Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-08

want and misfortune, in the midst of the
kindly villagers.
Here, Miss RoXbury, is a wee lamb for
you said Mr.. Alder.
Miss Roxbury had not observed his
approach in the crowd, aud gave start Of
surprise as he stood before her. As she
looked there was Il curious sensation under
the left side of her Grape shawl and her
cold gray eyes grew misty.
The dreadful boy" had changed into a
tiny girl of six years, rs frlil as snow.
drop. whose coarse attire could not mar
the loveliness of her dark violet ewes, and
hair of tangled sunbeams. The little
creature stretched out her arms to Miss
Roxbury, who reached forward and took
her into the rOckawav, the ancient springs
of which creaked with establishment.
''What is your name?' said Miss RoX.
bury, feeling strangely awkward rs they
drove along.
dot" said the child, You hasn't kissed
me yet, has YouPn
Miss RoXbury bent and kissed the child.
The rockawav creaked louder than before.
The touch of The child's mouth thrilled
through the iron nerves of the woman
with sensation inexpressibly delightful.
Miss Roxbury had imagined her life to
be an easy one. She now discovered that
she had mistaken selfish isolation for hap.
piness. She was beginning TO be happy
for the first tim6 in fifty years. Dot was
too tired to be very talkativc, but she
leaned against Miss Roxbury with look
OF quiet wonder and content in her eyes.
us | goin' to stay herep' she asked as
the rockaway stopped at the Roxbury
gate, and she surveyed the old house with
woodbine clamberlng over its gray walls.
"Yes, child"
Dots face grew luminous. A bath, Il
bountiful supper of bread and milk, and a
walk in the garden kept her Joy full till
twilight, but with bedtime camo tile long.
ing for her mother.
Il wants my mamma-my own tnam-
| ma" she said.
Then Miss Roxbury gave full vent tc
the instinct that can never be utterly
destroyed in a woman. Taking the child
in her lap she carressed the white face
and sunny curls in a soothing restful way
and talked so cheerlully that the shadows
fell from the violet eyes, and Dot, nesting
close, said, II love you
Miss Roxhury had rot only begun to be
happy; she had begun to live. With the
coming of this sweet child heaven was
changing the dull prose of her existence
into celestial rythm. Her cold, loveles.
nature in the presence of the tiny Cir
was already becoming Chrst,like in its
tender ministry.
Dot offnred har nvpninp nrovor ond ,ro
put in Miss Roxbury's stately bed.
Good night, dear" said Miss Roxbury
with kiss.
"Dood night" said Dot, burying her
face in the great bunch Of white roses she
had brought to bed with her. 81 feel zil
I'd died an gone to heaven"
Miss Roxbury passed wakeful night,
but not a restless one. Her mind was
filled with plans, and then it was such q
pleasure to lie and listen to the soft breath
ing at her side, and occasionally to touch
the little hand on the countcrpane. still
holding the treasured roses.
The next day Dot ran nearly wild will
delight. She levelled among the daisies
in the deep, soft grass, and it was pitifu
to see how small an object could charm
her mind. Gods commonest gifts were
unknown 10 her in their bounty and purity
Sunshine, sweet mir, flowers and birG
songs were enough to make her happy
and when she found the brook that danced
across the meadow her delight was
unbounded. After day or two Miss
Roxbury took the morning train to Brad
leyviIe to do some shopping. She was
gone until night, and all the way home
she Thought Of the glad voice that would
welcome her, and her face grew so radiant
with the new joy in her soul that when
she alghted laden with parcels at the
| Lynford station old Deacon Bennett failel
to recognize her until she had passed him
"Wall, | DECLARE" lie said, "Relianct
looks rs if she'd diskivercd gold mine.
Miss Roxbury reached home and soor
had the gold mine" in her arms.
| After tea the parcels had TO be opened
There were paper patterns, rolls of muslin
embroidery and blue flannel, pair Of
child's slippers, dainty hose, hrig ght ribbons
and large doll.
"Oh, oil, oh! was all that Dot coulC
say, but her tone expressed more than the
most extensive volume on philanthropy
that ever was written. The village dress.
maker was installed in the house for 9
week. The Rocky Mountain patchwork
was consigned to the seclusion of the
spare room closet, and Miss Roxbury
developed taste in Mother Hubbard
dresses and ruffied aprons that was truly
marvellous.
In the meantime she wrote letter tc
Dots mother, to which Dot added pic
ture of the cat, which, although not abso-
lutely true to nature, resembling in fact
the plan for house, was great satisfac
ton to the young artist. There came nc
reply TO the letter.
Dots cheeks were getting rosy, and her
step buoyant.
If it wasn't for my mamma" she said
81 wouldn't 90 back foreyer'n ever"
When Mr.. Knox, the gentleman in
charge of the party, called to see that Dot
would be ready to return Mt the appointed
time, Miss Roxburv exclaimed almost
fiercely:
II can't let her go. l need her. Why
may not keep her?"
II do not believe her mother would
part with her," said Mr.. Knox.
Miss Roxbury was silent for few
moments, and looked out on the lawr
where Dot was swinging in hammock
with the doll and cat.
ut will be dull house without her,
she said, "but will bring her TO the sta
ton"
When the morning of Dots departure
came, Miss Roxbury arraved herself II
her second best black silk, put few
articles in satchel, filled II small baske
with fresh egys, new biscuits. IA pat o
butter and a bottle of current wine, anc
said to Hannah:
II may be gone two or three days
Have the east chamber thoroughly aireC
and busted before l get back, tell Hiram
to take peck of peas down TO Mrs. AL
der, don't forget to see if those canne'
Strawberries have worked or not, and b.
sure the front door is kept hclled, and pu
that last brood Of chickens in the othc
COOP and keep II newspaper over tn
geranium slips in the afternoon
"Ycs, ma'am."
"And, Hannah, be very careful TO keel
out the flies, and tell Hiram to fix the wei
curb. lie is apt to forget things"
Dot was bathed in tears us she MOUNTED
IN her place in the rockaway.