazing on the far-of sunlit sails and SEER
ind, how some of them hovered nearer and neare
lgs, and some, alas took wing further and fu
ude ther away, the doorway darkened suddenl
the there came rushing upon her, as If dropp'
ned from the clouds, plump, dark-eyed, ros
but, checked lady, who flung herself into t
diz- arms of the watcher with a cry of joy.
imp "Oh, motherl" she exclaimed, half SC
he'd bing, half laughing-'oh, mother don't y
A know me Why, I'm Toms wife, and L
air, brought the captain with me !"
ing, Mother" said Captain Tom that nigl
red, "you've seen better days, perhaps, but
'ard never have"
"For didn't | tell you" said Mrs. To
led archly, that | was in love with Tom Al
9Th, father owns half his ship, you know so
ood Toms captain, I'm second mate, you 81
you And we're going to take you away to whe
we found our better days.
said