Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-02-02
Are you2 responded the astonished


Widow.
Yes said the girl; I've watched Tom
many time walking along .the shore
with his red shirt, and once he took me
and father out rowing. Tom, your mother
saved my life
Saved your lifen echoed Tom, who
never in all his life had heard of his
mothers doing anything before. ~
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurrying
on for the missing garments. And mean
while his mother betOOk herself to making
a c2t of tea for her protege. 1t was
wonderful how little warmth of human
feeling had reused this woman to life and
activity again
When Tom returned ladened with
various articles Of apparel, the two were
quietly slipping their tea together at the
old round table
He did not return alone, however. Fol-
lowing him came gray-headed gentle
man.
Here's 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 word.
"ell. my dear, said the old gentleman,
good humoredly pinching the plump
cheek, she lRts done it very thoroughly.
You certainly don't look very near death
ust now.
Whereat the story, with due enlargement
and variations, was told him with pretty
pout. The father smiled, but also be
furlively wiped away a tear.
well, madam said he courteously,
accept my cordial thanks for looking
after my little madcap Belle. She's my
only child, you see, and us full of pranks
as any dozen
Belle payfully put her hand over his
mouth. Il won't have my character
raduced where they've been so good to
me- she cried. And oh, father, isn't this
II beautiful place-such nice view of the
waterl me IN to come down here every
day and do my sketchng'
I'm afraid said the sire, shaking his
head. that this good lady will have cause
to wish she had thrown you overheard,
On no, father; she likes me, and | like
her And have fallen in love with Tom
long ago, rs you know
Tom bushed painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in his mind.
Comp ments did not sweeten his thoughts
Us they did his mothers, for Tom haI
never seen better days, and felt as if he
had been made jest of.
A week passed, during which the young
girl strolled almost daily to the cabin
When she was there Tom seldom entered
the house. He had grown shy and sulky
he sat on the shore darkly brooling, or
went off silently to his fishing
One morning Belle and her father de-
parted. Belle kissed the withered cheek
of her friend, and that was all. For when
mention had been made of helping her
substantially, the widow had drawn her
sell sharply up, all the lady shining in
her eye.
Il may have seen better days she said,
but haven't come to that yet. And if |
needed any reward I've had it now,' she
added, as she felt the soft blood mantling
in the cheek that Belle had kissed
Long after the two had left, Tom went
about with Il cloud on his face. and in his
ear were those mocking words: I'm in
love with Tom A disgust for his fishing
life and for himself and for all their
sui vi PoNOipN hi'O' LhO iou .
heart with an unwonted bitterness.
Mother said he one day, as he sat
darkly brooding over the hearth, you say
YOU were II born lady; why don't you
make IA gentleman of mep
i hadn't any money left when you
come said the widow briefly.
Then it's money that makes people
gentlemen and ladies'
Il don't know said the widow, puzzled !;
they somehow mostly have it,
One day Tom came and told her he was
going to sea. There had been man
down there looking for hands, and be had
taken Tom gladly, for Tom was handy
fellow at almost any kind of sea craft,
and would soon make a good seaman.
And you must just bide here patiently
| till | come back mother; for if there's
better days anywhere | shall bring 'em
with me, be sure
After that the sea looked bitterer and
colder than ever, and the solitary woman
lived II sort of hermit's life. No CHEEKY
voice of gossiping neighbor lightened the
drearv cabin, no children chatted about
some-hearted lassie. seemed to remember
to cheer her with a letter now and then.
Belle was away now visiting some distant
friends, but in her kindly heart she kept a
corner, it seemed, for the poor old woman
who had saved her lite,
Three years--four-passed away, and
daily of summer afternoon you might
have seen the widow sitting at her door
way, eager and hollow-eyed, looking out
for some possible ship that might be TOMS.
Tom was not a good correspondent, but
occasionally up at the little post office a
wandering epistle awaited her trembling
hand. She was growing very old and
feeble now; but Tom was getting up in
the world-Tom was first mate of his ship
Tom was SUGGESTION was Il gentle
man-and oh, above all things, Tom was
coming home!
Not every one watches in vain, though
we may not always be looking in the right
direction 1t was so with the widow. As
she sat Christmas day, with strained ewes
gazing on the far-of sunit sails and
seeing how some of them lowered nearer
and nearer, and some, alas took wing
further and further away, the doorway
darkened suddenly; there came rushing
upon her as if dropped from the clouds, II
pIumn, dark eyed, rosy-cheeked lady, who
flung herself into the arms of the watcher
with cry of Joy.
"Oh, mother! don't you know mel
Why, I'm Toms wife, and I've brought
the captain with mel
'Mother,' said Capt. Tom that night,
you've seen better days, perhaps, but
never have
For didn't tell you, said Mrs. Tom
archly, that l was in love with Toni
And father owns half his ship, you know
so if Toms captain, I'm second mate, you
see. And we are going to take you away
to where we found our better days.